The NASCAR drivers will be doing some “California Dreaming” as they race for the win this weekend at Auto Club Speedway in the Auto Club 400.
So far there have been four different winners in four races. That means four drivers have all but guaranteed their spot in the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs in the “win and you’re in” era. The question is will one of those four drivers meet the challenge of racing at Auto Club Speedway to gain a second win or will a fifth driver join the 2019 winners list of names?
Auto Club Speedway has plenty of room to race side-by-side up to and over four wide in places. However, the trick is to have a car that is fast and handling well to not get into trouble doing that aggressive side-by-side racing. Here is a look at the data the drivers and teams will be facing this weekend.
Auto Club Speedway Data
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
Auto Club 400 Data
Season Race #: 5 of 36 (03-17-19)
Race Length: 200 laps / 400 miles
Stage 1 & 2 Length: 60 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 80 laps
Here is the list of active drivers that have performed the best at Auto Club Speedway during their NASCAR Cup Series careers.
Top 10 Driver Rating at Auto Club Speedway
Jimmie Johnson…………………… 115.6
Kyle Busch…………………………. 109.6
Erik Jones………………………….. 101.0
Kevin Harvick……………………….. 95.5
Chase Elliott…………………………. 95.2
Denny Hamlin……………………….. 92.7
Kyle Larson………………………….. 91.9
Clint Bowyer…………………………. 89.6
Kurt Busch…………………………… 88.1
Joey Logano…………………………. 87.8
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2018 races (20 total) among active drivers at Auto Club Speedway
The list of active driver names that have won a NASCAR Cup Series race is fairly short.
Active Drivers with Wins at Auto Club Speedway
Jimmie Johnson – 6 wins
Kyle Busch – 3 Wins
Martin Truex Jr. – 1 Win (Last year’s race winner)
Kyle Larson – 1 Win
Brad Keselowski – 1 Win
Kevin Harvick – 1 Win
Kurt Busch – 1 Win
We will find out which driver has the “Luck of the Irish” and gets to live out their California dream starting at 2:30 PM central time (3:30 PM eastern time) this Sunday, March 17th (St. Patrick’s Day) in the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway.
By: Buck Stevens
