NASCAR is again – type of.
The 2024 season will kick off in Los Angeles this weekend for the annual Busch Gentle Conflict. For the third yr in a row, the preseason exhibition race will happen on a makeshift monitor on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Whereas the season-opening Daytona 500 continues to be greater than two weeks away, it is a probability for drivers to get again right into a rhythm in a singular and star-studded occasion.
Right here's all the things that you must know earlier than the race weekend:
What’s the Conflict on the Coliseum?
The Conflict is an annual preseason occasion the place drivers race for money and bragging rights. There are not any implications for the championship, however that has by no means deterred the drivers from doing all the things to win.
Historically, the Conflict has been held at Daytona Worldwide Speedway. The primary Conflict befell in 1979 and the occasion stayed in Daytona via 2021. In 2022, NASCAR moved the race to Hollywood in a first-of-its-kind plan to construct a monitor in an Olympic stadium. The momentary course is 0.25 miles in size and was rebuilt for 3 consecutive years earlier than being torn down shortly after the race.
When is the NASCAR Conflict on the Coliseum 2024?
The 2024 Busch Gentle Conflict on the Coliseum is ready for Sunday, February 4th at 8pm ET on FOX.
Earlier than the characteristic occasion on Sunday night, there can be actions on the monitor all through the weekend. Right here's the total schedule for the NASCAR Cup Sequence journey to Los Angeles and the right way to watch every occasion:
Saturday February third
Sunday, February 4
- Final probability to qualify: 6:40 p.m. ET, FOX and FOXSports.com
- Busch Gentle Conflict on the Coliseum: 8 p.m. ET, FOX and FOXSports.com
What’s the format for the Conflict on the Coliseum in 2024?
The 36 drivers can be divided into three teams for 9 apply classes (three for every group) on Saturday. Within the third and ultimate session for every group, every driver's quickest lap time will decide the beginning line for Saturday evening's warmth races.
There can be 4 warmth races on Saturday evening. The quickest driver in apply begins first within the first warmth race, the second quickest begins first within the second warmth race and so forth (the fifth quickest begins second within the first warmth race, the sixth quickest begins second within the second warmth run, and many others.). Every warmth race can be 25 inexperienced flag laps, with the highest 5 finishers in every warmth race mechanically advancing to Sunday's fundamental occasion.
The 16 drivers who don’t advance out of the warmth races will compete within the final probability qualifier (LCQ) on Sunday. The LCQ can be a 75-lap race the place solely the highest two finishers advance to the primary occasion. That brings the full variety of drivers for the Conflict to 22, with the twenty third and final place being given to the driving force who completed the very best within the 2023 factors classification that isn’t already closed.
The Conflict can be a 150-lap race divided into two 75-lap phases, with solely the inexperienced flag laps. The beginning line can be decided by the outcomes of the warmth races and LCQ.
Who’s racing within the Conflict on the Coliseum 2024? Right here is the entry checklist
There are 36 drivers set to compete within the Conflict – and it will likely be the primary probability for followers to see some drivers with new groups, totally different paint schemes and new sponsors for the 2024 season. Rookies Josh Berry, Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar will make the his debut with new groups, whereas returning drivers Justin Haley and Noah Gragson, amongst others, modified organizations.
Right here is the total entry checklist:
- No. 1, Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing
- No. 2, Austin Cindric, Crew Penske
- No. 3, Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing
- No. 4, Josh Berry, Stewart-Haas Racing
- No. 5, Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports
- No. 6, Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing
- No. 7, Corey LaJoie, Spire Motorsports
- No. 8, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing
- No. 9, Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports
- No. 10, Noah Gragson, Stewart-Haas Racing
- No. 11, Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing
- No. 12, Ryan Blaney, Crew Penske
- No. 14, Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing
- No. 15, Kaz Grala, Rick Ware Racing
- No. 16, Josh Williams, Kaulig Racing
- No. 17, Chris Buescher, RFK Racing
- No. 19, Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing
- No. 20, Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing
- No. 21, Harrison Burton, Wooden Brothers Racing
- No. 22, Joey Logano, Crew Penske
- No. 23, Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing
- No. 24, William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports
- No. 31, Daniel Hemric, Kaulig Racing
- No. 34, Michael McDowell, Entrance Row Motorsports
- No. 38, Todd Gilliland, Entrance Row Motorsports
- No. 41, Ryan Preece, Stewart-Haas Racing
- No. 42 years, John Hunter Nemechek, Legacy Motor Membership
- No. 43, Erik Jones, Legacy Motor Membership
- No. 45, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing
- No. 47, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., JTG Daugherty Racing
- No. 48, Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports
- No. 51, Justin Haley, Rick Ware Racing
- No. 54, Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing
- No. 71, Zane Smith, Spire Motorsports
- No. 77, Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports
- No. 99, Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing
Favorites, drivers to look at the Conflict on the Coliseum
The primary two races on the Coliseum have been gained by former Cup champions: Joey Logano (2022) and Martin Truex Jr. (2023). Each veterans of the game, Logano and Truex parlayed their success in LA into a protracted season. Logano gained the 2022 season championship, the second of his profession, and Truex gained the 2023 common season title. Count on Logano and Truex to compete for the win once more in 2024.
Past Logano and Truex, probably the most constant drivers on the Coliseum for 2 years have been a pair of teammates: Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon of Richard Childress Racing. Busch completed second in 2022 and third in 2023, whereas Dillon was third in 2022 and second in 2023.
Kyle Larson is the one different driver to have two top-five finishes, coming in fifth in two years. And whereas Tyler Reddick doesn't have fairly the ultimate outcomes of the drivers talked about above (twenty first in 2022, sixth in 2023), he has led extra laps than any driver in addition to Busch on the Coliseum (51).
Which celebrities are attending the Conflict on the Colosseum in 2024?
The Conflict is all the time a star-studded occasion that’s so near Hollywood. Final yr was full of star energy – rapper Wiz Khalifa, actor Rob Lowe, actor Joel McHale, NFL participant Alvin Kamara, Heisman winner Caleb Williams, singer Gwen Stefani and actor Danny Trejo, amongst others.
Whereas there may be nonetheless no full checklist of celebrities attending the occasion in 2024, the same batch of stars is predicted. Confirmed visitors embody world championship boxer Canelo Álvarez (who will function grand marshal), musician Machine Gun Kelly (who will carry out at halftime of the Conflict) and musician Nita Strauss (who will carry out the anthem nationwide).
Los Angeles time for Conflict on the Coliseum
The climate may very well be spotty, based on NBC Los Angeles. There’s a forecast excessive of 61 levels with partly cloudy skies and a 24% probability of rain on Saturday. On Sunday, the temperature may attain 57 levels, however there’s a 91% probability of rain.
Whereas they don’t seem to be in a position to race within the rain, the vehicles have moist tires and defoggers to allow them to drive on a moist monitor floor. So, so long as the rain doesn’t fall, the race ought to be capable of proceed.
