NASCAR revealed the qualifying and race format for the 2022 Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Nov. 9.
The 2022 edition of the Clash will feature practice, qualifying, heat races and a last-chance qualifier when the series visits the venue for the first time on Feb. 5, 2022.
“There has already been an enormous amount of buzz around next year’s Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum, and we feel that this race format and the accompanying programming throughout the entire weekend will only build on that already established momentum,” NASCAR svp of strategy and innovation Ben Kennedy said. “The unprecedented nature of this event, coupled with the fact that our sport will be in the spotlight in the middle of downtown Los Angeles, makes this a can’t-miss event when we get our 2022 season underway next February.”
While the first race of next year’s NASCAR schedule will be open to 40 entries, only 23 drivers will be able to transfer into the main event. Qualifying runs will begin on Saturday, Feb. 5, and will determine the starting positions for the four 25-lap heat races on Sunday, Feb. 6. The top four qualifiers will be on pole for each of the four heat races, with the next four being placed in second, and so on.
Only the top four finishing drivers for each heat will transfer into the main event, with the rest of the fields moving onto one of two 50-lap last chance qualifying races.
The remaining drivers in heats one and three will move onto LCQ one, while those from heats two and four will advance into LCQ two. The top three drivers in each LCQ will be allowed to advance into the main event.
Out of drivers that were unable to advance, the final transfer position will be awarded to the driver that had the highest finishing position in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series points standings.
The heat races and LCQ are set to air on Feb. 6 at 5 p.m. ET on FOX. The main event runs at 8 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1.
Dalton Hopkins began writing for Frontstretch in April 2021. Currently, he is the lead writer for the weekly Thinkin' Out Loud column, co-host of the Frontstretch Happy Hour podcast, and one of our lead reporters. Beforehand, he wrote for IMSA shortly after graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2019. Simultaneously, he also serves as a Captain in the US Army.
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