The NASCAR Cup Series returns to action Saturday evening with the Busch Light Clash at the LA Memorial Coliseum.
There will be 36 drivers competing for a spot in the exhibition race. Twenty-two will secure their spots through Saturday’s lone practice session. The final spot will go to the driver who finished highest in points among those who did not already qualify for the main event.
NASCAR changed the weekend schedule due to Sunday’s forecast that called for a 100 percent chance of rain. The NASCAR Mexico Series race and the Cup Series race both moved to Saturday night.
Joe Gibbs Racing holds the NASCAR record with 11 Busch Light Clash wins. Martin Truex Jr. is the defending winner, while Denny Hamlin is the active leader with three wins. Richard Childress Racing is second with eight wins. Hendrick Motorsports is third with seven wins.
Details for Saturday’s race at the LA Memorial Coliseum
(All times Eastern)
START: Comedian Gabriel Iglesias will be the NASCAR Mexico Series grand marshal. ... Undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez will be the Busch Light Clash grand marshal.
PRERACE: Rock musician Nita Strauss will perform the national anthem. ... Two-time Olympic gold medalist Athing Mu will be the honorary torch lighter.
DISTANCE: The Cup race is 150 laps (37.5 miles) on the .25-mile track. Only green flag laps count.
STAGES: There will be a break at Lap 75 of the race for a Machine Gun Kelly concert.
STARTING LINEUP: Saturday’s practice session will determine 22 of the spots in the 23-car lineup. The final spot will go to the driver that finished highest in points last season that did not qualify on speed.
TV/RADIO: FS1 will broadcast the Cup race at 8 p.m. ... Motor Racing Network will provide coverage of the Cup Series race. ... SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry the MRN broadcast. ... FS2 will broadcast the NASCAR Mexico Series race at 10:30 p.m.
STREAMING: Fox Sports streaming
FORECAST: Weather Underground — Cloudy skies with a high of 58 degrees. A 13 percent chance of rain at the start of the Busch Light Clash. A 30 percent chance of rain at the start of the NASCAR Mexico Series race.
LAST TIME: Martin Truex Jr. started second and won after leading 25 of the 150 green flag laps. Austin Dillon finished second in his second consecutive top-three finish at the LA Memorial Coliseum. Kyle Busch recovered from an early spin and finished third in his second consecutive top-three finish at the LA Memorial Coliseum. Five cars failed to finish the exhibition race due to a variety of issues.
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