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2024 Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum: NASCAR Odds, Picks & Predictions

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Something about race weekends is intoxicating.

Maybe it’s the smell of burnt rubber and gasoline. Perhaps it’s the sound of engines roaring or the crowd hangin’ on around every corner. Whatever it is, damn does it feel good to be back.

A 38-race war between stock car racing’s best drivers and us - the bettors- against the books begins this week.

The action starts in the epicenter of stars, Los Angeles, where the NASCAR Cup Series will run its third (and potentially last) Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum. Four heat races ran Saturday, and one last-chance qualifier on Sunday evening will set the grid for a 150-lap, green-flag-only shootout scheduled (weather permitting) for 8:00 p.m. ET.

Here’s the data I considered for the quarter-mile track paved over the LA Memorial Coliseum:

  • 2023 Busch Light Clash (Finishes,* late-run speed* & loop data*)
  • 2022 Busch Light Clash (Finishes & total speed rankings*)
  • Short-flat comp tracks (Finishes & total speed rankings*)
  • Recent performance in gimmicky events (i.e., the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro)

*via ifantasyrace.com

Albeit not released at most books until Thursday afternoon, we do have a handful of prop markets open for this exhibition race, including placements (T3s and T5s), winning manufacturer and car number. While this race is gimmicky and the season’s first, there are some generous odds in both the outright and prop market. With two unpredictable superspeedways up first in the regular season, I’ll be slightly more aggressive in my unit allocation this week, planning to limit my exposure at Daytona and Atlanta.

Here are my best bets and full card for the 2024 Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum.

2024 Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum: NASCAR Odds, Picks & Predictions

(Odds courtesy of BetRivers Sportsbook unless noted otherwise)

Top 5: Kyle Larson (+210) | 2u

After an offseason of stewing over finishing as the championship runner-up, Kyle Larson feels very live to win this race. Thanks to some late run speed here a year ago, the driver of the No. 5 car has now finished fifth in both previous trips to the Coliseum. In addition, he won Martinsville (our highest-weighted comp track) in the spring and finished sixth there in the fall. In fact, Larson was No. 2 among active drivers in total speed rankings at shorter-flats.

DraftKings Sportsbook must be aware of this, as they have the 2021 Cup Series Champion’s odds to finish with a T5 again all the way down at +110. Finding him for +210 at BetRivers Sportsbook is a gift from our gracious friends in Pittsburgh. I’ll be on the outright, too, but I’m hammering the top-five prop, hoping history repeats itself.

Top 5: Denny Hamlin (+200) | 1.25u

The only active driver higher than Larson in the total speed rankings at short-flat tracks last season was Denny Hamlin. The Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) driver and 23XI Racing owner was also scary fast at both Martinsville races last season, pacing the spring race at No. 1 in the total speed rankings and the fall race at No. 2.

The driver of the No. 11 car won his Busch Light Clash heat last year, started third and led 26 laps. He free-fell back to ninth once Bubba Wallace moved him from the lead and was later divebombed by Ross Chastain, spinning out and falling back further. If Hamlin has that same late-run speed that got him back to a ninth-place finish last season after all that, he should be in the mix late on Sunday night.

Top 5: Chase Briscoe (+385) | .5u

If you’re looking for more of an underdog to be sipping Busch Lattes at the end of this race, consider Chase Briscoe. The driver of the No. 14 car is now the veteran and proverbial top dog at Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR). I think he gets off to a hot start on the West Coast this season.

He has positioned himself into a top-seven starting spot in both previous Clashes, finishing first in the total speed rankings in 2022 and 11th in green flag speed a year ago. Briscoe’s history here shouldn’t come as a surprise, as this track style is by far his best. He was 12th among active drivers in the short-flat total speed rankings and finished T5 at both Martinville races last year. I’ll pay half a unit to let it ride heading into the weekend.

Other Bets on My Card:

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Saturday:

Seth Woolcock is a featured writer and editor at BettingPros. For more sports betting and fantasy sports analysis from Seth, check out In-Between Media and follow him @Between_SethFF.

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