Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024
0.25-Mile Oval
8:00 PM ET
Location: Los Angeles, California
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR Cup Series exhibition race
Radio: SiriusXM logo PRN logo

5 KYLE LARSON
Age: 31 (July 31, 1992)
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Resides: Mooresville, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels
Standings: 2nd (2023)

No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 1:00 p.m. local time.

2023 RECAP: In 36 races during the 2023 season, Kyle Larson and the No. 5 HendrickCars.com team visited victory lane four times in points-paying races (Richmond Raceway, Martinsville Speedway, Darlington Raceway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway), tied for the series lead (with Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron) with 15 top-five finishes and added 18 top-10s. He also won the non-points All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway in May and led a series-high 1,127 laps during the season en route to a runner-up finish in the point standings. Larson was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in its 75th season.

PAIR OF FIVES FOR NO. 5: There have been two Clash at the Coliseum events and Larson is one of only three drivers to have finished inside the top five in each race. The Elk Grove, California, native finished fifth in 2022 and 2023 in the exhibition races held in his home state.

STADIUM RACING: This Sunday’s 0.25-mile track at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has been compared to the similar length layout at Bowman Gray Stadium located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In the 2012 ARCA Menards Series East race (then known as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East) at Bowman Gray, Larson led 35 laps from the pole position before finishing fifth in the 153-lap race.

SO SPECIAL: The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion has five wins in non-points events. In addition to winning last year’s All-Star Race, Larson also won that event in 2019 and 2021 – making him the only driver to win the All-Star Race at three different venues. He was also victorious in the All-Star Open in 2016 and 2019.

CLIFF’S NOTES: No. 5 crew chief Cliff Daniels and Larson have teamed up for 16 wins since Larson joined Hendrick Motorsports in 2021 – the third-best total among active driver and crew chief pairings. Daniels and Larson have teamed up to accomplish those wins in 100 races while the best active combination has posted 19 victories in 173 starts.

YOUR CAR NEEDS: This weekend, Larson will drive the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. From the convenience of home, HendrickCars.com customers can select the category, make, model and vehicle packages that are important to them from the nearly 30,000 new, high-quality pre-owned and certified cars, trucks and SUVs available at HendrickCars.com. The website also makes it easy for customers to find one of Hendrick Automotive Group’s 93 dealership locations nationwide.

WE’RE HIRING: Hendrick Automotive Group is hiring more than 300 technicians at its dealerships throughout the country. Positions are open for all skill levels and offer tuition and training reimbursement. Interested people can apply at HENDRICKCARS.COM.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 28 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 17th (2023)

No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 1:00 p.m. local time.

LOOKING BACK ON ‘23: The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season was one full of adversity for Chase Elliott and the No. 9 team. After finishing second at Auto Club Speedway early in the year, the Dawsonville, Georgia, native missed several races after injuring his leg in a snowboarding incident. Upon his return, he made up ground on his competitors and nearly qualified for the playoffs. Elliott ended the season with seven top-five finishes – including runner-up results at Auto Club and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course – 15 top-10s and an average finish of 13.07. Key milestones on the year included surpassing 5,000 laps led in his Cup career and 1,000 laps led at Martinsville Speedway, his most at a single track. The Hendrick Motorsports driver helped the No. 9 team in its owner championship quest where the crew ultimately advanced to the Round of 8. Elliott wrapped up the year with a sixth consecutive National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver Award and he was also named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in its 75th season.

CLASH COURSE: For the third year, the Cup Series returns to the legendary Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the Clash at the Coliseum exhibition race. Elliott’s best finish of 11th on the 0.25-mile oval came in the first race there in 2022. While the 28-year-old driver has never won the Clash, he is a three-time winner in special events held by NASCAR, including two Duel at Daytona victories (2017, 2018) and the 2020 NASCAR All-Star Race held at Bristol Motor Speedway.

DYNAMIC DUO: Elliott and No. 9 crew chief Alan Gustafson are entering their ninth season together, becoming the longest active driver and crew chief combo in the Cup Series garage. The duo is currently second among active pairings with 18 points-paying victories. Gustafson and Elliott earned their first Cup Series title in 2020 and the team captured the regular-season championship in 2022.

NEW FACES: A few new faces are joining the No. 9 road crew in 2024. Moving up to primary engineer is Mark Ziegler, who first joined the team last year. Serving as interior mechanic in 2024 is industry veteran Nick Gardiner. Trey Poole, who served as a secondary spotter for Elliott in previous seasons, will take over as the primary spotter for the No. 9 team.

GET UP AND GO: 2024 marks the 11th year NAPA has partnered up with Elliott and the ninth full-time season it has teamed up with Hendrick Motorsports. The Atlanta-based company first paired with Ellliott for his rookie NASCAR Xfinity Series season at JR Motorsports in 2014 and has been with him ever since. NAPA is serving as the majority partner for the 2020 Cup Series champion and the No. 9 team for 26 Cup Series races this season, including this weekend’s Clash. While NAPA will primarily run a blue-based scheme in 2024, the company opted for a pearlescent white scheme for this weekend’s exhibition event. Get a look at all the angles of the white No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 here.

24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 26 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 3rd (2023)

No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, will be available to members of the media at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 1:00 p.m. local time.

2023 IN THE REARVIEW: Embarking on his seventh season in the NASCAR Cup Series, William Byron is coming off a career-best year at the highest level of competition. With back-to-back wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Phoenix Raceway in March, Byron not only locked himself into his fifth consecutive playoff appearance but continued his winning ways collecting three more wins before the final 10-race stretch. The success didn’t stop there though. Byron picked up his first playoff victory at Texas Motor Speedway, which also was the 300th win for Hendrick Motorsports. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native then went on to lock himself into his first Championship 4 appearance at the Cup level, ultimately ending the season third in the points standings.

COMING FOR THE CLASH: With the 2024 season kicking off with the Clash at the Coliseum, this will be the third year that the exhibition race will be held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. In the previous two events at the historic location, Byron was the only driver to run all 300 laps in the top 10 and ranks second for laps run in the top five for those races (157). He holds the second-best average running position (5.44) and is tied for the seventh-best average finish (8.00). In fact, Byron is one of only four drivers, including Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson, to finish in the top 10 in both races. While the 26-year-old driver has not won the Clash, he does have a win in one NASCAR special event (a Duel at Daytona victory in 2020).

RUDY, RUDY, RUDY: Crew chief Rudy Fugle enters his fourth season with Byron at the Cup level. Their six wins were the most by a driver and crew chief combo last season. Reaching the Championship 4, the No. 24 Fugle-led team finished third in the 2023 Cup Series standings with four poles, 15 top-five finishes and 21 top-10s. The Fugle-Byron duo have nine victories together, which is tied for the fourth-most among active driver and crew chief pairings. In total, they have been together for 104 races.

LIBERTY U IS BACK: To kick off the start of the 2024 season, Byron will sport Liberty University on board his No. 24 for the Clash at the Coliseum. Featuring a white base with navy flames and red accents, the No. 24 Liberty University Chevy will be sure to stand out on track. Liberty University has a long history with Byron starting back in 2014 in the late model ranks. Liberty University has been Training Champions for Christ since it was founded in 1971. Located in the mountains of Central Virginia, Liberty is a liberal arts institution with 17 colleges and schools that offers more than 600 degree programs from the certificate to the doctoral level, on campus and online. Working on an undergraduate degree in strategic communication, Byron is in his junior year at Liberty University through its online program. For a better look at the paint scheme, click here.

48 ALEX BOWMAN
Age: 30 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Resides: Concord, North Carolina
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: 20th (2023)

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

READY TO RACE: Alex Bowman returns to race the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for a fourth consecutive year in 2024. Bowman begins his seventh full-time season with Hendrick Motorsports and 10th year in the NASCAR Cup Series. In February 2023, Bowman signed a three-year contract extension with the 14-time championship-winning organization that keeps him driving for team owner Rick Hendrick through 2026.

CALLING THE SHOTS: Blake Harris returns to the track in 2024 embarking on his second year as the crew chief of the No. 48 Ally Racing team, paired with driver Bowman. Overall, this is his third year atop a pit box in the Cup Series. During their inaugural season together, Harris and Bowman wasted no time developing a strong working relationship. This year, the duo looks to earn their first win together, add to Bowman’s seven Cup Series wins and secure his sixth playoff appearance.

COMING BACK TO THE COLISEUM: This weekend, NASCAR holds the Clash at the Coliseum. Bowman has had solid runs in the sport’s past special events. The 30-year-old’s best finish in this exhibition race came in 2017 when he finished third at Daytona International Speedway. At the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the driver of the No. 48 has the third-best average position in the main (5.65) and he finished fourth in last year’s race. Bowman is one of only nine drivers to have run at least 150 laps in the top-10 positions during the main event at the Coliseum. His 82 laps run in the top five during the main event place him ninth amongst all Cup Series drivers.

FIRST TRACK APPEARANCE: The primary No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 paint scheme carries a new “digital camo” look for the 2024 season. Hendrick Motorsports and Ally Financial unveiled the new rendering on Dec. 8, 2023, and it will hit the track for the first time this weekend in Los Angeles. With Ally being a digital bank, the “digital camo” design helps brings the brand to life. Sean Bull, an F1 graphic designer, worked with Bowman and Ally to create the eye-catching scheme, doubling as his professional debut in NASCAR. Learn more about the design’s story here and check out all angles of the ride here.

NASCAR DIVERSITY AWARDS: NASCAR will host the 16th annual Drive for Diversity Awards presented by Ally in celebration of diversity and inclusion advocates. Ten individuals and organizations whose efforts are making a difference both on and off the racetrack will receive awards. Bowman will join Brandon Thompson, NASCAR’s vice president of Diversity and Inclusion, and Bridget Sponsky, Ally’s executive director of Brand and Sponsorship Marketing, in the ceremony’s celebrations.

NEW YEAR WITH NEW FACES: This season, the No. 48 team welcomes a few new allies to the group. This includes a new lead engineer, tire specialist and engine tuner. George Spencer joins the team as the new lead engineer. Spencer is from Halifax, Virginia, and got into motorsports by attending races with his grandfather. He studied at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and has been an engineer at the professional level for nine years. Before that, he was a spotter/mechanic at local dirt tracks for 10 years. Colin Hoeffner joins the crew originating from Bay Shore, New York. He was a Social Studies teacher in Connecticut until joining the Cup Series as a tire specialist last year. Before that, Hoeffner was involved in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour for about 10 years and raced himself in Legends Cars. Gage Wenzel joins the team taking the title of engine tuner. Wenzel is from Brighton, Michigan, and 2024 marks his second season as an engine tuner in the Cup Series. Away from the track, Wenzel likes to snowboard and spend time in the mountains.

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS

2023	All-Time	LA Coliseum
Races	36	1,345	2
Wins	10*	301*	0
Poles	7	246*	0
Top 5	42*	1,232*	3**
Top 10	67*	2,112*	5*
Laps Led	2,440	79,757*	0
Stage Wins	19*	98	N/A

*Most **Most (tie)

FABULOUS 40: In 2024, Hendrick Motorsports is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Among the categories that the Rick Hendrick-owned organization holds the record in for the NASCAR Cup Series are all-time wins (301), poles (246), laps led (79,757) and championships (14). The organization has won at least one race in each of the last 38 seasons. In addition, the team has at least three victories in each of the past 30 seasons, the longest streak by a team in the Cup Series.

LAST YEAR LOOK BACK: Last season, Hendrick Motorsports notched a series-best 10 wins and placed two drivers – William Byron and Kyle Larson – in the Championship 4. Larson won four races as well as the non-points All-Star Race and finished second in the final standings. Byron won a best-in-series six times and placed third in the final standings. Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman each missed time with injuries and Elliott led the No. 9 team to the Round of 8 in the owner’s playoffs. The season saw the organization earn its 300th Cup Series victory (Byron at Texas Motor Speedway) and the engine department earn its 500th national series win (Larson at Darlington Raceway). The four-car team led the Cup Series in wins (10), top-five finishes (42), top-10s (67) and stage wins (19).

FORMAT IN FOCUS: For the Clash at the Coliseum, drivers will be split into three groups for three timed sessions of practice on Saturday, Feb. 3. Each driver’s fastest lap time from final practice will determine the starting lineup for that night’s heat races. The four heat races of 25 laps will begin at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1. Only green-flag laps will count and there will be no overtime. The top five from each heat race will advance to the Clash. The drivers that finish outside the top five in their respective heats move to the Last Chance Qualifier Race (LCQ) on Sunday, Feb. 4. The LCQ will be 75 laps (green-flag only with no overtime) and begin at 6:40 p.m. ET on FOX. The top-two finishers in the LCQ will advance to the Clash. The 23rd and final spot in the field will be awarded to the driver who finished the highest in the 2023 season driver points standings but has yet to automatically transfer into the Clash. The Clash will take place at 8 p.m. ET on FOX and run for 150 laps with a halftime break after 75 laps. Only the green-flag laps will count and the race must finish under green. Read more about the format here.

LA REWIND: In last year’s second race at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Bowman finished a team-best fourth, while Larson was fifth. Byron rounded out the top 10. Elliott qualified for the main event for the second straight season. Larson is one of three drivers to finish in the top five both years on the purpose-built 0.25-mile track at the historic venue. Byron is one of four drivers to finish in the top 10 in both years of the event.

TRACK POSITION: Three Hendrick Motorsports drivers rank in the top five for the best average running position in the main event at the LA Coliseum. Byron (5.44) is second, Bowman (5.65) holds third and Larson (6.88) rounds out the top five. In addition, Byron has run all 300 laps in the top 10 at the historic venue.

CAPTURING THE CLASH: Hendrick Motorsports’ seven wins in the Clash are the third-most among all teams. All of their victories came at Daytona International Speedway, which was the home of the Clash from 1979 to 2020. The track’s road course hosted the 2021 edition of the Clash. Ken Schrader (1989 and 1990), Jeff Gordon (1994 and 1997) and Jimmie Johnson (2005 and 2019) each won the event twice, while Dale Earnhardt Jr. scored a win in 2008.

SAVORING THE SPECIAL: The Rick Hendrick-owned organization has recorded a series-best 39 wins in special events. The team’s win totals in the Duel at Daytona qualifiers (16), NASCAR All-Star Race (11) and All-Star Open (five) are the most or tied for the most among all teams. Larson has five wins in such events with two coming with Hendrick Motorsports. Elliott has three wins, while Byron has one victory in those events.

WIN LEADERS: In each of the last three seasons, a Hendrick Motorsports driver has led the Cup Series in wins. Larson won 10 races in his title-winning season of 2021, Elliott scored five victories in 2022 and Byron took home six wins in 2023. This is the organization’s longest streak of having the series’ wins leader since Gordon led the way in victories for five straight seasons from 1995 to 1999.

QUOTABLE /

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the race at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: “This is a really cool event being in the stadium and a unique format with heat races. Even the break with a concert in the feature adds a unique feel to a race when no points are awarded. It is just so different from our normal race weekends and that makes the entire weekend a fun one.”

Cliff Daniels, crew chief of the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the evolution of the Clash at the Coliseum: “In 2022, the drivers raced with more respect because the (Next Gen) car was new and unknown. That was our first outing as an industry with the Next Gen car. Overall, the racing was pretty clean. By 2023, everyone had learned the car and it was a ‘smashfest.’ I’m curious to see how it plays out this year.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on having the longest active driver and crew chief pairing in the Cup Series garage with Alan Gustafson: “We have such a solid working relationship. It just makes each week way easier and better when that is the case. He and I are very similar in a lot of ways and kind of look at things from a similar view. That helps our relationship at the track and ultimately, we have the same goals in mind. It’s pretty cool. I didn’t know that we were the longest pairing. I guess we are both getting old.”

Elliott on goals for 2024: “Winning would be great. Winning a championship would be great. We just want to have pace on a week-to-week basis and that is where my head has been for a long time. I want to show up and have a shot every week. I think we are very capable of doing that but you’ve got to be perfect. If you are not perfect, you have to be really close to it and just keep yourself in contention. That’s really where I am at with it. I want to have pace, be fast and be in the hunt more often.”

Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on the 2024 season: “I’m just excited about the opportunity that’s in front of us. The 40th anniversary this year, everything that that could be and the vision and the dreams I think we all have for that excites me and gives a little extra motivation. The new season, I think, it’s just an opportunity to simplify for me and just focus on racing, being successful and setting that initial benchmark or result and enjoying the process of improving on it.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on returning to the LA Coliseum for the Clash: “This is always a fun event for not only the fans, but the drivers. I think we have really seen it evolve the last two years. While there are no points on the line, you still want to go out there, have a good run and contend for a win. You want to show that the hard work in the offseason paid off. At the same time, you can’t let a bad day affect you or your season because it is such a unique event and venue. We’ve run well there the last two times. We just need a little bit more and I think we have a shot to start the year off with a win.”

Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on returning to the LA Coliseum: “It seems like every year we go to the LA Coliseum we have changes. The biggest difference this year is that we don’t have a true qualifying session like the past two years. Now your final practice run will set the heat races. You’ll want to make sure you have a good gap on your run and hit your marks because a good heat start is crucial. The other difference this year is that there will be another series racing before us. That brings the unknown of what the track will do with the additional laps and rubber.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on racing at the LA Coliseum: “I’m excited to get back to work in 2024 with Ally and the No. 48 team. That starts this weekend in LA. We have some new faces on the team and we are ready to find our groove and get back into the swing of things. A strong finish would be great to start the season with, but there is a lot up in the air between weather and the nature of that racetrack, so you can’t let a bad finish ruin your mindset for the season either. My goal is to head to the West Coast ready to execute. I want our (No. 48) team to be able to maximize what we have and control the things that we can control.”

Blake Harris, crew chief of the No. 48 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on getting the new season started: “I’m excited to get the season back rolling. Last year in Los Angeles, we had a really good showing and honestly (it) felt like we had a really good shot to win the race. We started on the front row, I think five times in the second half of that race, but just let one of those restarts get away from us. I hope to pick up where we left off at the beginning of the season there. Our team has good notes there and we are excited to get back to the track. We are reset and ready to get into the season.”

RYAN PREECE
Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum
No. 41 United Rentals Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview
● Event: Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum
● Time/Date: 6 p.m. EST on Sunday, Feb. 4
● Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
● Layout: Quarter-mile oval
● Format: 150-lap Feature with a 23-car field set by Heats and Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ)
● TV/Radio: FOX / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Ryan Preece kicks off his second season as driver of the No. 41 United Rentals Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) with Sunday’s non-points Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum. The 33-year-old from Berlin, Connecticut, competed in the previous two Clash events held on the purpose-built, quarter-mile, asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where he showcased his short-track prowess each year. In his SHR debut a year ago this weekend, Preece finished fourth in his heat race to put him 16th on the grid for the 150-lap feature race. He made an impressive drive toward the front, eventually passing Bubba Wallace for the lead with 68 laps to go. Preece then paced the field for the next 42 laps before a fuel pump issue with 30 laps to go left him fighting for a seventh-place finish.

● Driving the No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford in the inaugural Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum in 2022, Preece raced his way into the feature in one of the Last Chance Qualifiers, then worked closely with the team to prepare for the main event by wrenching on the car himself. His bid for a strong finish in the feature was foiled when an oil pressure issue ended his bid at the race’s midpoint.

● Preece made a name for himself on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour – NASCAR’s oldest division and the only open-wheel series sanctioned by NASCAR. Preece won the Tour championship in 2013 and worked hard to leverage that title into additional opportunities in the Xfinity Series – NASCAR’s stepping-stone division to the elite Cup Series. After spending all of 2016 in a scrappy effort with an underfunded team that delivered a best finish of 10th, Preece mortgaged his house to secure two races with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in 2017. In equipment finally befitting his talent, Preece finished second in his JGR debut at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, then won in his second start at Iowa Speedway in Newton. In his next five Xfinity Series starts, Preece never finished outside the top-10, a run capped with his April 2018 victory at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

● In 151 career NASCAR Cup Series starts, Preece has three top-five finishes and 11 top-10s. His first season with SHR in 2023 featured his first career pole and 135 laps led in the April race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, the shortest track the Cup Series races on outside of the Coliseum.

● Riding along with Preece this weekend is SHR partner United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE: URI), the largest equipment rental company in the world. United Rentals has an integrated network of 1,449 rental locations in North America, 13 in Europe, 27 in Australia and 19 in New Zealand. In North America, the company operates in 49 states and every Canadian province. The company’s approximately 24,700 employees serve construction and industrial customers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners and others. The company offers approximately 4,700 classes of equipment for rent with a total original cost of $19.3 billion. United Rentals is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, the Barron’s 400 Index and the Russell 3000 Index®. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. Additional information about United Rentals is available at UnitedRentals.com.

● In true L.A. fashion, almost any NASCAR Cup Series team can show up at the Coliseum, but not everyone is getting past the velvet ropes to participate in the 150-lap main event. Because the track at the L.A. Coliseum is only a quarter-mile in length – the shortest track the NASCAR Cup Series will compete on in 2023 – only 23 cars can compete in the feature. Getting to the main event is much more arduous than walking the red carpet and slipping the bouncer a $100 bill. Here’s how it works…

● On Saturday, NASCAR Cup Series competitors will take to the track for a dual practice/qualifying session that determines the starting order for four, 25-lap heat races consisting of 10 cars each. Below is a breakdown on how Saturday’s heat races will be filled out:

The field will be split into three practice groups, with each group receiving three sessions. The fastest lap time from each competitor’s final practice session will determine the starting lineup for the four heat races. The top-four overall lap times in final practice will earn the pole for each heat race, while the fifth- through eighth-fastest lap times will make up the other half of the front row for each heat.
The complete field for each heat race will be filled using this methodology: Heat one will be made up of cars listed in overall positions one, five, nine, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37 on the final practice timesheet.
The top-five finishers (20 total cars) from each heat race automatically advance to the Clash, with the winner of heat one winning the pole and the winner of heat two earning the outside pole.
The winners of heats three and four will fill out the second row, with the remaining order being determined in the same manner.
The remaining finishing positions from each heat that did not advance will continue to Sunday’s 75-lap Last Chance Qualifying (LCQ) race. Below is a breakdown on how the LCQ will be filled out:
The starting order will be determined based on finishing positions in the heat races.
The sixth-place finisher from heat one will be on the pole for the LCQ race. The sixth-place finisher from heat two will be on the outside pole. This pattern will continue to fill out the remaining LCQ field.
The top-two finishers from the LCQ race will advance to the Clash, filling out positions 21 and 22.
The 23rd and final spot in the Clash will be reserved for the driver who finished the highest in the 2023 championship standings who does not transfer on finishing position in their heat race or in their LCQ race.
All other drivers will be eliminated from competition for the remainder of the event weekend.
Ryan Preece, Driver of the No. 41 United Rentals Ford Mustang

Your very first outing in the No. 41 SHR Ford was an impressive one a year ago this weekend. You led 42 laps in last year’s Clash at the Coliseum main event before a fuel pump going bad dropped you to a seventh-place finish. How uplifting was that to kick off your inaugural season with the team?

“It certainly helped when I went into a style of racing which I grew up doing, and it’s a style I feel like some of these guys hadn’t done in quite a long time. When you grow up racing quarter miles and you really figure out what you need in a racecar on how to pass, how to make speed when your car isn’t necessarily doing what it does or does not want to do, there are just a lot of tools that I have in my toolbox to be able to go out there and either get the most out of the racecar or drive from 16th to the lead. Track position’s always nice at a place like that, but for me, if I start 18th, I don’t think the race is over for me, I think I can still get to the lead and win that race.”

The year before, in the inaugural Clash, driving a Rick Ware Racing Ford, you raced your way into the main event in one of the Last Chance Qualifiers after working closely with the team and even wrenching on the car yourself. Talk about that.

“It’s funny, I can remember the entire setup of that car that day because it’s pretty similar to what I’d run in my Modified, which is probably why we kept locking up the left-front. But it was just Tommy (Baldwin), myself and Rick Ware Racing going out there and kind of doing the things that we know how to do. Tommy grew up at Riverhead Raceway (in Calverton, New York) and I grew up racing there, and when you have that foundation to work from and understanding what it takes to get around a paperclip, a quarter mile, you know what tools to go for. It was a lot of fun. When we made that race, I know Rick was pretty pumped, and I was so focused on getting the car changed over to get in the race. I’m sure there were a lot of people that day who probably counted us out. If we didn’t lose brakes in the feature, I feel like we probably could’ve ended up in the top-10.”

What kinds of things have you and the team been focusing on as you’ve prepared for the 2024 season?

“It would be nice to go and win the Clash. I feel like last year’s was one where Martin (Truex Jr.) was really fast, but it would’ve been really difficult for him to get by us for the lead without having to wreck me. Between the Clash, Daytona, Atlanta, Vegas, it’s a really interesting dynamic. You’re going from a quarter-mile to a 2.5-mile superspeedway, and then Atlanta, and then you’re going to Vegas. You’re really going to have an understanding of where you are on the short-track side, and then with two weeks of superspeedway-style racing, you’re going to see where your cars are at superspeedway-wise. And then we get to answer a lot of unanswered questions about this new-style body. There’s a lot of potential, a lot of things we’re looking forward to with this new Dark Horse Ford Mustang, so we’re going to have a pretty intense three to four weeks ahead of us and that’s going to help guide our season to see what we are really excited about and at the same time work to make our cars better. Hopefully our cars are just super fast.”

You grew up running short tracks. The Coliseum is the shortest of short track. Was there any track that you ran on back in the day that you feel has similarities to the track at the Coliseum?

“I want to say they modeled that track after Bowman Gray (Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina), somewhat, so there are a lot of similarities. From the grip standpoint, it’s always fresh pavement, so you’re going to have plenty of grip. Bowman Gray is really difficult to pass at just because it’s outside a football field. I feel like L.A. reminds me so much of Riverhead (Raceway in Calverton, New York) when it comes to setting a pass up in how they’ve laid out the places where you can change the shape of the turn to give yourself an advantage over the guy in front of you instead of just driving through him. I think that style of racing takes so much craft to be able to make your way forward rather than just harpooning somebody and moving them out of the way. I enjoy that side of it.”

When it comes to the Clash, and short-track racing in general, what’s acceptable and what isn’t when it comes to on-track contact?

“I’ve always been under the influence of, ‘I’ll race you the way you race me.’ So if you’re going to race me with respect, I’ll do the same to try and get by you. If you’re going to stick a bumper to me, I’m probably going to put my brass knuckles on and take care of it. That’s just how I think all of us racers are, you see how you treat one another, and if the gloves come off, the gloves come off.”

The Busch Light Clash takes place in the nation’s No. 2 media market and tees up our version of the Super Bowl – the Daytona 500. Talk about being a part of that moment for NASCAR in getting the train rolling, and getting us to our biggest event.

“A lot of sports have their biggest moment at the end of the season where we kind of have two – we have our Phoenix finale, but we have the Daytona 500 to kick off all that hype. For me, it’s always great going to the 500, being a part of something so big. The energy that comes with that event is untouched, in my opinion. But at the same time, it’s a big deal for me because the last time we were at Daytona, I wasn’t able to drive out of there. I was driven out of there in an ambulance. So it’s going to be nice to get in there and go out, race that race and do our best to put ourselves in position to win it, but at the same time be able to drive myself out of that track.”

No. 41 United Rentals Team Roster

Primary Team Members

Driver: Ryan Preece

Hometown: Berlin, Connecticut

Crew Chief: Chad Johnston

Hometown: Cayuga, Indiana

Car Chief: Jeremy West

Hometown: Gardena, California

Engineer: Marc Hendricksen

Hometown: Clinton, New Jersey

Engineer: Scott Bingham

Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Spotter: Tony Raines

Hometown: LaPorte, Indiana

Over-The-Wall Members

Front Tire Changer: Devin Lester

Hometown: Bluefield, West Virginia

Rear Tire Changer: Kevin Teaf

Hometown: Tallahassee, Florida

Tire Carrier: Chad Emmons

Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Jack Man: Kapil Fletcher

Hometown: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Fuel Man: Dwayne Moore

Hometown: Griffin, Georgia

Road Crew Members

Mechanic: Joe Zanolini

Hometown: Sybertsville, Pennsylvania

Interior Mechanic: Robert Dalby

Hometown: Anaheim, California

Tire Specialist: Matt Ridgeway

Hometown: Carrollton, Georgia

Engine Tuner: Jimmy Fife

Hometown: Orange County, California

Transporter Co-Driver: David Rodrigues

Hometown: Santa Clarita, California

Transporter Co-Driver: Charlie Schleyer

Hometown: Youngsville, Pennsylvania

CLUB ENTRANTS

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
ERIK JONES

CLUB NOTES

R & R for JHN: John Hunter Nemechek spent the offseason with family catching some rays in the Bahamas and shredding the snow in Aspen, Colorado. He got some reps in on track while competing in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge event held at the Daytona road course on Jan. 26 splitting the driving duties with fellow Team Toyota teammates Corey Heim and Bubba Wallace.

The jet-setting Joneses – Like all NASCAR couples, the off-season is the only time to plan personal vacations. Jones and his wife Holly took an extended European vacation. The newlywed Joneses explored the mountains of Switzerland the historic ruins of Rome, and the coastlines of Greece before returning to the U.S. for the holiday season.

Enter Team Toyota: A major focal point of the Club’s manufacturer change to Toyota was in personnel ‘back at the shop’. Many engineering positions were added to the organization and the Club has logged a significant amount of hours on the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) simulator as well as an in-house version of the technology tool.

Pit crew U: Although they won’t be making any pit stops in L.A. this weekend, the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB pit crew has been working hard during the off-season. Led by pit crew coach and longtime motorsports veteran Chris Hall – LEGACY M.C. has added 15 crew members who are 100% dedicated to their over the wall duties.

Singing the “Blues”: As a Michigan native and longtime Detroit sports fan, Jones has been on a rollercoaster of emotions during the month of January. From watching Michigan win the national college football championship to watching his Lions miss their first-ever Super Bowl bid, Jones has embraced it all. When asked about his fandom Jones said “I have really enjoyed the last few weeks. It has been great to see Michigan win the National Championship and also see how well the Lions have been playing. I grew up watching the Lions and even saw the 0-16 season years ago. Regardless of the outcome, I’m proud to be a Lions fan, and even more proud to be from Michigan. It would have been something special to see them in the Super Bowl, but I’m going to Vegas regardless.”

Welcoming new partners to the Club: Several new partnerships have been formed leading into the Club’s 2024 campaign. Dollar Tree and Family Dollar recently announced a 38-race, multi-year agreement in which at least one of the Club entrants will have each brand as a primary sponsor for every race this season. AdventHealth will be the primary race for nine events this season, six with Jones and three with Jimmie Johnson. Carvana returns for their fourth year as a partner of Johnson for three races. Through its relationship with Toyota, automotive tools industry leader GEARWRENCH has signed on to support the Club’s efforts. Pye-Barker, ROMCO, and grocery store brands, all, Dial, Persil, Snuggle, and BajaVida Beef Jerky have followed Nemechek to the Cup Series. And announced earlier this week, Mobil 1 has extended its partnership with Toyota teams to include primary sponsorship of the No. 42 later in the year.

Past Clash winners: Drivers close to the Club have won the pre-season exhibition race three times. Johnson captured his most recent NASCAR win in this event at Daytona back in 2019, Jones was victorious in the final race held on the traditional Daytona layout in 2020, and Ben Beshore was the winning crew chief while working with Kyle Busch in the event’s lone time held on the Daytona road course the following year in 2021.

Eyes in the sky: Spotters are an integral part of any race team and new to the Club this year is Ryan Blanchard, who will spot the No. 42 Camry XSE. Blanchard is only 20 years old but has prior national series experience through 23XI Racing, TRICON Garage, Kyle Busch Motorsports, and Sam Hunt Racing. Rick Carelli returns as the spotter for the No. 43 with Jones. The former racer and Colorado native has built an impressive on-track resume, being named the 1991 NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour Champion, 1993 NASCAR Winston West Series Champion, and was inducted into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2009. Off the track, Carelli is known for his impressive management style working with Ron Hornaday during his 2007 championship. Carelli and Jones joined forces in 2017. Veteran Earl Barban will return as spotter for Johnson’s nine races in the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE. Barban and Johnson have won six titles together and have been a driver – spotter duo for almost two decades.

CLUB QUOTES

John Hunter Nemechek, Driver of the No. 42 Dollar Tree Camry XSE: “With no points on the line, there’s really nothing to lose here. First race getting into the 2024 season I hope to have a solid race with a great finish, and get some momentum on our side. But also it’s a chance to work together as a team on the No. 42 at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB before we go to the DAYTONA 500. We’ve got a new spotter, and Ben and I have worked together but the rest of us haven’t yet. We’re trying to knock the rust off, get the bugs out, and get going for 2024.”

Ben Beshore, Crew chief of the No. 42 Dollar Tree Camry XSE: On his relationship with John Hunter Nemechek: “I felt that last year we were able to hit the ground running and have some early success and build off that as the year went on. Our relationship is really good as far as having a year under our belts and knowing what he wants, and what kind of race adjustments we need when he’s in there battling for position. Having that year working together should really help us get started off quickly here in our first year of Cup together.”

On what is most important in terms of setup at the LA Coliseum: “The big focus is absolutely getting into the corner as hard as you can. You see a lot of guys locking the left-front tire up, so we try to do what we can from a setup standpoint to minimize that. There’s some compromise there, along with trying to turn the middle as good as you can, and trying to get the power down to get a good drive off the corner. Really, trying to figure out what the best global compromise is to satisfy those three conditions the best we can, will translate to fast lap times.”

On his prep for racing in the rain: “Looking back at last year in the All-Star race where they ran rain tires on a damp track, there’s a little bit different package being used with the rain flaps and the wiper. I would suspect if we do race in wet conditions it would be more of a damp-like condition instead of an active rain. Just mainly looking back through our notes in the wet weather testing and some previous events trying to see what guys did to get the best out of their cars in damp conditions. And that’s about it. There are not a lot of data points there to go off, so I think everyone’s kind of in the dark a little bit on what we need for damp conditions, especially on a new track that we don’t have much history on. There’s going to be a lot of guessing and trying to find out what the best strategy is there.”

Erik Jones, Driver of the No. 43 Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE: “The Clash is an interesting way to start the year, we went there for a couple of years now and I feel like we were all really looking forward to getting there the first year and seeing a new venue and trying something unique. We had a good run last year, but the day was cut pretty short. Hopefully, we have a great run and start the year off strong with Family Dollar and Toyota and be able to put together a solid run for them. So, I am going to take it in and make the most of it, hoping to come out with a good day.”

Dave Elenz, Crew chief of the No. 43 Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE: On the changes made from year to year: “This is our third year going into the Clash, and you have a lot more knowledge than you had the first time. There were a lot of unknowns about what the track was going to be like, and how it was going to race. We know a lot of that now; we understand the pavement and how long it is going to take to set in and allow the pace to come in. We have a lot of good notes, and Erik has been really strong at that track. I think we have learned a lot on the setup of the car, even though it is fresh pavement, it still holds the same angles and corner radiuses, so I think we have a great plan of what Erik needs to run up front all day. So hopefully we can capitalize on the success that we have had this far.”

On the potential of rain in Los Angeles: “We have rain tires if it rains and a defogger. We don’t have a wiper like we used to have, and I don’t think that changes much. What we saw at the All-Star race last year was the wet weather package was quite similar to the dry stuff. Tire wear is going to be large if it does stop raining, and we haven’t had as much tire wear there in the past. That will probably be the most interesting thing that we have. Other than that, it will be a lot like it is in the dry, especially with a track this short and flat.”

PETTY 75TH ANNIVERSARY

The 2024 season marks a significant milestone in the history of the Petty family as they have helped define stock car racing for 75 years. Their commitment to the sport and the people who make it possible – behind the wheel, under the hood, in the back office and beyond – has shaped the growth and success of NASCAR. Their LEGACY lives on with the countless fans, drivers, technicians and team members they touched. Throughout 2024, LEGACY M.C. will celebrate the Petty family and share countless memories with friends and fans at race tracks across the country.

PETTY 75 HISTORY: Before there was NASCAR at the L.A. Colosseum, there was NASCAR at Soldier Field. On July 21, 1956, the NASCAR Grand National Series (now NASCAR Cup Series) held the 33rd race of its season at Soldier Field – a stadium that has served as the home of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League since 1971. Lee Petty, who was 42 at the time, raced the No. 42 Dodge for Petty Enterprises in the “100 Miles at Soldier Field” event, starting and finishing 10th.

CLUB PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Detroit Lions fandom runs deep in the Jones family, as Oscar Jones was also pulling for the home team. (Photo courtesy, Erik & Holly Jones)

ABOUT OUR PARTNERS

ABOUT DOLLAR TREE, INC.: Dollar Tree, a Fortune 200 Company, operated 16,622 stores across 48 states and five Canadian provinces as of October 28, 2023. Stores operate under the brands of Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree Canada. To learn more about the Company, visit www.DollarTree.com.

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice “Maury” J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. The Club competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series fielding the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE of John Hunter Nemechek, the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE of Erik Jones, and the No. 84 limited schedule entry for Johnson. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty “The King” serves as Club Ambassador. With a unique title signifying a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for all motorsport enthusiasts to celebrate the past and future legacies of its members, while competing for wins and championships at NASCAR’s elite level. To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ on Facebook, X, Instagram and at www.LEGACYMOTORCLUB.com.

Busch Light Clash – Spire Motorsports Race Advance
Every February since 1979, the annual pre-season NASCAR Cup Series showcase was hosted by Daytona International Speedway. In September 2021, NASCAR announced it would move the race from the 2.5-mile Daytona Beach superspeedway to a purpose-built, quarter-mile oval, constructed inside the iconic home of the University of Southern California Trojans football team. The 2024 installment will mark the third consecutive year NASCAR has hosted the race at the iconic downtown Los Angeles venue.

How the Clash Works:

• Heat Race Starting Lineup – The field will be spilt into (3) practice groups, with each group receiving (3) sessions. Each competitor’s fastest lap time from their final practice session will determine the starting lineup for the heat races.
• Heat Races – Four heat races of 25 laps each with only green flag laps counted – no overtime in play. The top five from each heat race advance through to The Clash.
• Last Chance Qualifier – Cars that do not transfer to The Clash will compete in the Last Chance Qualifier Race with their starting position determined by where they finished in their respective heat races. The LCQ race is 75 laps with only green flag laps counted – no overtime in play. The top two finishers in the LCQ will transfer to The Clash
• Feature – The main event will feature 23 drivers competing for 150 laps with only green lag laps counted – the race must end under green. A timed break will be observed at the halfway point of the race (Lap 75).
• Lineup: The first 22 starting spots for The Clash is set through finishing positions in the heat races and the LCQ. The 23rd and final starting spot is reserved for the driver who finished the highest in the 2023 season driver points standings who did not already transfer into The Clash.
• Practice and heat races for NASCAR’s annual pre-season exhibition race will be televised live on FS1 Saturday, February 3 beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). The first of four qualifying races will take the green flag at 8:30 p.m. EST.
• FOX’s live television coverage of the last chance qualifying race, followed by the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum will take the green flag Sunday, February 4 beginning at 6:30 p.m. EST. NASCAR’s third visit to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – home of the 2028 Summer Olympic Games – will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90).

Corey LaJoie – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• Corey LaJoie and Spire Motorsports will jump start the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) season with an added boost from CELSIUS, the premium lifestyle energy drink formulated to power active lifestyles with ESSENTIAL ENERGYTM.
• Celsius Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: CELH), is a global consumer packaged goods company with a proprietary, clinically proven formula for its master brand CELSIUS®. A lifestyle energy drink born in fitness and a pioneer in the rapidly growing energy category. CELSIUS® offers proprietary, functional, essential energy formulas clinically-proven to offer significant health benefits to its users. CELSIUS® is backed by six university studies that were published in peer-reviewed journals validating the unique benefits CELSIUS® provides. For more information, please visit: https://www.celsius.com/
• The 2024 Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum will mark LaJoie’s third attempt at NASCAR’s pre-season speed contest at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
• While LaJoie and his Ryan Sparks-led team struggled in the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Busch Light Clash, a strong run at Martinsville Speedway last fall and post-season testing at Phoenix Raceway proved to make a difference for the group’s short-track package.
• LaJoie is coming off his best season to date in NASCAR’s premier division. In 2023, the Concord, N.C. native earned two top-five and three top-10 finishes en route to a career-best top-25 finish in NCS points.

Corey LaJoie on the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum:
It has to be great to kick off 2024 with Celsius.
“I’m thrilled to kick off another race season with Celsius. I’m confident we can bring a car that drives well and has some speed this year. I think restructuring how we attack The Clash, in terms of vehicle dynamics, is going to be a plus. We’ve had a couple good SIM sessions and worked really hard during the off season to be racing for a chance to bring our Celsius Camaro to Victory Lane in 2024.”

What does it take to make a car go fast around a football field?
“It needs to have a lot of mechanical grip. Obviously, you’re not going very fast so aerodynamics don’t really come into play. Your car has to build a lot of grip. It has to be able to turn and have some forward drive. You have to have a little luck, too, with traffic and the way qualifying is. There’s going to be cars on the track with you. You’ll have guys who are cutting off laps and guys who are sandbagging a little bit. That could screw up what could have been your best lap. There’s only going to be a couple hundredths between qualifying on the pole or qualifying 20th, so we want to make sure we’re on the front end of that. We’ll need a good starting spot for the heat race and play some defense to make sure we’re in but you need a good starting spot for the feature, too. I think your weekend, from the first time you hit the track, every lap is important at a race like this.”

What do you need to do, technique-wise, to run well at the Busch Light Clash?
“You’re never at the limit of the tire. It’s hard, because it’s hard to get heat in the tires and build it up gradually because you’re always on the verge of locking the tire up. Braking capability is what you’re trying to maximize. You’re trying to get in the corner hard and firm without locking the left-front tire up. You might be able to get to wide open with the throttle, but the braking technique, trying to get a good feel for the left front just before it locks up is what you’re looking for.”

Zane Smith – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• Sunday marks Zane Smith’s first appearance with Spire Motorsports. He will compete for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year.
• Smith will drive for Spire Motorsports as part of an alliance with Trackhouse Racing. In September, Trackhouse Racing announced a multi-year driving agreement with Smith and its aim to operate three full-time NASCAR Cup Series entries in 2025.
• Smith joins Corey LaJoie and Carson Hocevar as Spire drivers in 2024.
• Focused Health makes its NASCAR debut with Smith and the No. 71 team on Sunday. Focused Health assists consumers and employers in navigating the myriad of health insurance options in the government programs space.
• Smith is a nine-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race winner and the 2022 series’ champion who competed in four full seasons.
• Smith ran nine Cup races over the last two seasons, highlighted by a 10th-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May of 2023. He retains his rookie of the year eligibility in 2024.
• Smith married McCall Gaulding, the younger sister of fellow race-car driver Gray Gaulding. The couple tied the knot Jan. 11 in Charleston, South Carolina.
• Sunday will also mark the debut of Stephen Doran as a full-time NCS crew chief. The Pennsylvania native worked as an engineer on Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 4 team in 2023.

Zane Smith on the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum:
Are you ready for the Busch Light Clash?
“The off-season was fun, but I am so ready to race. I have watched the Clash on television and it’s way cool to get to be in it this year.”
How excited are you for the opportunity to race full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series?
“It has been pretty surreal. The day that we announced I was signing with Trackhouse Racing at Bristol, was truly a dream come true. I think every kid that wants to make it in racing, wants to see Sunday. To have the opportunity that I have and to have a foreseeable future in front of me is everything I ever wanted.”

How big of a jump is it from the Truck Series to the Cup Series?
“I feel that the truck actually raced very similar to the Cup car in some situations. The Cup car is kind of on its own planet. Everyone races really hard. I have an extremely good group around me for this year.”

Do you set goals?
“I want the graph arrow to be pointing up come the end of the year. That’s my goal. I have full intentions of going into every race weekend giving 110 percent and a full mindset of going in to win the race.”

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No.77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

• Delaware Life makes its debut as the primary sponsor aboard Carson Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro in the Busch Light Clash this weekend and will continue in that capacity for multiple races in 2024.
• Delaware Life has made its mission to deliver pure value to its network of financial professionals with a set of tools and products that help them empower their clients to plan for retirement with confidence. Delaware Life’s focus is delivering a seamless experience that gives clients exactly what they’re looking for: the comfort of understanding, the confidence of transparency, and streamlined products without needless features. Learn more at www.delawarelife.com
• Carson Hocevar made his NCS debut last season at World Wide Technology Raceway, filling in for Corey LaJoie in Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro. He competed in eight of the final 10 races in 2023 in the No. 42 entry for Legacy Motor Club (Legacy M.C.) notching five top-20 finishes, including a career/series best 11th-place finish in the Bass Pro Shops night race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
• After gaining valuable experience in NASCAR’s premier division last season, Hocevar officially enters the 2024 NCS rookie class, vying for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors alongside Spire Motorsports teammate Zane Smith.
• NASCAR’s 2024 pre-season exhibition marks Hocevar’s first attempt to qualify for the Busch Light Clash.
• Hocevar will be the youngest NCS regular on the track this season. He celebrated his 21st birthday on January 28th.
• Hocevar collected four NCTS wins during three full seasons driving for Niece Motorsports. The newly minted 21-year-old earned 21 top-five and 33 top-10 finishes, while leading 600 laps. The Portage, Mich., native finished fourth in the final NCTS championship point standings.
• Luke Lambert will serve as Hocevar’s crew chief for the 2024 season. The veteran NASCAR topkick comes to Spire Motorsports from LEGACY MOTOR CLUB.

Carson Hocevar on the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum:
You raced nine cup races last year, how are you channeling the lessons learned to elevate your performance not just this season, but right out of the gate this weekend?
“I’m very excited to get going with Luke (Lambert) and Spire. Honestly just looking forward to going racing this season. We’ve had a very productive off season – new shop, new people, new cars. I’m excited to see our work in the off season come to fruition at The Clash.”
What do you think about the unique characteristics of The Clash track and how will the atmosphere influence your approach?
“My approach isn’t a lot different; I am looking at it like it’s still a Cup race with Cup cars. We’ve prepared like it’s a points race so I’m excited to get there and see how we do as a team.”

What would you consider a successful season for you in 2024?
“I don’t have a lot of goals week in and week out, I just want us to be the best as a group as we can between communication, working on the cars and improving each week. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”

From the Top of the Box

Ryan Sparks – Crew Chief, No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Ryan Sparks serves in a dual role as both Spire Motorsports competition director and crew chief for driver Corey LaJoie and the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Sparks, a Winston-Salem, N.C., native, has been paired with LaJoie since 2020.
Combined, Sparks and LaJoie have earned three top-five and six top-10 finishes, including a pair of top fours in 2023.

Stephen Doran – Crew Chief, No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Stephen Doran begins his first full season as a Cup Series Crew Chief leading Zane Smith and the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet team during the 2024 season.
In 2006, Doran got his start in NASCAR at Petty Enterprises.
Since 2012, he has worked at Stewart-Haas Racing as an engineer most recently on the No. 4 car driven by Kevin Harvick.

Luke Lambert – Crew Chief, No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Luke Lambert is the crew chief for Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 team with 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year candidate Carson Hocevar
The 2005 North Carolina State graduate has led the competition efforts for some of the sport’s most notable names including Jeff Burton, Ryan Newman, Elliott Sadler and Chris Buescher.
In 2014, Lambert led Newman to a berth in the Championship 4, and ultimately a runner-up finish in the NCS championship point standings.

Team Roster
No. 7 Celsius Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Engine Builder: Hendrick Motorsports
Crew Chief: Ryan Sparks, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Spotter: T.J. Bell, Reno, Nev.
Car Chief: Scott Brewer, Huntersville, N.C.
Engine Tuner: Bob Dodge, Columbia Station, Ohio
Lead Engineer: Roy Gangdal, Vancouver, B.C.
Engineer: Adam Sturgill, Commercial Point, Ohio
Engineer/Tires: Zachary Braun, Slinger, Wis.
Mechanic: Brandon Cavitch, Petoskey, Mich.
Mechanic: Ira Gibson, Higbee, Mo.
Race Transporter Driver: Chad Frederick, Pottsville, Pa.
Co Race Transporter: Driver: Anthony Garatti, Petaluma, Calif.

No. 71 Focused Health Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Engine Builder: Hendrick Motorsports
Crew Chief: Stephen Doran, Butler, Pennsylvania
Spotter: Josh Williams, Martinsville, Virginia
Car Chief: Nick Defazio, Orange, California
Engine Tuner: Bob Dodge, Columbia Station, Ohio
Lead Engineer: Chais Eliason, Duluth, Minnesota
Engineer: Matthew Murphy, Greenville, North Carolina
Engineer/Tires: Austin Greco, Harrisburg, North Carolina
Front End Mechanic: Clint Leatherwood, Rockmart, Georgia
Rear End Mechanic: Trevor Jones, Montgomery, New Jersey
Race Transporter Driver: Chris Avery, Cove City, North Carolina

No. 77 Delaware Life Chevrolet Camaro
Engine Builder: Hendrick Motorsports
Crew Chief: Luke Lambert, Mount Airy, N.C.
Spotter: Tyler Green, Owensboro, Ky.
Car Chief: Dan Brzozowski, Chicago, Ill.
Engine Tuner: Austin Trebilcock, Tucson, Ariz.
Lead Engineer: Garrett Paterson, Sacramento, Calif.
Engineer: Nick Sowa, Middletown, Conn,
Tire Specialist/Interior Specialist: Jack Kelley, Bowling Green, Ky.
Mechanic: C.J. Wilson, Elmira, N.Y.
Mechanic: Peter Sospenzo, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mechanic: Carson Poindexter, Huntersville, N.C.
Race Transporter Driver: David Brandon, Lancaster, Calif.
Co Race Transporter Driver: Daniel Rosensteel, Greenville, S.C.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports is a NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2024, Spire Motorsports will campaign the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series with drivers Corey LaJoie, Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar, respectively. The team will also field the No. 77 Chevrolet Silverado full time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series with driver Chase Purdy.

Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on May 20, 2023, when Kyle Larson took the checkered flag in the Tyson 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

As the Wood Brothers embark on the team’s record-extending 74th year of competing in NASCAR, driver Harrison Burton, crew chief Jeremy Bullins and the rest of the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team are working hard to make the 2024 season a memorable one.

Bullins, who started his NASCAR career with the Woods and returned to the team for the final 10 races of the 2023 season, said he’s looking forward to this weekend’s Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the non-points event that kicks off the 2024 Cup Series season.

As in the first two runnings of the Clash at the Coliseum, the race will be contested on a temporary quarter-mile asphalt oval inside the facility known as “The Greatest Stadium in the World.” Completed and opened in 1923, the Coliseum was built as a living memorial to those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War I.

“On one hand it’s hard to believe it’s time for the truck to leave to kick off another season, but on the other I’m ready to get back to the track and race,” Bullins said. “After all that’s what we do.”

Bullins added that he has high hopes for his young driver, who is beginning his third season behind the wheel of the iconic No. 21 Mustang.

“We got a great jump start on the 2024 season by working with Harrison for the last 10 races of 2023, and that certainly helped us understand the areas we need to work to be better,” he said.

“Our new Dark Horse Mustang looks great, and we can’t wait to get on track and get the ball rolling.”

Bullins also said he and the team would like nothing better than to deliver a milestone victory for their Wood Brothers team, which was founded in 1950 and competed mostly on local dirt tracks before joining the Cup circuit in 1953.

“We all look forward to chasing the Wood Brothers 100th win this year,” he said.

Practice and qualifying for the Clash is set to begin at 3:10 p.m. Saturday (6:10 p.m. Eastern Time). A driver’s fastest lap in the third and final practice session will serve as their qualifying lap and be used to set the line-up for the four 25-lap heat races that will be run just after practice.

FOX Sports 1 will be on the air from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time to provide coverage.

Sunday’s schedule opens with a 75-lap Last Chance qualifying race at 3:40 p.m. local time (6:40 Eastern).

The 150-lap main event, which includes a break at the halfway-mark, is set to begin at 5 p.m. (8 p.m. Eastern).

FOX will broadcast both of Sunday’s races.

About Motorcraft®
Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to underhood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers, independent distributors and automotive-parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty* of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine maintenance, serving all vehicle makes and models. Quick Lane provides a full menu of automotive services, including tires, oil change and maintenance, brakes, batteries, alternator and electrical system, air conditioning system, cooling system, transmission service, suspension and steering, wheel alignment, belts and hoses, lamps and bulbs and wiper blades plus a thorough vehicle checkup report. Service is performed by expert technicians while you wait at any of nearly 800 locations in the U.S., with evening and weekend hours available and no appointment necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com.
*See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, as well as connected services. Additionally, Ford is establishing leadership positions in mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 176,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Credit is available at corporate.ford.com.
*See seller for limited-warranty details.

Wood Brothers Racing
Wood Brothers Racing was formed in 1950 in Stuart, Va., by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood. Wood Brothers Racing is the oldest active team and one of the winningest teams in NASCAR history. Since its founding, the team won 99 races (including at least one race in every decade for the last seven decades) and 120 poles in NASCAR’s top-tier series. Fielding only Ford products for its entire history, the Wood Brothers own the longest association of any motorsports team with a single manufacturer. Glenn’s brother, Leonard, is known for inventing the modern pit stop. The team currently runs the Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in the famous No. 21 racer.