NASCAR
Stratta’s Six: Who Could Win Auto Club’s Farewell Race?
Week two of the NASCAR season kicks off the three-race West Coast swing from California’s Auto Club Speedway. In the final appearance for the two-mile oval, the list of potential winners is long. Last year saw Auto Club weekend swept by a pair of California drivers; can that feat be repeated? See some favorites below for the Pala Casino 400. A Playoff berth and a season-defining win are both up for grabs in the Golden State.
Kyle Larson
Defending Auto Club winner Kyle Larson was especially clutch 12 months ago. In the first victory since his 2021 championship, Larson took command late and held off charges from Daniel Suarez and Austin Dillon. The Elk Grove, California native is a two-time Auto Club winner, also boasting three victories at the sister track in Michigan. Larson enters this year’s race confident for another winning chance.
“We seem to be really good on that style racetrack,” Larson said. “It’s a place that I really love with the line changes and the (way the) tires wear out. I remember last year you could draft pretty well down the straightaways. It was a fun race. Hopefully, we can be fast again and win in my home state again.”
A push from Larson ultimately gave last week’s Daytona 500 victory to his good friend Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Larson will try and make 2023 be 2-2 in having dirt racers win, as Auto Club is one of his best tracks.
Kyle Larson’s No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro on the grid ahead of the 65th Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19th. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Kevin Harvick
Bakersfield’s own Kevin Harvick hopes to leave his final Auto Club appearance on a high note. A 2011 winner here, that day saw ‘The Closer’ reign supreme in one of the best finishes ever at Fontana. Now amidst his final season, Harvick looks forward to racing one more time in front of his home track’s fans.
“Every year you go there, you want to win the race because you’ve got a lot of family and a lot of friends there, along with a lot of race fans who have come there to watch you race,” Harvick said. “On the Cup side, I’ve only gotten to do that one time. It was against another California native in Jimmie Johnson, and it was a really cool finish. I got to push him all the way down the back straightaway and then pass him coming to the checkered flag. Cup has not been as successful as I’d like it to be in the win column.”
“I really believe that the 1998 Winston West Series race and Richard (Childress) seeing me race for the first time there played a huge part in me having the opportunity to drive at Richard Childress Racing. Look, I worked at the Spears shop that is 30 minutes from the racetrack. I grew up two hours from the racetrack. I have a lot of family and friends and people that go to that race, and have gone to that race for a number of years. The unfortunate part about the racetrack going away is in its current state, it’s just so challenging, and from the driver’s standpoint, it’s so unique. It used to just be a snoozer when the asphalt was no good, and all of a sudden just one year the light switch flipped and cars were all over the racetrack – top of the racetrack, bottom of the racetrack – and the racing just became so different. I’m interested to see what comes next. Do we get a new racetrack, or do we just disappear?”
Harvick has not been worse than ninth in the last three trips to his home track. With both Auto Club and Harvick going away for good after 2023, few venues are more fitting for a win in his final season.
Kevin Harvick’s No. 4 Busch Light Ford Mustang on the grid ahead of the 65th Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19th. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Kyle Busch
Few tracks have meant more to Kyle Busch’s career than Auto Club. The site of his first career victory in 2005, Busch has won here three more times. The most recent trip to California victory lane for Rowdy in 2019 marked his 200th NASCAR National Series win. Busch was also victorious in the unforgettable 2013 Auto Club race, after Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano took each other out. Following a heartbreaking loss in the Daytona 500, Busch hopes to find victory lane again in California.
“I love Auto Club Speedway,” Busch said. “I’ve known it as California Speedway for a long, long time since I was a kid. I obviously love the two-mile layout. I think it’s unique, I think it’s special. We only have two of those on the calendar already so it’s not that it’s that big of a deal that we have two that we’re getting rid of it for another short track on the west coast. If we want to race in California more there’s Irwindale Speedway right down the street that’s a fantastic half-mile racetrack that’s a great short track. I would certainly love to win the last one on the big track. That would be awesome. I was the last one to win on the Bristol surface before they redid it in 2008.”
“Auto Club Speedway has been a really good track for me over the years just because I like the track. I like going out there, I like the west coast, it’s a fun track. It’s a driver’s track. You can really move around. There’s five lanes and you can run all of ‘em but one of my favorite lines to run is obviously up against the wall, that fifth lane. It’s a really cool track to be able to do that and you’re always trying to set yourself as fast as you can right up against the wall as close as you can and that’s where you get to make your most time. It’s really a fun track for the drivers.”
Despite being in position late to win the Daytona 500, many still have doubts about the performance of Kyle Busch at RCR. Busch will try to silence the haters this weekend at one of his best racetracks.
Kyle Busch’s No. 8 3CHI Chevrolet camaro on the grid ahead of the 65th Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19th. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Chase Elliott
2022’s Auto Club race was as close as Chase Elliott has been to a win on the two-mile oval. After an early spin, the Napa 9 rallied to be in contention against Larson in the closing laps. Only a late block by the 5 would end the 9’s day early, as Elliott went up into the wall and spun again. With last year’s loss still a fresh memory, Elliott aims for better west coast swing results starting at Auto Club.
“I’m looking forward to kicking off the West Coast swing at Fontana,” Elliott said. “I really enjoy going out there. The track is unique and it’s just a cool place. It’s one of those places you kind of forget about until it comes up on the schedule because you only race there once a year and it’s so early in the season. I felt like we had a pretty good run going there towards the end last year but didn’t end up with the finish to show for it. Hopefully, we’re able to improve upon that this weekend.”
Elliott has yet to secure a win at any track in California in his career. After being within eyesight of the 2022 Auto Club win, the Napa 9 car should be a contender again this time around.
Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Napa Chevrolet Camaro on the grid ahead of the 65th Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19th. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Ryan Blaney
Despite batting .500 for top-10s across his career at Auto Club, Ryan Blaney has yet to win here. Along with a best finish of fifth, the 12 has led in the last three trips to Fontana. Trying to erase a now 47-race winless streak, Blaney wants to end Sunday California dreaming. Driver 12 is no stranger to finding success on similar worn out racetracks.
“It is a big, slick, multiple lane groove racetrack,” Blaney said. “It is bumpy and rough and drivers love that stuff. The reason why all of us loved Atlanta before they repaved it. Why all of us loved Texas before they repaved it. Chicago, we don’t even go there anymore but all of us loved that place. Old worn out tracks with a bunch of grooves and lanes are what drivers like. It is challenging and you are sliding around and there is room to race. Drivers enjoy that.”
Roger Penske was the man behind Auto Club Speedway’s construction and the Fontana track’s original owner. It would be very appropriate to see a Penske car pull into victory lane for the final time at Auto Club. Blaney’s track record here makes this idea more than a fantasy. Keep an eye out of the 12 to end their long losing slide.
Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 Menards/Blue Def Ford Mustang on the grid ahead of the 65th Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19th. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
Martin Truex Jr.
2018 Auto Club winner Martin Truex Jr. enters 2023’s race in a unique spot. Just three weeks ago, the 19 won at the other SoCal race, the Clash at the Coliseum. Much like Blaney, Truex is trying to end a year-plus losing drought. Truex is in position to sweep both Los Angeles races. Aside from the one Auto Club win, MTJ also has seven top-10s. Only one of those however have come since his victory five years ago. With more experience on this aged surface than nearly anyone else in Sunday’s field, Truex could tame this oval once more.
“I love the racetrack, it’s one of my favorites and I’m not one to pick favorites,” Truex said. “It will be a bit bittersweet going out there for the last time with the two-mile oval. I’m going to miss it and hopefully we have a good last showing out there, it’s been good for us. All I’m going to do is go out there a think about how we can win and have a great weekend with our Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota. Reser’s is the sponsor of our team and of good times, so I can’t think of a better time than winning, and that’s what we will work toward this weekend.”
“For starters, you want to be able to race in between the seams. If you don’t hit that right, you lose a ton of grip and a ton of traction. If you don’t hit that right, it can really change how your car drives. Between the bumps and the tire wear, there are a lot of challenges. You start the run, you feel like superman and you have a ton of grip and the car is really hooked up into the track. After 10 laps, then 15 laps, then 20 laps, it just gets worse and worse and you are sliding around a lot and wearing the tires out. There’s a real balance there of having a car that well balanced but you have to make sure the car can take off on short runs and restarts, but also in the long run with the tires because the thing is sliding all over the place and running against the wall and moving lanes around. It’s just a fun track to be able to do that.”
Truex cannot be overlooked in his chances at taking a breakthrough return to victory lane. Should Truex win, he would be locked into the Playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Martin Truex Jr’s No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry on the grid ahead of the 65th Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19th. Credit: Peter Stratta/TSJSports
After last year’s California blockbuster race, Sunday is setting up to be another thriller show. Coverage begins Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. The Pala Casino 400 will mark the 33rd and final race on the track’s original surface, not paved since 1997. It will no doubt be bittersweet to watch such beloved pavement be raced on for the final time.
Written by Peter Stratta
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