NASCAR executive Steve O'Donnell explains decision to reschedule Busch Light Clash

The NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum is going to be raced tonight. COO Steve O’Donnell explained that decision. With the weather that is coming into California, unprecedented weather, a decision had to be made about when this race could actually happen.

Sit and wait for multiple days until a three-hour window opens up in the rain or go ahead and run the race. Those were more or less the options that NASCAR was given for this situation tonight.

The Cup Series will race the Busch Light Clash at 8:00 PM EST tonight after practice and qualifying at 5:35 PM EST. Fans can watch on FS1 at home. Then, the Mexico Series will take the track and attempt to get their race in tonight as well.

For O’Donnell and the NASCAR executives had to come to a decision on this. From the looks of the weather forecast and reactions from drivers, it was a great decision to make.

So, will NASCAR make this the norm? I’m not so sure. It sounds like O’Donnell believes this was a one-time thing, or perhaps just something NASCAR can do in situations like this.

It’s a non-points-paying race, just an exhibition. Had this been the Ally 400 at Nashville or another points race, I think NASCAR would have waited it out.

Hear from O’Donnell himself talk to the media about the decision, via Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports. NASCAR will likely take a financial hit on this, the crowd won’t be as big, and ratings will be down. However, it feels like the best decision they could have made.

Parts of NASCAR COO Steve O’Donnell comments on the decision to move the Clash from Sunday to Saturday and if this could be something NASCAR does with future events. pic.twitter.com/3PbWAI4Ju3

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 3, 2024

Here is something to keep in mind, if rain comes early and the race tonight doesn’t happen, NASCAR will look at staying in Los Angeles and waiting things out.

Busch Light Clash rescheduled a day early

This is not the first time weather has plagued a NASCAR race. Last season it felt like NASCAR just couldn’t avoid the bad weather. Rain and even snow arrived at different races during the season.

This year, we start out with rough weather. Thanks to the exhibition race being just that, things aren’t as serious. I do think it is a downer that the pre-race and midrace festivities are more than likely not going to happen now. It also stinks for first-time race fans to not be able to go to the race in person.

Drivers and teams seem to like this idea. Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Daniel Hemric, and others were openly supportive of the change. If the rescheduling means they can get back home before Wednesday, I’m sure they will take it.

So, get FS1 turned on your TV. There are just minutes before the Cup Series cars hit the track for practice and qualifying. We are going racing a day early and the 2024 NASCAR season is officially here!