NASCAR: Martin Truex Jr. methodical in winning The Clash at the L.A. Coliseum
Chriss Hughes
Race winner Martin Truex Jr., center, second place finisher Austin Dillon, right, and third place winner Kyle Busch, left, stand on the winners podium after receiving gold, silver and bronze medals respectively following the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Martin Truex Jr. leads Kyle Busch and Austin Dillon during the late laps of the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A race fan cheers for a driver during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Martin Truex Jr. heads towards the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Bubba Wallace, right, battles Martin Truex Jr., left, for the lead during the late laps of the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Martin Truex Jr. celebrates as he approaches the podium after winning the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Martin Truex Jr. celebrates after winning the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A military aircraft performs a flyover prior to the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Drivers lap the specifically built quarter mile oval during the early laps of the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Martin Truex Jr. heads towards the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Martin Truex Jr. celebrates after winning the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Smoke fireworks linger following an intermission entertainment during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Drivers lap the specifically built quarter mile oval during the early laps of the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Bubba Wallace, right, leads Martin Truex Jr., left, during the late laps of the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Drivers lap the specifically built quarter mile oval during the early laps of the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Bubba Wallace, 23, leads Martin Truex Jr., 19, and Austin Dillon, 3, during the late laps of the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chase Elliott fan Kennedy Church, from Norwalk, reacts as her driver falls behind during one of the four opening heat races during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chase Elliott, 9, and Ty Gibbs, 54, battle for track position during their last chance qualifier during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chase Elliott, 9, and Ty Gibbs, 54, battle for track position during their last chance qualifier during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Drivers A.J. Allmendinger, 16, and Erik Jones, 43, bang fenders as they battle for track position during one of the four opening heat races during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chase Elliott, 9, and Ty Gibbs, 54, battle for track position during their last chance qualifier during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Justin Haley, 31, leads the field during one of the four opening heat races during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race fans Kelly Petsche and his daughter Kennedy Church, both from Norwalk, cheer for their drivers during one of the four opening heat races during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Ty Gibbs waits at his race car prior to the opening heat races during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A pack of cars race through turn 4 during one of the four opening heat races during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Justin Haley, 31, leads the field during one of the four opening heat races during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Justin Haley, 31, leads the field during one of the four opening heat races during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cars race around the specifically built quarter mile oval during one of the last chance qualifiers during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chase Elliott, 9, leads the field through turn 2 as they race around the specifically built quarter mile oval during one of the last chance qualifiers during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Austin Dillon prepares to climb into his race car prior to the opening heat races during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chase Elliott fan Kennedy Church, from Norwalk, reacts as her driver falls behind during one of the four opening heat races during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cars race around the specifically built quarter mile oval during one of the last chance qualifiers during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race fans take part in the fan track walk prior to the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race fans John and Antoninette Gatti, from San Bernardino, cheer for their drvier during one of the four opening heat races during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Ricky Stenhouse climbs into his race car prior to the opening heat races during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Busch heads to his race car prior to the opening heat races during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kevin Harvick heads to his race car prior to the opening heat races during the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. Harvick is retiring at the end of the 2023 season. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Herman Oliver, right, from Los Angeles watches a woman writes a message on the start/finish line during the fan track walk prior to the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Peter Castelli, 11 from El Cajon, lays on the start/finish line as his father Josh takes a picture during the fan track walk prior to the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Herman Oliver, from Los Angeles writes a message on the start/finish line during the fan track walk prior to the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race cars wait for qualifying to begin on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Kyle Busch is the top qualifier going into race day. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Drivers stand next to their race cars in the infield after qualifying on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Busch races into turn 3 during qualifying on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Kyle Busch is the top qualifier going into race day. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race personel repaint the separation line near the start/finish line prior to the NASCAR Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Busch smiles after capturing the op qualifying position on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Kyle Busch is the top qualifier going into race day. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Busch (bottom) waits next to his race car along with Joey Logano (middle) and Ryan Blaney (top) during qualifying on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Kyle Busch is the top qualifier going into race day. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Busch races down the backstretch during qualifying on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Kyle Busch is the top qualifier going into race day. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Austin Cindric locks up his front tires as the drives into turn 3 during qualifying on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Kyle Busch is the top qualifier going into race day. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A race car is seen on a video board as the sun sets during qualifying on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Kyle Busch is the top qualifier going into race day. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race fans take part in the Track Walk around the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum prior to qualifying for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. The Clash is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Driver Chase Elliott (right) speaks with a crew member in the pits following practice on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during practice for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. The Clash is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race fans Dusty and Tyler Schild, from Meridian, Idaho, enjoy the shade as they lean against a scraped up racing wall along the front stretch as they take part in the Track Walk around the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum prior to qualifying for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. The Clash is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race fans Nate Birkmeier (left) along with his son Hunter (right), 12, and Jessica Holy (center) sign the start finish line paint as they take part in the Track Walk around the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum prior to qualifying for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. The Clash is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Drivers race around the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during practice for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. The Clash is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chase Elliott (9) and Ryan Blaney (12) race along the front stretch around the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during practice for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. The Clash is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chase Briscoe (14) has his car pushed back to the pits following practice on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. The Clash is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Ryan Blaney (12), Chase Elliott (9) and Michael McDowell (34) race along the front stretch around the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during practice for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. The Clash is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A race fan writes the name of his favorite driver on the start finish line paint as they take part in the Track Walk around the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum prior to qualifying for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. The Clash is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race fans watch as drivers race around the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during practice for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. The Clash is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Michael McDowell (34) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47) race around the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during practice for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. The Clash is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Driver Chase Elliott (right) speaks with a crew member in the pits following practice on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum during practice for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. The Clash is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race teams work on their cars following practice on the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. The Clash is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race fans Bonner Bellew (left), from Porter Ranch, and Matt Delton (right), from Brentwood, hold their children as they take a pose for a picture with the winners trophy as they take part in the Track Walk around the specially built quarter mile asphalt oval inside the Los Angeles Coliseum prior to qualifying for the NASCAR Busch Light Clash in Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. The Clash is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
LOS ANGELES — Martin Truex Jr. played bumper cars better than the rest of the record 27-car field at NASCAR’s first race of the season.
Truex Jr. took a methodical approach to the weekend, picking his moment before grabbing the lead 25 laps remaining and holding on to win The Clash at the L.A. Coliseum on Sunday night.
“To persevere and rise above, we found ourselves at the right spot at the end,” Truex Jr. said. “Sometime it works out our way, sometimes it don’t. Tonight it went our way.”
Truex Jr., who did not win a race in 2022, claims his first The Clash victory and received NASCAR’s first ever gold medal for the victory.
“I have a lot of fire in my belly to change what happened last season,” Truex Jr. said. “Last year was a pretty rough season for us so to come out here and kick it off this way, it’s just a good feeling to win a race.”
Truex Jr. qualified 22nd on Saturday and won Heat No. 2 to qualify on the starting line for the main event, then waited for his moment to claim the lead.
“Luckily, I got a good jump and was able to make it clear. You just try to get a good jump and try not to mess it up,” Truex Jr. said.
Eric Amirola qualified fifth on Saturday then won Heat No. 1 early Sunday to earn the pole position for the main event, but was under pressure from the start and fell all the way to 18th.
Denny Hamlin grabbed the lead from Amirola but was pinched by Bubba Wallace on the restart ahead of Lap 44 and fell all the way to 12th before finishing ninth.
Wallace was dominant for 39 laps but Ryan Preece squeezed past on Lap 84 and went on to pace an event-best 44 laps before Truex Jr. made his pass inside Turn 4.
“It was fun to race with (Preece) and he’s a great talent,” Truex Jr. “If he hadn’t of had issues it might have been a different story.”
Wallace, running second with seven laps remaining, was spun by Austin Dillon and finished 22nd as the last car running. Preece’s car was felled by electrical trouble and he finished seventh.
Dillon, who finished third last year, kept in line and benefitted from an event record 16 restarts to place second.
“I saved it three times, was working the brakes all night,” Dillon said. “I had a shot at Truex at the end, so that was nice.”
Kyle Busch, who finished second last year and qualified second this year, was spun by last year’s race winner Joey Logano with 64 laps to go and send to the back of the pack but battled all the way back to finish third.
“It was a battle all night long. You can’t count us out. You can’t bet against us,” Busch said. “Everyone would get bottled up and start bumper tagging and I’d just go around them on the outside.”
Alex Bowman was fourth and Kyle Larson took fifth. In all, there were four lead changes among six drivers.
William Byron was the only driver to lead a heat race from start to finish to top Heat No. 4. He ran as high as third but finished 10th.
Ty Gibbs, whose car caught fire yesterday during practice and was unable to qualify, made it to the main event via ‘Last Chance Qualifier No. 2’ but was only able to complete 81 laps before crashing out.
“I guess it’s called ‘The Clash’ for a reason. It (stinks),” Gibbs said.
Justin Haley, who had the top car in qualifying on Saturday, was running eighth when he was spun with 44 laps to go and finished 11th.
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