TC Daily Pit Stop: Denny Hamlin Wins Busch Light Clash; Logano and Gibbs Have Heated Talk; Suarez wins NASCAR Mexico Race
TC Daily Pit Stop: Sunday, February 4th, 2024
Denny Hamlin Surges to Busch Light Clash Victory with Late-Race Pass
He beat all of your favorite drivers — again. While a win in Saturday’s Busch Light Clash at the LA Memorial Coliseum, which was moved to Saturday night due to the threat of weather on Sunday, has no bearing on the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series championship picture, Denny Hamlin will go into the Daytona 500 with a distinct edge mentally as he scored the win in the rough and tumble 150-lap Main Event around the 0.250-mile makeshift track inside the Coliseum.
Hamlin took the lead for good after a late-race incident between Ty Gibbs and Joey Logano, who were battling for the race lead with 10 laps to go.
“A lot of it was just what happened in front of me with the 54 and 22, and you just never know what was going to happen there, but I got a really good run off of Turn 2 and just got position and was able to hang on from there,” said Hamlin post-race. “It’s so chaotic, the restarts, with everyone just bumping and banging, but feels great to win here in LA.”
Hamlin held off Kyle Busch, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, and Kyle Larson for the win.
RACE RECAP
OFFICIAL RACE RESULTS
INSPECTION REPORT
Joey Logano and Ty Gibbs Exchange Heated Words After Clash
Ty Gibbs didn’t win the battle or the war in Saturday night’s Busch Light Clash. Despite leading a race-high 84 laps, Gibbs ended up 18th after being spun with two laps remaining in the race. After climbing from his car, Gibbs was confronted by Joey Logano, who took exception to the driving Gibbs showed with 10 laps remaining while battling Logano for the race lead on a restart.
In a video shared by Michael Massie of Frontstretch, you can hear Gibbs defending his move with 10 laps to go as he tells Logano, “You hit me in the same way,” to which Logano responds with, “I didn’t put you in the wall, dude. I slid up a little bit. I remember it. You, just like all of the other guys, I remember it.”
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VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Video: Brake Issue Sends Todd Gilliland Spinning Out of Clash
WATCH VIDEO
Video: Bubba Wallace gets Spun, Stack-up Ensues
WATCH VIDEO
Video: Chastain Clips Wall, and then Spins McDowell
WATCH VIDEO
Daniel Suárez Triumphs in Homecoming to NASCAR Mexico Series at LA Coliseum
Daniel Suárez has captured several victories across many prestigious divisions – including the NASCAR Cup Series – but his win in Saturday’s King Taco La Batalla en El Coliseo will likely be among the most sentimental.
“It definitely means a lot,” said Suárez. “Thank you fans for coming last minute. Thank you so much. It really means a lot. The people who know me, they know that this race means a lot to me. All of these drivers, this team — my old team — I grew up with this team. If it wasn’t for this series, NASCAR Mexico, I wouldn’t be in the Cup Series today. Thank you NASCAR Mexico, thank you all the drivers, thank you to the fans, you make me feel at home.”
Now a competitor in the NASCAR Cup Series, Suárez returned to the place where he made his name, the NASCAR Mexico Series, to compete in Saturday’s event at the LA Memorial Coliseum scoring the victory in the 150-lap contest.