Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California going into the Pala Casino 400 this Sunday, February 26 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
The NASCAR Cup Series 2023 Top 16 in Points at Auto Club Speedway
DriverRacesPolesWinsTop FivesTop 10sDNFsAverage FinishDriver Rating1Joey Logano150078012.591.52Chris Buescher70000125.058.13Ricky Stenhouse Jr90012017.670.84Christopher Bell20000237.041.05Alex Bowman60111019.275.16Ross Chastain40000025.847.37Ryan Blaney60013115.795.78Kevin Harvick2801714214.994.39AJ Allmendinger140002119.468.610Martin Truex Jr211127217.285.511Brad Keselowski130156014.785.612Daniel Suárez50012015.070.413Aric Almirola140003321.965.614Austin Cindric11000012.094.315Corey Lajoie40000029.541.116Travis Pastrana0000000.00.0
* — Based on last 23 races at Auto Club Speedway (2005 — 2023).
Auto Club Speedway Track Data
Season Race #: 2 of 36 (02-26-23)
Track Size: 2-miles
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 14 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 14 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 11 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 3 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 3,100 feet
Backstretch Length: 2,500 feet
Race Length: 200 laps / 400 miles
Stage 1 & 2 Length: 65 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 70 laps
Auto Club Speedway Qualifying Data:
Track qualifying record:
Denny Hamlin, Toyota
188.511 mph, 38.194 secs. 03-18-16
2022 pole winner:
Austin Cindric, Ford
174.647 mph, 41.226 secs. 02-26-22
2020 pole winner:
Clint Bowyer, Ford
179.614 mph, 40.086 secs. 02-29-20
Auto Club Speedway Race Data:
Track race record (250 Laps):
Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet
155.012 mph (3:13:32); 06-22-97
Track race record (200 Laps):
Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
152.753 mph, (02:37:07), 03-01-20
2022 race winner:
Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
114.222 mph, (03:03:07), 02-27-22
2020 race winner:
Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
152.753 mph, (02:37:07), 03-01-20
Auto Club Speedway Stats & Tidbits:
HISTORY
Groundbreaking for California Speedway, as Auto Club Speedway was originally known, took place in November of 1995 in Fontana, California. The track name was changed to Auto Club Speedway (ACS) in February of 2008.The first race at Auto Club Speedway was a NASCAR ARCA Menards Series West race won by Ken Schrader on June 21, 1997.The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway was held on June 22, 1997 and won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon driving the Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet.September 2004 was the first night race at Auto Club Speedway and that also was the first year both the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series ran two races in a season there.There have been 32 NASCAR Cup Series races at Auto Club Speedway, the track hosted one race a season from 1997-2003, then two races per season from 2004-2010. In 2011, Auto Club Speedway returned to a single-race season.In 2021, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic restrictions, Auto Club Speedway was removed from the NASCAR Cup Series schedule but returned on the 2022 and 2023 schedules.
STARTS
In total 172 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway; 140 have competed in more than one race at Auto Club Speedway.Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch lead the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Auto Club Speedway with 27 each.A total of six drivers have made their first series career start at Auto Club Speedway – Chris Buescher (2015), Kevin Conway (2010), J.J. Yeley (2004), Shane Hmiel (2004), Greg Biffle (2002) and Mike Dillon (1998).Patrick Carpentier (three starts) leads the series in average starting position at Auto Club Speedway with a 5.0.Joe Gibbs Raving‘s Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Auto Club Speedway with a 10.174 in 23 starts.
Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Auto Club Speedway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversAvg StartRacesRankActive DriversAvg StartRaces1Patrick Carpentier5.00031Kyle Busch10.174232Kyle Busch10.174232Kyle Larson11.12583Daniel Hemric11.00023Jimmie Johnson11.577264Kyle Larson11.12584Denny Hamlin11.650205Jimmie Johnson11.577265Joey Logano11.667156Denny Hamlin11.650206Ryan Blaney12.16767Joey Logano11.667157Austin Dillon12.50088Ryan Blaney12.16768Brad Keselowski12.538139Austin Dillon12.50089Erik Jones13.400510Mark Martin12.5002210Chase Elliott13.5006
POLES
A total of 21 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won the pole at Auto Club Speedway.Six of the 21 NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club Speedway pole winners are active this weekend.Active Pole WinnersPolesSeasonsDenny Hamlin32009, 2012, 2013Austin Dillon22016, 2019Kyle Larson12017Martin Truex Jr12018Jimmie Johnson12008Kyle Busch12005Kurt Busch leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Auto Club Speedway with four poles (2015, 2007 and 2006 sweep).Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Auto Club Speedway with three poles (2009, 2012, 2013).Joe Nemechek won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series pole at Auto Club Speedway in 1997 with a speed of 183.015 mph (39.341 secs).Six NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won multiple poles at Auto Club Speedway — Kurt Busch (four), Denny Hamlin (three), Brian Vickers (two), Jamie McMurray (two), Austin Dillon (two) and Jeff Gordon (two).Denny Hamlin (2012, 2013), Jamie McMurray (2010 sweep) and Kurt Busch (2006 sweep) are the only three drivers to win consecutive poles at Auto Club Speedway.Youngest Auto Club Speedway Pole Award winner: Kyle Busch (Feb. 27, 2005 — 19 years, 9 months, 25 days).Oldest Auto Club Speedway Pole Award winner: Mike Skinner (April 30, 2000 — 42 years, 10 months, 2 days).Four drivers have posted their first NASCAR Cup Series career pole at Auto Club Speedway: Austin Cindric (2/27/2022), Carl Edwards(9/4/2005), Kyle Busch (2/27/2005) and Joe Nemechek (6/22/1997).Hendrick Motorsports, Chip Ganassi Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing are tied for the NASCAR Cup Series most poles at Auto Club Speedway with five each.Five different manufacturers have won a pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Auto Club Speedway; led by Chevrolet with 15 poles and followed by Toyota (six), Dodge (four), Ford (four) and Pontiac (one).
WINS
A total of 18 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Auto Club Speedway.Eight of the 18 NASCAR Cup Series race winners at Auto Club Speedway are active this weekend.Active WinnersWinsSeasonsJimmie Johnson62002, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016Kyle Busch42005, 2013, 2014, 2019Alex Bowman12020Martin Truex Jr12018Kyle Larson12017Brad Keselowski12015Kevin Harvick12011Kurt Busch12003Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Auto Club Speedway with six victories (2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016).The inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway was held on June 22, 1997 and won by Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet; 155.012 mph).Five drivers have posted multiple NASCAR Cup Series wins at Auto Club Speedway: Jimmie Johnson (six), Kyle Busch (four), Jeff Gordon, and Matt Kenseth each have three wins, Tony Stewart has two.Jimmie Johnson (2009-2010) and Kyle Busch (2013-2014) are the only two drivers to win consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races at Auto Club Speedway.Youngest Cup Series Auto Club Speedway winner: Kyle Busch (Sept. 4, 2005 — 20 years, 4 months, 2 days).Oldest Cup Series Auto Club Speedway winner: Rusty Wallace (April 29, 2001 — 44 years, 8 months, 15 days).Jimmie Johnson (2002) and Kyle Busch (2005) are the only two drivers to post their first series career win at Auto Club Speedway.15 of the 18 NASCAR Cup Series drivers who have won at Auto Club Speedway participated in at least two or more races at the track before visiting Victory Lane – Jeff Gordon (1997 — inaugural event) and Jimmie Johnson (2002) are the only drivers to win at Auto Club Speedway in their first appearance.Tony Stewart competed at Auto Club Speedway 18 times before winning in the fall of 2010; the longest span of any the 18 winners. Only Stewart (18), Kevin Harvick (17) and Martin Truex Jr. (17) have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Auto Club Speedway.Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers with the most NASCAR Cup Series starts at Auto Club Speedway without visiting Victory Lane at 20.Four reigning NASCAR Cup Series champions have gone on to win at Auto Club Speedway the following season: Tony Stewart (2012), Jeff Gordon (1999), Jimmie Johnson – the only driver to do it multiple times (2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010) and Martin Truex Jr. (2018).Three drivers have won at Auto Club Speedway and the NASCAR Cup Series championship in the same season: Jeff Gordon (1997), Jimmie Johnson (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2016) and Kyle Busch (2019).Only four car numbers have produced three or more Auto Club Speedway NASCAR Cup Series wins:
Car Number — Drivers — (Years)No. 48 — Jimmie Johnson (six: 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2016)No. 24 — Jeff Gordon (three: 1997, 1999 and 2004)No. 17 — Matt Kenseth (three: 2006, 2007 and 2009)No. 18 — Kyle Busch (three: 2013, 2014, 2019)A total of 17 different positions on the starting grid have led to victories in the NASCAR Cup Series at Auto Club Speedway.Three drivers have won from the pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Auto Club Speedway Jimmie Johnson (2008), Kyle Larson (2017) and Martin Truex Jr. (2018).Four of the 32 (12.9%) NASCAR Cup Series races at Auto Club Speedway have been won from the front row: Jimmie Johnson, Fall 2008 (pole); and Fall 2007 (second-place); Kyle Larson, 2017 (pole); Martin Truex Jr. 2018 (pole).
Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Auto Club Speedway
Starting PositionWinsWinning %Starting PositionWinsWinning %139.38%1413.13%213.13%1626.25%3412.50%1713.13%439.38%1926.25%526.25%2213.13%713.13%2439.38%813.13%2526.25%939.38%3113.13%1313.13%StatsWinning %WinsWinning from the Pole:9.68%3Winning from the Front Row:12.90%4Winning from a Top-Five Starting Position:41.94%13Winning from a Top-10 Starting Position:58.06%18Winning After Starting Outside the Top 10:41.94%14Winning After Starting Outside the Top 20:22.58%7The most recent driver to win after starting outside the top 20 was Kevin Harvick (24th) in 2011.The deepest in the field that a race winner has started is 31st, by Matt Kenseth in the spring of 2006.The most proficient starting position at Auto Club Speedway is the third starting position, producing the most winners (four) of any starting position in the field (12.5%).A total of 11 different organizations have won at Auto Club Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, led by Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Auto Club Speedway with 12 victories — Jeff Gordon (1997, 1999, 2004), Kyle Busch (2005), Jimmie Johnson (2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016), Alex Bowman (2020), Kyle Larson (2022).
Organizations with Wins in the NASCAR Cup Series at Auto Club Speedway
OrganizationWinsHendrick Motorsports12Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing7Joe Gibbs Racing3Stewart-Haas Racing2Team Penske2Evernham Motorsports1Chip Ganassi Racing1Furniture Row Racing1Richard Childress Racing1Petty GMS Motorsports1Robert Yates Racing1Four different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Auto Club Speedway; led by Chevrolet with 16 wins, followed by Ford (11), Toyota (four) and Dodge (one).
ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS
Runner-Up Finishes
A total of 18 different drivers have finished runner-up in the NASCAR Cup Series at Auto Club Speedway.Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in runner-up finishes at Auto Club Speedway with five second-place finishes.
Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Auto Club Speedway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversRunner-UpsRankActive DriversRunner-Ups1Jimmie Johnson51Jimmie Johnson52Jeff Gordon42Kevin Harvick33Kevin Harvick33Kyle Busch24Bobby Labonte2Kyle Larson2Dale Earnhardt Jr25Austin Dillon1Greg Biffle2Brad Keselowski1Kyle Busch2Joey Logano1Kyle Larson2Kurt Busch1
Top-Five Finishes
A total of 42 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have finished in the top-five at Auto Club Speedway.Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes at Auto Club Speedway with 13.Kyle Busch leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top-five finishes at Auto Club Speedway with 11.
Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Auto Club Speedway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversTop FivesRankActive DriversTop Fives1Jimmie Johnson131Jimmie Johnson132Kyle Busch112Kyle Busch113Jeff Gordon103Joey Logano74Matt Kenseth94Kevin Harvick75Carl Edwards85Brad Keselowski5Kurt Busch8
Top-10 Finishes
A total of 69 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have finished in the top-10 at Auto Club Speedway.Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-10 finishes at Auto Club Speedway with 18.Kyle Busch leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top-10 finishes at Auto Club Speedway with 16.
Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Auto Club Speedway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversTop 10sRankActive DriversTop 10s1Jimmie Johnson181Jimmie Johnson182Kyle Busch162Kyle Busch163Carl Edwards153Kurt Busch15Kurt Busch154Kevin Harvick14Matt Kenseth155Denny Hamlin8Joey Logano8
Average Finishing Positions
Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Auto Club Speedway with a 7.577.Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Auto Club Speedway with a 9.783.
Top 10 in Average Finishing Position at Auto Club Speedway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversAvg FinishRacesRankActive DriversAvg FinRaces1Jimmie Johnson7.577261Jimmie Johnson7.577262Carl Edwards8.684192Kyle Busch9.783233Kyle Busch9.783233Erik Jones10.20054Erik Jones10.20054Chase Elliott12.16765Jeff Gordon11.769265Joey Logano12.467156Kurt Busch12.071286Kyle Larson13.00087Matt Kenseth12.080257Austin Dillon13.50088Chase Elliott12.16768Brad Keselowski14.692139Joey Logano12.467159Kevin Harvick14.8572810Kyle Larson13.000810Ryan Blaney15.6676
LAP LEADERS
A total of 81 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have led at least one lap at Auto Club Speedway.Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Auto Club Speedway with 980 in 26 startsKyle Busch leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Auto Club Speedway with 807 in 22 starts.The most laps led in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway was 228 of the scheduled 250 laps (91.2%) by Jimmie Johnson in 2008 — Johnson started from the pole and won.The most laps led in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway by a driver that didn‘t win was 168 laps led by Greg Biffle who finished 42nd in 2006. Biffle started the race from the second position.Two of the NASCAR Cup Series winners at Auto Club Speedway won by leading just the final lap — Kevin Harvick in 2011 (started 24th) and Brad Keselowski in 2015 (started eighth).
Top 10 Lap Leaders at Auto Club Speedway (All-Time & Active)
RankAll-Time DriversLedCompleted% LedRankActive DriversLedCompleted% Led1Jimmie Johnson9905,90617%1Kyle Busch8074,89916%2Kyle Busch8074,89916%2Kurt Busch2986,1505%3Jeff Gordon6486,10111%3Kevin Harvick2376,0744%4Matt Kenseth5715,78610%4Martin Truex Jr2363,9776%5Tony Stewart3325,4866%5Denny Hamlin1473,9854%6Mark Martin3245,0696%6Alex Bowman1111,01311%7Kurt Busch2986,1505%7Kyle Larson1101,2629%8Greg Biffle2974,7836%8Brad Keselowski872,3984%9Kasey Kahne2694,7406%9Joey Logano572,8882%10Kevin Harvick2376,0744%10Ryan Blaney569966%
FEMALE COMPETITORS
Two female drivers have competed at Auto Club Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series: Shawna Robinson and Danica Patrick. **Note: Robinson first attempted to qualify for a race at Auto Club Speedway on April 29, 2001 but failed to make the event.DriverStarting PositionFinishing PositionSeasonDanica Patrick22262017Danica Patrick31382016Danica Patrick22192015Danica Patrick27142014Danica Patrick40262013Averages28.424.6DriverStarting PositionFinishing PositionSeasonShawna Robinson43422002
TRACK / EVENT STATS
Since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Auto Club Speedway was the March 27, 2011 race won by Kevin Harvick with a margin of victory of 0.144 second over Jimmie Johnson.
Top 10 Closest Margins of Victory at Auto Club Speedway
Margin of VictoryRace WinnerRunner-UpDate0.144Kevin HarvickJimmie JohnsonSunday, March 27, 20110.195Kyle LarsonAustin DillonSunday, February 27, 20220.214Kyle BuschKyle LarsonSunday, March 23, 20140.231Greg BiffleJimmie JohnsonSunday, February 27, 20050.263Elliott SadlerKasey KahneSunday, September 5, 20040.270Rusty WallaceJeff GordonSunday, April 29, 20010.300Jeremy MayfieldBobby LabonteSunday, April 30, 20000.338Matt KensethJimmie JohnsonSunday, February 26, 20060.466Tony StewartClint BowyerSunday, October 10, 20100.554Kyle BuschGreg BiffleSunday, September 4, 20050.620Jimmie JohnsonKurt BuschSunday, April 28, 2002The NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway has only been postponed to another date due to weather once — the 2008 February race — Scheduled date: 2/24/08; Actual Date: 2/25/08.NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather at Auto Club Speedway twice – 1999 and 2008 (Spring) races.There have been six finishes at Auto Club Speedway resulting in NASCAR Overtime:DateScheduledActualOvertimeWinnerRunner-UpSunday, March 26, 20172002022Kyle LarsonBrad KeselowskiSunday, March 20, 20162002055Jimmie JohnsonKevin HarvickSunday, March 22, 20152002099Brad KeselowskiKevin HarvickSunday, March 23, 20142002066Kyle BuschKyle LarsonSunday, February 26, 20062502511Matt KensethJimmie JohnsonSunday, September 4, 20052502544Kyle BuschGreg BiffleOnly once has a NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway been shortened to due to weather.DateScheduled LapsActual LapsFewer LapsWinnerRunner-UpSunday, March 25, 2012200129-71Tony StewartKyle Busch
NASCAR IN CALIFORNIA
There has been a total of 211 NASCAR national series races among 18 different tracks in the state of California (see below for breakdown).The first NASCAR Cup Series race held in California was at Carrell Speedway on April 8, 1951; the event was won by Marshall Teague.
NASCAR National Series Races in California
Track NameCityCupXfinityTruckCombinedFirst YearAuto Club SpeedwayFontana323213771997Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles00002022Sonoma RacewaySonoma3305381989Ascot StadiumLos Angeles30031957Bay Meadows Race TrackSan Mateo30031954California State FairgroundsSacramento60061956Capitol SpeedwaySacramento10011957Carrell SpeedwayGardena40041951Marchbanks SpeedwayHanford30031951Merced FairgroundsMerced10011956Mesa Marin RacewayBakersfield00991995Oakland StadiumOakland30031951Ontario Motor SpeedwayOntario90091971Redwood SpeedwayEureka20021956Riverside International RacewayRiverside4800481958Santa Clara FairgroundsSan Jose10011957Saugus SpeedwaySaugus00111995Willow Springs SpeedwayLancaster20021956Totals1513228211
CALIFORNIA IN NASCAR
A total of 456 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as California.A total of 44 drivers with their home state recorded as California have won at least one race in NASCAR‘s three national series. 28 of the 44 Californian drivers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series; led by Jeff Gordon with 93 wins.
California Drivers In NASCAR
DriverCupXfinityTruckCombinedJeff Gordon935098Jimmie Johnson831084Kevin Harvick604714121Kyle Larson1913234Marvin Panch170017Ernie Irvan153018Dick Rathmann130013Dan Gurney5005Eddie Gray4004Parnelli Jones4004Eddie Pagan4004Robby Gordon3104Tyler Reddick310316AJ Allmendinger215017Ray Elder2002Danny Letner2002Marvin Porter2002Dick Brooks1001Marvin Burke1001Jim Cook1001Cole Custer110213Lou Figaro1001Danny Graves1001Johnny Mantz1001Casey Mears1102Bill Norton1001John Soares1001Danny Weinberg1001Ron Hornaday Jr045155Jason Leffler0213Ryan Reed0202David Gilliland0101Justin Marks0101Joe Ruttman011314Boris Said0112Mike Skinner012829Matt Crafton001515Sheldon Creed0088Zane Smith0088Tyler Ankrum0011Matt DiBenedetto0011Justin Lofton0011Scott Speed0011Brandon Whitt0011Totals342119151612
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