Last weekend's Clash at the Coliseum was hastily rescheduled for Saturday to avoid heavy rain in Los Angeles. The show must go on, after all. Besides, it's mostly a made-for-TV race, anyway.
The race was held. But the bigger question is: Does the conflict have a future?
The answer is most likely. But maybe not at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Which means NASCAR may have to postpone its big dreams of putting down roots in the country's second-largest city.
Racing without a home
Despite the area's prominent car culture, Los Angeles is not a traditional NASCAR market. Furthermore, most fans, and probably most teams, are thinking about Daytona two weeks later. To make matters more complicated, Clash offers no points, just very little risk. The race takes place on a short track not designed specifically for NASCAR – or any other race. For a sport with deep roots, the Clash has become rootless.
Where will the conflict go next?
Will there be another conflict?
Speaking to the Associated Press, NASCAR's Ben Kennedy, who is overseeing the Clash at the Coliseum event, said:“Interest is still strong. The first year was new and innovative and we've never done anything like this before, and I honestly don't think anyone has ever built a temporary racetrack inside a century-old stadium.
Just like the NFL, which for decades sought traction in the nation's second-largest city, was suddenly blessed with two teams in the City of Angels, NASCAR has similar goals. Big money, new fans, a made-for-TV audience, and a huge viewing audience – even if it's not necessarily the best version of the sport.
However, the Clash itself has a worthwhile history.
The NASCAR Clash began in 1979 at Daytona. Buddy Baker won the first engagement. Dale Earnhardt won his sixth Busch Light Clash win in 1995, and still holds the record for most Clash wins. The Clash relocated to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 2022, where they have remained ever since. Except that 2024 is the final year of the 3-year agreement between NASCAR and Los Angeles Stadium.
The Clash suddenly faces a future in doubt.
Racing needed a purpose
With no agreement, it seems unlikely that there will be a clash at the Coliseum in 2025. This may be for the best, as NASCAR looks to expand beyond its traditional demographics — and grow its audience outside of the United States.
NASCAR is reportedly looking to take the Clash to Montreal, Canada, or to Mexico City or Guadalajara — with NASCAR using the show to help grow its Latino audience.
Another idea that is gaining interest with some fans is to keep the Clash, keeping it a short track exhibition, but moving it every year from one (historical) short track to another. This would enable NASCAR to (re)connect with its roots, and allow fans who may not be able to see the race in person to watch the race in their hometown.
But that idea doesn't align with NASCAR's drive to expand its market and demographic reach. Thus, the idea of moving the conflict to Montreal or Mexico City, for example, seems more certain. And this could be the true future of the Clash – and its true purpose: a NASCAR race explicitly designed to reach a new, growing audience, rather than traditional fans. From a business perspective, this is a worthwhile goal.
As Kyle Larson told Motorsport: “I think there's definitely a place for this style of event, in our sport, if it moves to different states or countries or whatever.” Larson added that the Clash has the potential to “expand our fan base a little bit.”
