Slated as the first exhibition race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season, the 2023 Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum will serve as a great barometer for where the drivers are at. After wrapping up the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Championship season and seeing Joey Logano hoist the crown, the racers are ready for a shot at the title. Speaking of last season, Logano coincidentally enough was able to win the 150-lap 2022 Clash at The Coliseum with a race time of just under one hour at 57:39. What’s interesting though, is that per sources, the reigning champion is not a favorite to win this year’s version of the race. That said, SBS will take a look below at some of the favorites to take home the title.
In this report, SBS will be going over what the top four favorite drivers bring to the table, plus a predicted winner, and some more notes about NASCAR wagering.
| Favorites to Win The 2023 Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum |  |
|---|---|
| Martin Truex Jr. | +550 |
| Denny Hamlin | +550 |
| Chase Elliott | +600 |
| Ryan Blaney | +650 |
The 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion (when Monster Energy was the presenting sponsor), Truex Jr. has 31 total wins to his credit as a professional racer. However, his last win came in 2021 at the Federated Auto Parts 400 so it has been a bit since he was able to notch the checkered flag. During the 2022 season, he finished in 17th place but is poised for a rebound performance given how competitive he is known to be on the circuit. Moreover, coming from a dynamic racing family, Truex Jr. knows how to win and perhaps this is the race he gets back on track.
After finishing fifth in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings last season, Hamlin is hungry for his first-ever Cup Series championship in 2023. One of the most well-known drivers on the NASCAR circuit and a Jordan Brand athlete, the 42-year-old has 48 wins to his credit during the course of his career. During the 2022 season, Hamlin was able to win the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte along with the Toyota Owners 400 earlier that season. While he fell short of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs cut-off, he still ended as the fifth-best driver in 2022.
One of the most consistent racers in recent years, Elliott is also part of a famous NASCAR family and the son of Bill Elliott. The native of Dawsonville, Georgia is also the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Champion and the 2022 Cup Series regular-season champion. A fantastic driver, Elliott had four regular season wins last year before falling short during the playoff sprint. However, it was not until the DuraMAX Drydene 400 in May that he was able to notch his first victory so he will look for a hotter start this season.
Our last racer spotlight, Busch had a tough end to the 2022 season, finishing in 13th place and not qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. While he was able to notch one victory at the 2022 Food City Dirt Race, Busch still could not get his season on even footing as the year went along. Nicknamed “Wild Thing” for his driving style, Busch is definitely one of the most colorful personalities on the circuit and a savvy veteran with enough wins to garner confidence for a bounceback in 2023. With 60 wins to his name, he is the most accomplished driver on this list.
Prediction: Kicking off the 2023 NASCAR season, Elliott will pick up right where he left off and start the season with a bang and a win at The Coliseum.
Once you are all done with this round of your NASCAR wagers, SBS has you covered with a variety of other resources to keep you rolling along. For more information related to the sport and the 2023 season, our NASCAR betting sites guide is a tab you must bookmark so you can stay on top of the action. In addition to that helpful resource, make sure to also peruse the SBS best betting apps breakdown. Here, you can find all kinds of tips and tricks for mobile wagering and never miss out on any action. As a final note, our VIP sports betting sites rundown is a must-read page that goes over the perks of VIP online sports betting and how it works.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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