With forecasts calling for heavy rain in Los Angeles on Sunday, NASCAR has announced a schedule change for the Clash at the Coliseum. Instead of the Cup Series and Mexico Series races taking place on Sunday, both races will now be held Saturday evening.
The Clash at the Coliseum is now set to begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, over 24 hours earlier than originally scheduled. The King Taco LA Batalla en El Coliseo will follow at approximately 7:30 p.m.
“Due to the threat of unprecedented severe weather on Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Mexico Series race events for the Clash have been moved to Saturday night,” event organizers said in a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter). “Thanks to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Los Angeles Public Safety for their partnership and support to make the schedule adjustment for tonight’s event to ensure a safe experience for fans, competitors, and staff.”
Practice and qualifying for the Cup Series race is now scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ahead of the race, which will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1. Admission will be free for the public on Saturday, and those who purchased tickets and parking passes for Sunday will be entitled to a refund from NASCAR.
“We understand weather conditions may worsen as the day progresses, so we encourage fans to make decisions in the best interest of safety,” NASCAR’s statement continued. “We appreciate our fans, partners, and everyone associated with this event on this unprecedented event.”
According to a NASCAR official, this change in plans was a surprise to everyone involved and came together at the last minute. Moving the races up to Saturday was previously off the table, and initial backup plans were to instead delay the event, according to the employee. Another employee added that he only found out through social media.
Driver Chris Buescher (No. 17) said that drivers were also unaware of the possibility that the race would be moved up, but many racers weren’t particularly surprised by the decision given the inclement weather.
Current weather forecasts project rain will start around 7 p.m. Saturday night in Los Angeles and to continue through Tuesday.
NASCAR COO Steve O’Donnell commented that initial plans were to move up the races by two hours on Sunday, but as weather conditions developed, options to reschedule the event a day earlier picked up speed late Friday night and Saturday morning.
Daniel Suarez (No. 99), who will be driving in both the Cup Series and Mexico Series races, mentioned that he preferred that the event be moved up, as opposed to being delayed multiple days.
“I think it’s a smart decision, and I’m glad that NASCAR made the call,” Suarez said.
Suarez admitted that it might be a little tougher to pull double duty with the races now occurring back-to-back, but he appeared ready for the challenge after an offseason of training.
Another Cup Series driver, Justin Haley (No. 51), said that he is approaching the Clash with the same mindset. Even though the change was unexpected, it hasn’t seemed to phase any racers.
“It’s the same thing, you just try to go out and do your best the whole time,” Haley said.
If anything, the absence of heats ahead of the main race will make this more of a normal weekend for drivers, Haley added. The top 22 qualifying times will participate in the main Cup Series race, along with the highest-scoring driver from last season outside of that top 22.
This will be the third installment of the Clash at the Coliseum and the first time it has been paired with a Mexico Series race. The event features 150 laps on a quarter-mile track inside the L.A. Memorial Coliseum.