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L.A Coliseum Controversy Silenced as NASCAR Insider Sheds Light on Severity of the Storm

Published 02/05/2024, 1:37 PM EST

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NASCAR might have found the solution to its inclement weather problems. By August last year, 17 NASCAR races had been affected adversely and delayed or suspended. 2024 could have started on a similar note had the governing body not decided to reschedule the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum. NASCAR’s sudden decision came in the wake of an incoming coastal storm to brace South California.

Meteorologists had determined that it was the strongest storm of the season and could invite flooding incidents. While NASCAR’s decision seems the perfect choice in hindsight, many fans had disapproved of it. However, clearing the air on the storm’s effects, popular NASCAR journalist Jeff Gluck has tweeted about the storm causing landslides and severe flooding amid heavy rainfall.

NASCAR was spot-on with its decision to reschedule the Clash at the Coliseum

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The emergency rescheduling was done after careful consideration of the different parties at work there. Stakeholders and partners like FOX, NBC, and Anheuser Busch also nodded to let go of the much-awaited Machine Gun Kelly concert. Since a preponed race meant changes to the regular timings, practice sessions were followed by the starts of the Mexico Series and Cup Series races.

However, in recent news, the storm has been wreaking havoc in Los Angeles. Jeff Gluck’s tweet highlighted the severe aftereffects like mudslides, flooding, and continuous rain since landfall. Considering the situation, NASCAR was right to call off its plans for Sunday.

Opening the arena to the fans with free admission, NASCAR attracted a huge crowd and refunded the pre-paid ticket holders to manage the arrears. With inclement weather failing to play spoilsport to NASCAR’s plans this time, it has impressed the drivers. The Hendrick Motorsports duo of Chase Elliott and William Byron were quick to shower praise on the authorities for their quick thinking.

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Chase Elliott and William Byron applaud the revision in schedule

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The off-season was long, and Cup Series drivers had toiled hard to prepare for 2024. With the excitement visible on the track following the unbridled aggression among drivers, it would have been a waste to let the energy and resources deplete later. Chase Elliott believes that the rescheduling affected all the parties positively and is one of the most far-sighted decisions of NASCAR.

“I think it’s awesome,” said Elliott. I think it’s one of the most logical decisions we’ve made as an industry, potentially ever. I appreciate it. I know a lot of the industry personnel really appreciates the willingness to make a change like that.”

Disclosing his preference for the future Clash at the Coliseum schedule, the #9 Chevrolet driver added, “To be honest with you, doing an event like this on a Saturday night is a better fit for it anyway. I think it’s a win-win for everybody.”

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No.24 Chevrolet driver William Byron had a similar opinion to Chase Elliott. Doubling down on his teammate’s response, Byron claimed that NASCAR should make such improvements in its schedule more often. Having raced under wet conditions for a long stretch last year, he understands the side effects of a storm very well and hopes to avoid that.

I hope we can do that in the future, too, because we’ve all been through the events where we’ve stayed until Wednesday. I don’t think it’s fun for anyone, but I don’t think it’s productive either for ratings, the excitement on the track, and the buildup to it,” stated Byron.

Referring to the NFL’s flexibility in its schedule, the youngster added, “Obviously, I hope we can get into a system of maybe having a chance to flex during the week, kind of like the NFL does. I think if we’re able to flex the race forward sooner, we could get some people tuned in. I think it’ll be better than waiting out a rain delay, for sure.”

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It is rare that we get to see a decision being accepted throughout the community. NASCAR’s competition planning and management have given clues to faster action already. This could even pave the way for an action-filled 2024 without the interruption of inclement weather.

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Written by:

Ansuman Abhisek

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Ansuman Abhisek is a NASCAR Writer at EssentiallySports. Even before he made his way into the world of motorsports, he had already made a name for himself in the sports journalism field by working as a writer for a few media houses. Now, having covered multiple Cup races live, he has often been the first to report on-track incidents and also provide his readers with an in-depth analysis of the same.
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Edited by:

Rohan Karnad