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Power rankings for the Clash at The Coliseum 2026: NASCAR season starts with Los Angeles exhibition.

Jenkins Miriam

Updated on February 5, 2026 at 2:45 PM EST • Read time: 3 minutes and 34 seconds. Find more information on Twitter and Google News.

Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 6, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Busch Light Clash at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 6, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images via AFP.

Examining the leading competitors to track in our Clash at The Coliseum NASCAR Power Rankings.

For the second consecutive year, the NASCAR Cup Series will kick off its season in Southern California at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum with a yearly exhibition race. While no points will be on the line this weekend, the victorious driver will be rewarded with a prestigious gold medal.

Joey Logano emerged victorious in NASCAR’s inaugural event in Los Angeles last year. He later clinched the NASCAR Cup Series Championship. The drivers competing in the 2026 Busch Light Clash can draw inspiration from Logano’s triumph in the previous year’s exhibition race.

These are our rankings for the 2026 Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum, with odds provided by BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, and PointsBet.

Take a look at our predictions for Clash at the Coliseum and our initial analysis of the Daytona 500 betting odds.

NASCAR power rankings: The Clash at The Coliseum

Ryan Preece is listed at +5000 odds by BetMGM.

Ryan Preece went from not driving full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series last year to taking over the No. 41 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing in 2026. He made the most of his chances across all three national series last year, even qualifying for the main feature at The Busch Light Clash in subpar equipment.

9. Chase Briscoe is listed at +3000 odds on DraftKings.

Having advanced to the Round of 8 in the previous year’s playoffs, Chase Briscoe is now focused on progressing even further in 2026. With a strong background in dirt and short-track racing, Briscoe’s experience could prove beneficial in The Clash. In 2026, he achieved top-10 finishes in both races at Martinsville, a track that closely resembles the L.A. Coliseum.

Denny Hamlin is listed at +1300 odds on FanDuel.

Denny Hamlin is still chasing the NASCAR Cup Series Championship that has always eluded him. Although the Clash at The Coliseum won’t impact his chances in 2026, the No. 11 team is seeking redemption after a disappointing result in last year’s race. Hamlin’s expertise on short tracks, as seen in his impressive performances at places like Martinsville, gives him a strong advantage.

Kevin Harvick is listed at +2500 odds on FanDuel.

Navigating a tumultuous short-track like the 0.25-mile oval at the Coliseum can be a daunting task, but for Kevin Harvick, it’s all in a day’s work. Known for his resilience, Harvick has proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with in the NASCAR Cup Series. With a 10th place finish in The Clash last year and one of the best average finishes at Martinsville, Harvick is a driver who knows how to survive and thrive in the face of adversity.

William Byron is listed at +1500 odds on FanDuel.

This week, William Byron from Hendrick Motorsports is the first of three drivers in the top-6 of our NASCAR power rankings. The No. 24 car came in sixth at The Clash in 2026, won the spring race at Martinsville, and finished seventh in the fall race at “The Paperclip,” demonstrating his skill on short tracks.

Chase Elliott is listed at +800 odds on BetMGM.

As the most popular athlete in the sport, it’s clear that Chase Elliott will have a lot of fans rooting for him at the Coliseum on Sunday night. Although he finished 11th in the Busch Light Clash last year, he is considered one of the top contenders for this year’s event. Elliott has proven himself on short tracks and with the power of HMS behind him, a strong performance is expected.

4. Ryan Blaney has odds of +1000 on DraftKings.

Surprisingly, Ryan Blaney has the best average finish (6.5) among active Cup Series drivers in the last 10 races at Martinsville. Despite not winning any of those races, his strong performance at the short track indicates he may do well at this weekend’s exhibition event in LA.

Christopher Bell is listed at +1100 odds through PointsBet.

Given Martinsville as our track of choice for comparison, it is logical to place the most recent winner at a high position in the Busch Light Clash power rankings. Christopher Bell, who finished eighth in The Clash in 2026 and excelled in the NASCAR Playoffs to reach the Championship 4, is well-suited for the challenge of a 0.25-mile oval due to his background in dirt track racing.

Joey Logano is listed at +800 odds on BetMGM.

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Joey Logano, the current NASCAR Cup Series Champion and Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum winner, will start his title defense in L.A. this Sunday. Logano is also tied with Team Penske teammate Blaney for the top average finish at Martinsville in the last 10 races.

1. Kyle Larson is listed at +900 odds on FanDuel.

Kyle Larson, known for his experience racing on dirt and short tracks, remains a force to be reckoned with. Despite his commitments to NASCAR, he continues to race at various dirt tracks. With strong finishes at The Coliseum and Martinsville, along with a talented crew chief, Larson’s No. 5 team is expected to be a contender in Sunday’s season-opening event.

Picks for the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum were made on 2/4/2026 at 1:34 p.m. ET.

These are our top sportsbooks:

  • FanDuel: Risk-Free First Bet up to $3,000 | Check out our FanDuel Review
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  • Check out our DraftKings Review and score $200 in Bonus Bets by betting just $5.
  • PointsBet: Get up to $500 in Bet Credits | Check out our PointsBet Review
  • BetMGM: Receive a Bonus Bet of up to $1,000 | Check out our BetMGM Review

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Written By:
Jenkins Miriam
Henry’s passion for sports dates all the way back to childhood and has ultimately led to a full-fledged career as an analyst and content creator. After getting his start penning fantasy football articles, he forrayed into the betting side of the business in early 2019. His love for sports and statistics proved to be an ideal match with the dedicated research and strategy that handicapping requires. Henry currently specializes in betting analysis and picks for college football, college basketball, and NASCAR. He counts NFL, WNBA, and NBA player props as additional leagues/markets of interest. Henry graduated from SUNY Buffalo in 2021 with a Communication Studies degree and a Psychology minor. A native of the Finger Lakes region in Upstate New York, he and his pup, Harold, have since relocated to Laramie, Wyoming. Thanks to his professional goals within the sports betting industry, there has been a whole lot of steam on the odds for a move to Las Vegas in 2026! Most of Henry’s free time is spent on outdoor adventures, playing chess, snowboarding, or reading a good book. He is also a competitive powerlifter and aspires to qualify for the USAPL Nationals meet within the next 2-3 years.