NASCAR Cup Series Chasin’ a Dream in California in Auto Club 400

Posted on February 27, 2020
2020 Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway
(Photo courtesy of NASCARmedia.com)

The NASCAR Cup Series moves to California for the Auto Club 400 Sunday (3/1).

There have been two races so far in the 2020 season. Both races have been won by the driver that won the race last year. Will that trend continue? Kyle Busch is dreaming that it will. Every other driver is going to do everything they can to wake Kyle up before that dream can happen at Auto Club Speedway.

Here is what they are all facing.

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 #: 3 of 36 (03-01-20)
Race Length: 200 laps / 400 miles
Stage 1 & 2 Length: 60 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 80 laps

These are the active drivers that have performed the best at Auto Club Speedway during their cup series careers.

Top 10 Driver Rating at Auto Club

  • Jimmie Johnson…………………… 114.0
  • Kyle Busch…………………………. 111.5
  • Kevin Harvick……………………….. 96.1
  • Erik Jones……………………………. 93.6
  • Denny Hamlin……………………….. 93.4
  • Chase Elliott…………………………. 92.4
  • Ryan Blaney…………………………. 90.9
  • Joey Logano…………………………. 90.4
  • Kyle Larson………………………….. 89.9
  • Kurt Busch…………………………… 88.6
    Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2019 races (21 total) among active drivers at Auto Club Speedway

There are seven active drivers that have won at least one cup series race at the track.

Active Drivers with Win(s) at Auto Club Speedway

  • Jimmie Johnson – 6 wins (all-time leader)
  • Kyle Busch – 4 wins (including last year’s race)
  • Brad Keselowski – 1 win
  • Kevin Harvick – 1 win
  • Kurt Busch – 1 win
  • Kyle Larson – 1 win
  • Martin Truex Jr. – 1 win

To keep this year’s trend of last year’s race winner being the winner of this year’s race Kyle Busch will have to win this week. He is only one of two drivers that have won back-to-back races at the track. Jimmie Johnson did it in 2009 and 2010 while Kyle did it in 2013 and 2014.

Do you think it will be another back-to-back winner with Kyle Busch getting the checkered flag or will the trend stop after two races this season?

We will find out Sunday, March 1st starting at 2:30 PM central time (3:30 PM eastern time) in the Auto Club 400 from Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

By: Buck Stevens

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