by Crystal Clay
We have finally made it to the Daytona 500.
While the wait couldn’t have been any longer, The Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was more than enough entertainment to hold a NASCAR fan over for another week.
Dylan “Mamba” Smith, late model wheelman and co-host of NASCAR’s Backseat Drivers could be seen moving around all parts of the Coliseum with the contagious positive attitude he is popular for. We reached out for his thoughts on what he saw in Los Angeles and what that means for NASCAR's modern era.
Dylan "Mamba" Smith watching The Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Can you describe the energy at the Coliseum before, during & after the race weekend?
I really can't haha. it was a whole vibe so many people were excited to be there. After, no one left without a smile on their faces it was amazing. I told people the clash wasn't a NASCAR race; it was a NASCAR Event and I want more like it.
What would you like to see during the regular season that you saw at The Clash?
It needs to be a party. I hope other tracks see what we did here and try to grab some of the energy and atmosphere. Having a student section is a great idea, partnering with local colleges to get that college game day vibe would be great. I like the Halftime show I think it got everyone reenergized for the second half of the race.
While nothing can truly compare to The Daytona 500, do you see The Clash now serving it’s purpose to promote the upcoming Daytona season opener? Why/why not?
It did everything it was supposed to. I think it did more to promote our fan base than anything. I've thought for years that we have one of the most diverse fan bases in sports. We just haven't gone to diverse markets before. Because, well, we need so much space for a track. You can just put one in the middle of Denver but, now I just need 120yrds and i can put a race at Mile High Stadium. That's huge.
What should a fan be on the lookout for when it comes to watching The Daytona 500 for the first time this Sunday?
It's going to be a lot different than The Clash obviously, what I would pay attention to is how much the cars are dancing around on the track. Daytona is very bumpy. With this new car and the package they run, it seems to throw the cars around more which will be fun to watch the drivers control it.
Any bold predictions for the 2022 season?
Hmm, Harrison Burton as a rookie makes the playoffs.
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