In just a few short weeks, racing fans will again hear the roar of engines when the NASCAR Cup Series returns to Los Angeles and the Memorial Coliseum for the annual Busch Light Clash and the Mexico Series.

On January 16, NASCAR released the format for The Clash which will culminate in a 150 lap main feature race around the quarter mile track.

The festivities begin on February 3 with three practice sessions.  Positions for the four heat races will be determined by practice times.

The four heat races will also run on Saturday and be 25 laps each with up to 10 drivers per heat.  The top four fastest practice times will sit on the poles for each heat.  Only green flag laps will count in the heat races and there will be no overtime.

The top five finishers from each of the heat races will advance to the main event on Sunday night.  The remaining drivers will be entered into the Last Chance Qualifier – a 75 lap race where the top two finishers will move on to the main event.  Only green flag laps will count in the LCQ and there will be no overtime.

The final starting spot in the main event goes to the driver who is the highest in the point standings and has not already qualified for the main event.  As the reigning Cup Series champion, Ryan Blaney is guaranteed a spot in The Clash main event.

The LCQ and the Feature Race will be held on Sunday, February 4.

The starting lineup for The Clash:
Heat 1 winner
Heat 2 winner
Heat 3 winner
Heat 4 winner
Heat 1 second place finisher
Heat 2 second place finisher
Heat 3 second place finisher
Heat 4 second place finisher
Heat 1 third place finisher
Heat 2 third place finisher
Heat 3 third place finisher
Heat 4 third place finisher
Heat 1 fourth place finisher
Heat 2 fourth place finisher
Heat 3 fourth place finisher
Heat 4 fourth place finisher
Heat 1 fifth place finisher
Heat 2 fifth place finisher
Heat 3 fifth place finisher
Heat 4 fifth place finisher
LCQ winner
LCQ second place finisher
2023 Points Provisional

Joining The Clash this year will be the Mexico Series with an exhibition race.  Among the drivers will be 10 time Mexican Series winner, Cup Series driver, and Monterrey, Mexico native Daniel Suarez.  Twenty-two drivers will participate in the exhibition race including NASCAR driver Max Gutiérrez.

Suarez became the first Mexican born driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race when he took the checkered flag at Sonoma Raceway in 2022.  As a part of the celebration, Suarez busted a taco shaped pinata.

Suarez is just one of five drivers born outside of the U.S. to win a race; he joins Australian Marcos Ambrose, Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, Italian Mario Andretti, and Canadian Earl Ross.