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NASCAR Clash at the Coliseum results: Joey Logano holds of Kyle Busch to win first race at L.A. Coliseum

Joey Logano NASCAR Cup Series L.A. Coliseum Busch Clash
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From the time it opened in 1923, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum had served as the site of national championship games, Super Bowls, and the Olympics among any other events. But prior to this weekend, it had never seen anything quite like the NASCAR Cup Series, which ended up putting on a show that the century-old sports landmark won't soon forget.

In the first-ever NASCAR race at the L.A. Coliseum, Joey Logano was able to take the lead from Kyle Busch and pull away to win the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum to open the 2022 season. Logano's victory was the second of his career in the Clash, a preseason exhibition event that has traditionally served as a prelude to the new season and the Daytona 500.

Logano's victory was the very first on the quarter-mile oval purpose-built within the L.A. Coliseum, and the Clash also marked the very first race for the NASCAR Next Gen car.

Clash at the Coliseum unofficial results

1. #22 - Joey Logano
2. #18 - Kyle Busch
3. #3 - Austin Dillon
4. #43 - Erik Jones
5. #5 - Kyle Larson
6. #24 - William Byron
7. #41 - Cole Custer
8. #20 - Christopher Bell
9. #16 - AJ Allmendinger
10. #4 - Kevin Harvick

After only visiting Victory Lane once in 2021, Logano had a little extra incentive to open 2022 in the Winner's Circle. He and his wife are imminently anticipating the birth of their third child.

"This is an amazing event. Congratulations to NASCAR -- It's such a huge step in our industry to be able to do this, put on an amazing race for everybody," Logano told Fox Sports. "... My wife's having a baby tomorrow. Our third one. So pretty big weekend for us."

Sunday's activities began with four heat races and two last chance qualifiers to set the 23-car field for the Clash, which featured everyone from past Cup champions like Logano, Busch, and defending champ Kyle Larson to longshots like Ryan Preece and rookie Harrison Burton. The Coliseum quarter-mile made for extremely close confines, and the race was marked by more than its fair share of high-contact short track action.

There were some hurt feelings as a result. Ryan Blaney was so incensed by contact with Erik Jones that caused a mechanical failure on Blaney's car that he ended up chucking his HANS device at Jones from the infield and onto the racing surface. Justin Haley was also unhappy with Kyle Larson after Larson retaliated against Haley for making contact with him, sending Haley into the wall and out of the race.

"He just wants to destroy me for seventh. Don't really make no sense," Blaney said. "Run into the back of you and killed our car. Yeah, I was mad. But you'll have that."

Outside of the incidents involving Blaney and Haley, much of the attrition throughout the race was mechanical, as certain technical gremlins with the Next Gen car popped up and ensnared contenders. Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe went from contending to seeing their days end early, and Tyler Reddick went from leading the race to suddenly dropping out under caution.

As an exhibition event, the Clash is a non-points race that does not count towards the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series championship. NASCAR will now take a one-week break -- allowing the Super Bowl to take center stage in Los Angeles -- before the beginning of Speedweeks and the 64th running of the Daytona 500.

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Joey Logano gets through lapped traffic cleanly and Kyle Busch can't get close enough to make a move. Logano wins the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum. Second Clash victory after he won in 2017.

Last lap accident between Martin Truex Jr. and Michael McDowell.

1. #22 - Joey Logano
2. #18 - Kyle Busch
3. #3 - Austin Dillon
4. #43 - Erik Jones
5. #5 - Kyle Larson
6. #24 - William Byron
7. #41 - Cole Custer
8. #20 - Christopher Bell
9. #16 - AJ Allmendinger
10. #4 - Kevin Harvick

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Kyle Busch can't get the drive off the corner he needs to really close in on Logano. But lapped traffic may still be a factor.

 
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Logano and Busch are coming up on lapped traffic, but they might not get there before race's end. Logano puts about a carlength on Busch by the end of the straightaway.

 
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Kyle Busch has closed the gap on Joey Logano. 10 to go next time by.

 
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Kyle Larson has now fallen out of the Top 5. William Byron moves to fourth and Erik Jones to fifth.

 
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Justin Haley isn't particularly thrilled with Kyle Larson putting him in the wall. Called it "Kind of BS" and talked about trying to gain respect as a rookie.

Under 20 laps to go now. Joey Logano and Kyle Busch running first and second as Austin Dillon makes the move on Larson for third.

 
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Kyle Busch is coming back on Kyle Larson for second. Paint traded in the Kyle & Kyle Show and Busch gets the spot.

 
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Joey Logano has opened up a carlength advantage on Kyle Larson. With Justin Haley out, Austin Dillon is now a new player within the Top 5. He's up to fourth.

 
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Looks like Ryan Blaney is running again. He'll take up the rear of the field on this restart.

Green flag is out again with Joey Logano and Kyle Larson the front row.

 
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Justin Haley had gotten sent into Kyle Larson's left rear from contact with William Byron. Looks like Larson retaliated by dooring him off the corner, and Haley got the worst of it. Left front of his car is destroyed.

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