NASCAR, LA Dodgers have held meetings about having a race at Dodger Stadium

A NASCAR race in Dodger Stadium? It sounds impossible, but officials with both NASCAR and the LA Dodgers have met to talk about such an event. After the success, yes success, of the Clash at the LA Coliseum, it appears stadium racing is not out of the question.

Until what used to be Auto Club Speedway gets put back into operation, NASCAR has to get clever about how they plan to engage the Los Angeles market. As arguably the most prized market in the United States, it makes sense why they want to maintain a presence there.

However, there are challenges to that. A lack of an oval raceway or speedway for one. So, do you go road course racing? Street course? Or perhaps turn another non-racing venue into a race track?

According to Sports Business Journal, NASCAR has had meetings about staging a race at Dodger Stadium.

NASCAR Senior VP Ben Kennedy has referenced the need for a race in the LA market. That could mean a race in California or even in Mexico. It appears Dodger Stadium is a likely option. Of course, the logistics of turning a baseball stadium into a race track are likely difficult.

While it was plagued by bad weather this season, the Clash at the Coliseum was a good thing for NASCAR. It allowed different fans to see the product, it turned a legendary sporting venue into a race track three years in a row, and the ratings were good as well.

So, why not do another destination race like it? NASCAR in Dodger Stadium would make for eye-opening headlines if nothing else.

NASCAR at Dodger Stadium – Future of the Busch Light Clash?

When NASCAR was at its height 20-30 years ago, it was partly because of the pop culture influence the sport had. Now, you can argue which came first, the fans or the relevancy, but you can’t deny NASCAR mattered.

Celebrities wanted to be at the races and to be seen. Sponsors came in that were easily recognizable for fans, and easily available for fans to use and engage with – all of that comes with being relevant culturally.

In the last few years, NASCAR has started to build that up again. You notice bigger and bigger names at races. The Rock was the Grand Marshal for the Daytona 500 and STAYED until Monday to give the command.

I’m not sure if you can have a “good” NASCAR race at Dodger Stadium. I do know that you can throw one hell of a party to start the season and have race cars making noise, running around, and beating and banging while it’s all going down. It’s supposed to be fun and bring eyes to the sport, a Cup Series race in the home of the Dodgers sounds like it can do that and more.