Clash at the Coliseum Predictions, Picks & Odds 2024: Larson a Lock in L.A.?

Let's dive into our 2024 Clash at the Coliseum predictions and picks based on the best NASCAR odds, with a handful of drivers entering as co-favorites, including Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin.

NASCAR is back! Well, sort of.

The Clash at the Coliseum is an exhibition race, yes. Still, there's money to be made for NASCAR bettors as we enter this race with all of its controversial glory.

What's controversial about it? The track length being only a quarter of a mile, which leads to a new definition of a short-track circuit. Bettors should look for drivers who do well on tracks that are less than a mile in length.

That shouldn't be too difficult, as there are only three such events, and two occur at the same circuit. We can hopefully make educated guesses for the first exhibition of the season while using the 2023 short-track results. 

Here are our best 2024 Clash at the Coliseum predictions and picks (odds via our best sports betting apps; Pick confidence is based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

2024 Clash at the Coliseum predictions

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Clash at the Coliseum odds 2024

Clash at the Coliseum picks

Caesars is offering the best price on Kyle Larson, who looks to be a good pick in Los Angeles as one of NASCAR's more consistent short-track drivers. Larson won two of the three short-track races in 2023.

Joey Logano offers the best value of the contenders at 12/1 through bet365. He won in Los Angeles already, and Logano is one of two winners there since the exhibition was moved a few years back. 

The veteran is a good short-track driver as well, and he finished among the top five in two of the three short-track races during 2023. He was second behind Larson in Martinsville, while also finishing fourth during the second race in Richmond.

Martin Truex Jr. is the other driver who's won inside the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, and he's also part of the Joe Gibbs Racing team. Why does that matter? The race has only been held in Los Angeles for two years, but Joe Gibbs Racing has won this event in three of the last four years and six of the last 10.

Truex Jr. also notched a top-three result in Martinsville during 2023. He's the favorite with Caesars, and Truex is getting three-digit odds everywhere else but DraftKings. 

Hamlin is another Joe Gibbs Racing team member. He's one of NASCAR's most consistent drivers too, especially on a short track after two top-five results a season ago. 

He finished fourth behind Truex Jr. in Martinsville, and Hamlin also wound up second after Chris Buescher during the second Richmond race. 

This is a solid long shot to consider, as Chris Buescher broke through during 2023 in a big way. He won three of the final five regular-season races, and Buescher will look to carry that momentum over as a short-track winner a year ago.

Granted, the motivation won't be there, as this is an exhibition race. However, getting last year's Richmond winner and arguably one of the more significant surprises of 2023 for 25/1 odds feels like a good long shot to test. 

Clash at the Coliseum info

• Date: Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024
• Location: L.A. Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
• Weather: 58 F, Rain
• How to watch: FOX - 8 p.m. ET
• Defending winner: Martin Truex Jr

Picks made on Friday at 1:55 p.m. ET

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