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Thursday 6 April 2017

2017 NASCAR - Auto Club 400 Fontana

The Auto Club 400, March 2017
My first oval race ever, was actually the twentieth running of the Auto Club 400 at Fontana.  This is a fast oval that was originally designed for Indy cars.  Pole position went to Kyle Larson at 187 mph and cars were passing us in the stands at well over 200mph.

Five wide auto racing at Fontana.
Kyle Larson is the NASCAR man of the moment having finished second in the last few races and thus it was no surprise for him to score a win at Fontana.  Four late cautions made it a messy finish and teams had to decide when and whether to pit for tyres or not.  Kyle chose to pit and eventually beat the three drivers who stayed out. With the last late caution the race was extended from 200 to 202 laps.  This only Kyle’s second NASCAR win but he is now the points leader.   The other driver who looked as if he might win for most of the day was Martin Truex who finished at the front of the second stage shoot-out but lost out in the end because he chose not to pit.  There was a good comeback from Bard Keselowski who fought back to second after an early incident.  


Kyle Larson leads at turn 4 late in the race.
Last year’s winner Jimmy Johnson had a difficult weekend as he started from the back of the grid and never really challenged; this is rather unfortunate as he hasn’t managed a top 5 finish this year yet.  Rookie Daniel Suarez took a top ten position again after at one point falling off the lead lap.  Dale Earnhardt Jnr made his 600th start and finished 16th.  Chase Elliott was in contention during the first two stages but eventually could only come in tenth.  Clint Bowyer was the guy who was on the rise all afternoon, being sixth at the end of the first stage, fourth at the end of the second stage and finally finishing third.  Denny Hamlin qualified on the front row but spun his tyres too much at the start and went backwards after that.


The battle for the lead after one of the last cautions.
So my thoughts after my first oval race.  Frankly I remain a die-hard road racing fan.  The pit stops were especially fun to watch and the racing is close and the cars are loud and fast but somehow it doesn’t translate into a great spectacle for me.  I think you really need to be a big supporter of a particular driver or team to really enjoy this type of racing.  That was clear from the supporters around me who certainly had their favourites and anti-heroes as well!   Nevertheless I enjoyed the day.


One of the full course yellows with everyone following the pace car through turn 1.
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The drivers and cars in the order they were classified at the finish of the Auto Club 400 in 2017.

1 No.42 Kyle Larson Target Chevrolet



Kyle takes the chequered flag after 202 laps.

Kyle makes a lot of tyre smoke on his victory lap!
2 No.2 Brad Keselowski Wurth Ford



3 No.14 Clint Bowyer Rush Truck Centers Ford



4 No.78 Martin Truex Jr Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota



5 No.22 Joey Logano AAA Southern California Ford

Scrutineering inspection.

6 No.1 Jamie McMurray McDonald's Chevrolet



7 No.19 Daniel Suarez Subway Toyota



8 No.18 Kyle Busch Interstate Batteries Toyota

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9 No.21 Ryan Blaney Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford


Srcutineering inspection.
10 No.24 Chase Elliott NAPA Chevrolet



11 No.3 Austin Dillon American Ethanol Chevrolet



12 No.77 Erik Jones Toyota Service Centers Toyota




13 No.4 Kevin Harvick Busch Beer Ford



14 No.11 Denny Hamlin Sport Clips Toyota



15 No.31 Ryan Newman Caterpillar Chevrolet


16 No.88 Dale Earnhardt Jr Axalta Chevrolet



17 No.47 AJ Allmendinger Kroger ClickList Chevrolet



18 No.13 Ty Dillon Twisted Tea Chevrolet



19 No.43 Aric Almirola Smithfield Ford



20 No.5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet

Srutineering inspection.
21 No.48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet



22 No.17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr Fastenal 50th Anniversary Ford



23 No.6 Trevor Bayne AdvoCare Ford



24 No.41 Kurt Busch Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford



25 No.37 Chris Buescher Bush's Beans Chevrolet



26 No.10 Danica Patrick Aspen Dental Ford



27 No.34 Landon Cassill Love's Travel Stops Ford



28 No.27 Paul Menard Jack Links/Menards Chevrolet



29 No.32 Matt DiBenedetto Can-Am/Kappa Ford



30 No.83 Corey Lajoie Bubba Burger Toyota



31 No.38 David Ragan Camping World/Good Sam Ford



32 No.72 Cole Whitt Southern California Chevy Dealers Chevrolet  


33 No.95 Michael McDowell LFR Woodie Chevrolet



34 No.15 Reed Sorenson VIPRacingExperience.com Toyota



35 No.51 Timmy Hill Bubba Burger Chevrolet




36 No.20 Matt Kenseth Peak Toyota  

Matt Kenseth being towed after a late incident sent him into the wall.
37 No.23 Gray Gaulding SunFrog.com Toyota



38 No.55 Derrike Cope Chevrolet

Scrutineering inspection.

39 No.33 Jeffrey Earnhardt K1Speed Chevrolet 


Victory Lane.
Timmy Hill

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