Haley Fastest in The Clash Qualifying Saturday

NASCAR Photo

LOS ANGELES, CA – RIS – The NASCAR Cup Series 2023 season  got underway on Saturday night with initial qualifying for the season-opening  Bud Clash at the LA Memorial Coliseum.  The exhibition race will be on Sunday with heat races to determine starting positions at 8:00 PM EDT.  It’s second straight year on the temporary quarter-mile track laid down over the pitch at the historic home many footballs games.

Justin Haley was fastest in qualifying and Kyle Busch, driving for a new team, was second fastest.  Christopher Bell, William Byron, Aric Almirola, Austin Dillon, Denny Hamlin, AJ Allmendinger, and Alex Bowman rounded out the top 10 qualifiers.

Tomorrow, heat races will determine the starting positions for the event.  The Clash, will be a 150-lap race with just green-flag laps counting and the winner bringing home a purse of more than $2 million.

Each heat race will be 25 laps of green flag running (caution laps will not count this year) with the top five finishers in each automatically advancing to the main event. Everyone else will be split into two 50-lap “last-chance qualifier” races with the top-three finishers from each advancing into the main. The 27th and final starting spot for the main will be the highest points finisher from 2022 that has not yet advanced.

Time Trial Results: Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Justin Haley, No. 31 Celsius Chevrolet, 13.413, 67.099, 2, 2, 0.000, 0.000
2) Kyle Busch, No. 8 BetMGM Chevrolet, 13.553, 66.406, 1, 2, 0.140, 0.140
3) Christopher Bell, No. 20 Interstate Batteries Toyota, 13.569, 66.328, 2, 2, 0.156, 0.016
4) William Byron, No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet, 13.596, 66.196, 2, 2, 0.183, 0.027
5) Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield Ford, 13.600, 66.176, 2, 2, 0.187, 0.004
6) Austin Dillon, No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet, 13.605, 66.152, 2, 2, 0.192, 0.005
7) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, 13.621, 66.074, 2, 2, 0.208, 0.016
8) AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Action Industries Chevrolet, 13.623, 66.065, 2, 2, 0.210, 0.002
9) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 13.624, 66.060, 2, 2, 0.211, 0.001
10) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 13.638, 65.992, 2, 2, 0.225, 0.014
11) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Jockey Chevrolet, 13.663, 65.871, 2, 2, 0.250, 0.025
12) Ross Chastain, No. 1 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 13.683, 65.775, 1, 2, 0.270, 0.020
13) Harrison Burton, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 13.714, 65.626, 2, 2, 0.301, 0.031
14) Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Busch Light Ford, 13.734, 65.531, 1, 2, 0.321, 0.020
15) Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford, 13.735, 65.526, 2, 2, 0.322, 0.001
16) Bubba Wallace, No. 23 DoorDash Toyota, 13.742, 65.493, 2, 2, 0.329, 0.007
17) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 13.749, 65.459, 2, 2, 0.336, 0.007
18) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Food4Less/Velveeta Chevrolet, 13.767, 65.374, 2, 2, 0.354, 0.018
19) Tyler Reddick, No. 45 MoneyLion Toyota, 13.793, 65.250, 2, 2, 0.380, 0.026
20) Erik Jones, No. 43 Allegiant Chevrolet, 13.817, 65.137, 1, 2, 0.404, 0.024
21) Noah Gragson #, No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet, 13.823, 65.109, 2, 2, 0.410, 0.006
22) Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 13.851, 64.977, 2, 2, 0.438, 0.028
23) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 King's Hawaiian Ford, 13.863, 64.921, 2, 2, 0.450, 0.012
24) Ryan Preece, No. 41 United Rentals Ford, 13.870, 64.888, 2, 2, 0.457, 0.007
25) Michael McDowell, No. 34 FR8Auctions.com Ford, 13.890, 64.795, 1, 2, 0.477, 0.020
26) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Freightliner Ford, 13.910, 64.702, 2, 2, 0.497, 0.020
27) Todd Gilliland, No. 38 gener8tor Skills Ford, 13.915, 64.678, 2, 2, 0.502, 0.005
28) Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Animal Control FOX Chevrolet, 13.919, 64.660, 2, 2, 0.506, 0.004
29) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fastenal Ford, 13.935, 64.586, 2, 2, 0.522, 0.016
30) Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 14.087, 63.889, 2, 2, 0.674, 0.152
31) JJ Yeley, No. 15 CW & Sons Infrastructure Ford, 14.254, 63.140, 2, 2, 0.841, 0.167
32) Cody Ware, No. 51 Biohaven Ford, 14.316, 62.867, 2, 2, 0.903, 0.062
33) Ty Dillon, No. 77 NASCAR Fan Rewards Chevrolet, 14.489, 62.116, 2, 2, 1.076, 0.173
34) BJ McLeod, No. 78 Celsius Chevrolet, 15.308, 58.793, 2, 2, 1.895, 0.819
35) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Great Lakes Flooring Ford, 40.301, 22.332, 1, 1, 26.888, 24.993
36) Ty Gibbs #, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, 0.000, 0.000, 0, 0, -----, -----

Practice Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1)         Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 13.361 sec, 67.360 mph, 59, 107, ---.---, ---.---
2)         Bubba Wallace, No. 23 DoorDash Toyota, 13.371, 67.310, 60, 108, -0.010 sec, -0.010 sec
3)         Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford, 13.383, 67.250, 67, 111, -0.022, -0.012
4)         Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 13.390, 67.214, 64, 103, -0.029, -0.007
5)         Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Great Lakes Flooring Ford, 13.390, 67.214, 62, 112, -0.029, -0.000
6)         Ty Gibbs #, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, 13.394, 67.194, 32, 60, -0.033, -0.004
7)         Ross Chastain, No. 1 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 13.398, 67.174, 62, 112, -0.037, -0.004
8)         Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, 13.403, 67.149, 56, 113, -0.042, -0.005
9)         Todd Gilliland, No. 38 gener8tor Skills Ford, 13.407, 67.129, 66, 107, -0.046, -0.004
10)       Justin Haley, No. 31 Celsius Chevrolet, 13.408, 67.124, 35, 113, -0.047, -0.001
11)       Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Busch Light Ford, 13.409, 67.119, 76, 116, -0.048, -0.001
12)       Michael McDowell, No. 34 FR8Auctions.com Ford, 13.441, 66.959, 32, 113, -0.080, -0.032
13)       Kyle Busch, No. 8 BetMGM Chevrolet, 13.443, 66.949, 72, 113, -0.082, -0.002
14)       William Byron, No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet, 13.444, 66.944, 63, 109, -0.083, -0.001
15)       Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield Ford, 13.447, 66.929, 70, 112, -0.086, -0.003
16)       Christopher Bell, No. 20 Interstate Batteries Toyota, 13.454, 66.895, 32, 114, -0.093, -0.007
17)       Tyler Reddick, No. 45 MoneyLion Toyota, 13.458, 66.875, 29, 117, -0.097, -0.004
18)       Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fastenal Ford, 13.458, 66.875, 59, 106, -0.097, -0.000
19)       Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 13.460, 66.865, 30, 111, -0.099, -0.002
20)       Ryan Preece, No. 41 United Rentals Ford, 13.463, 66.850, 57, 107, -0.102, -0.003
21)       Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 13.476, 66.785, 35, 114, -0.115, -0.013
22)       Austin Dillon, No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet, 13.476, 66.785, 109, 112, -0.115, -0.000
23)       Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Jockey Chevrolet, 13.479, 66.771, 66, 105, -0.118, -0.003
24)       AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Action Industries Chevrolet, 13.484, 66.746, 61, 101, -0.123, -0.005
25)       Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Animal Control FOX Chevrolet, 13.502, 66.657, 44, 98, -0.141, -0.018
26)       Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 13.514, 66.598, 59, 103, -0.153, -0.012
27)       Erik Jones, No. 43 Allegiant Chevrolet, 13.538, 66.480, 53, 95, -0.177, -0.024
28)       Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Food4Less/Velveeta Chevrolet, 13.553, 66.406, 28, 115, -0.192, -0.015
29)       Noah Gragson #, No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet, 13.567, 66.337, 73, 115, -0.206, -0.014
30)       Harrison Burton, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 13.604, 66.157, 26, 111, -0.243, -0.037
31)       Austin Cindric, No. 2 Freightliner Ford, 13.637, 65.997, 68, 96, -0.276, -0.033
32)       Ty Dillon, No. 77 NASCAR Fan Rewards Chevrolet, 13.666, 65.857, 47, 92, -0.305, -0.029
33)       Brad Keselowski, No. 6 King's Hawaiian Ford, 13.674, 65.818, 70, 110, -0.313, -0.008
34)       Cody Ware, No. 51 Biohaven Ford, 13.689, 65.746, 108, 111, -0.328, -0.015
35)       JJ Yeley, No. 15 CW & Sons Infrastructure Ford, 13.832, 65.067, 55, 112, -0.471, -0.143
36)       BJ McLeod, No. 78 Celsius Chevrolet, 14.029, 64.153, 26, 70, -0.668, -0.197
Required to qualify on time, (i) Ineligible for driver points in this series

Best 10 Consecutive Lap Average
Pos, Driver, Car, From Lap, To Lap, Avg Speed
1)         Bubba Wallace, No. 23 DoorDash Toyota, 56, 65, 66.950 mph
2)         Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Mahindra Tractors Ford, 61, 70, 66.822
3)         Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, 55, 64, 66.813
4)         Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Great Lakes Flooring Ford, 55, 64, 66.675
5)         Todd Gilliland, No. 38 gener8tor Skills Ford, 58, 67, 66.655
6)         Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, 99, 108, 66.608
7)         Aric Almirola, No. 10 Smithfield Ford, 62, 71, 66.561
8)         Kyle Busch, No. 8 BetMGM Chevrolet, 64, 73, 66.542
9)         Ross Chastain, No. 1 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 26, 35, 66.505
10)       Christopher Bell, No. 20 Interstate Batteries Toyota, 26, 35, 66.472
11)       William Byron, No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet, 55, 64, 66.446
12)       Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 57, 66, 66.432
13)       Chase Elliott, No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, 26, 35, 66.412
14)       Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Jockey Chevrolet, 58, 67, 66.395
15)       Michael McDowell, No. 34 FR8Auctions.com Ford, 26, 35, 66.352
16)       Justin Haley, No. 31 Celsius Chevrolet, 68, 77, 66.345
17)       Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Busch Light Ford, 69, 78, 66.343
18)       Tyler Reddick, No. 45 MoneyLion Toyota, 23, 32, 66.257
19)       Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fastenal Ford, 56, 65, 66.216
20)       Austin Dillon, No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet, 102, 111, 66.200
21)       Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Animal Control FOX Chevrolet, 38, 47, 66.125
22)       Ryan Preece, No. 41 United Rentals Ford, 50, 59, 66.103
23)       AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Action Industries Chevrolet, 26, 35, 66.065
24)       Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 69, 78, 65.897
25)       Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 91, 100, 65.887
26)       Ty Gibbs #, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota, 25, 34, 65.880
27)       Noah Gragson #, No. 42 Sunseeker Resort Chevrolet, 69, 78, 65.823
28)       Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Food4Less/Velveeta Chevrolet, 22, 31, 65.693
29)       Harrison Burton, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, 49, 58, 65.452
30)       Erik Jones, No. 43 Allegiant Chevrolet, 49, 58, 65.394
31)       Austin Cindric, No. 2 Freightliner Ford, 59, 68, 65.374
32)       Brad Keselowski, No. 6 King's Hawaiian Ford, 65, 74, 65.059
33)       Ty Dillon, No. 77 NASCAR Fan Rewards Chevrolet, 42, 51, 65.042
34)       Cody Ware, No. 51 Biohaven Ford, 100, 109, 64.388
35)       JJ Yeley, No. 15 CW & Sons Infrastructure Ford, 64, 73, 63.890
36)       BJ McLeod, No. 78 Celsius Chevrolet, 17, 26, 62.805
Must run 10 consecutive laps on the track to be included.