Race: Sunday, October 10, 2010 in Fontana, CA

Title Sponsor: Pepsi

Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 3:16pm/et

NASCAR Countdown: ESPN - 2:00pm/et

Television Race Coverage: ESPN, 3:00pm/et

TV Announcers: Marty Reid, Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree
Pit Reporters: Dr. Jerry Punch. Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Vince Welch
Studio: Allen Bestwick, Tim Brewer, Brad Daugherty, Rusty Wallace

SPEED's NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show: 12:00pm/et with John Roberts, Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace

Scheduled Race Re-Air Dates/Times:
Monday, October 11 at 3:00 am/et on ESPN2
Wednesday, October 13 at 12:00 pm/et on SPEED

TV Listings, Links and Info:
Jayski's TV Listings Page
NASCAR on TV
Race Fan TV

This Week - Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite Radio

• motorracingnetwork.com

• sirius.com

• Practices:
  Friday, October 8, 3:00 - 4:30 pm/et, TV-ESPN2
  Saturday, October 9, 1:30 - 2:15 pm, TV-none scheduled

• Happy Hour 'Final' practice: Saturday, October 9, 2:45 - 3:50 pm/et, TV-none scheduled

• Qualifying Draw: Friday, October 8, 2:00pm/et

• Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-42, Friday, October 8 at 6:40pm/et, TV-ESPN2, no re-air scheduled;
  AND live via radio at MRN Radio and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio Channel 128.

• Stewart wins at Auto Club: #14-Tony Stewart won the Pepsi Max 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway for his 2nd win of 2010, 1st ever at ACS and the 39th win of his career. #33-Bowyer finished second followed by #48-Johnson, #9-Kahne, #39-Newman, #5-Martin, #29-Harvick, #11-Hamlin, #24-Gordon and #00-Reuitmann. Pole sitter #1-McMurray finished 17th.
  There were 23 lead changes among 14 drivers and 9 cautions for 36 yellow flag laps. The attendance was reported at 70,000, same as 2009.
  Scheduled Race Re-Airs are ESPN2, Monday, October 11 at 3:00am/et; and SPEED, October 13 at 12:00pm/et.
  See race results, awards, laps led and more on Jayski's Auto Club Race Results/Awards page.(10-10-2010)

• Chase Drivers Finishing Position at Auto Club:
  [by points standings before the race]:
  1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 3rd
  2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 8th
  3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 7th
  4) #99-Carl Edwards, 34th
  5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 9th
  6) #2-Kurt Busch, 21st
  7) #18-Kyle Busch, 35th
  8) #16-Greg Biffle, 41st
  9) #31-Jeff Burton, 23rd
  10) #14-Tony Stewart, WON
  11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 30th
  12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 2nd
  (10-10-2010)

• Sprint Cup Series:
  • Tony Stewart won the Pepsi Max 400 at Auto Club Speedway. It was his 39th Cup series victory in his 422nd start, tying Tim Flock for 17th on NASCAR's all-time wins list.
  • Stewart became the fourth different Chase winner in four Chase races in 2010. It was Stewart's sixth Chase victory overall.
  • The driver leading the points after Chase race No. 4 went on to win the championship in four of the six Chases.
  • Only one of the past 31 Chase races has been won by a non-Chaser -- Jamie McMurray at Talladega in October 2009.
  • Stewart has won on all but two active tracks (Darlington and Las Vegas). It was Stewart's first California victory in 19 races.
  • Stewart led three times for 27 laps, including the final 12.
  • Mark Martin led the most laps (41).
  • Stewart-Haas Racing posted its seventh Cup series win and third victory in 2010. It was the first owner/driver victory at Auto Club Speedway.
  • Chevrolet posted its 16th win in 2010 and clinched the manufacturers' championship. Toyota has 10 wins, Dodge two and Ford two.
  • The top 10 included seven Chevrolets, two Toyotas and one Ford. A Toyota has never won at California.
  • Nine of 12 Chase drivers had problems Sunday. Stewart, Johnson and Bowyer were the only Chase drivers who did not have a problem at California.
  • The 11 speeding penalties tie the record for the most this season (Infineon).
  • Thirty cars finished on the lead lap, a record for California.
  • Clint Bowyer finished second in his 175th career start. Bowyer posted his best finish in 10 California races. He has scored top-10 finishes in the past three California races.
  • Jimmie Johnson (third) scored his eighth straight top-10 finish at California -- the longest current streak -- and seven of those were finishes of third or better.
  • Johnson finished on the lead lap in all 16 of his California races, the longest current streak. He has led at least one lap in the past eight California races, also the longest current streak.
  • Kasey Kahne (fourth) posted his best finish and first top-10 in the past six races.
  • Ryan Newman (fifth) posted his first top-5 in the past 12 races at California.
  • Kevin Harvick (eighth) scored his third straight top-10 finish at California. Harvick leads all drivers with 14 top-10 finishes in 20 superspeedway races.
  • Jeff Gordon (ninth) scored top-10 finishes in three of the past four California races.
  • Regan Smith (12th) posted his best finish of the season.
  • Carl Edwards (34th) posted his worst finish at California. Edwards was the only driver to lead in the first three Chase races, but he did not lead at California.(ESPN)(10-12-2010)

• Race Fast Facts - Auto Club:
  #14-Tony Stewart won the Pepsi MAX 400, his 39th victory in 422 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
  This is his second victory and 16th top-10 finish in 2010.
  This is his first victory and 11th top-10 finish in 19 races at Auto Club Speedway.
  #33-Clint Bowyer (second) posted his sixth top-10 finish in ten races at Auto Club Speedway. It is his 16th top-10 finish in 2010.
  #48-Jimmie Johnson (third) posted his 12th top-10 finish in 16 races at Auto Club Speedway.
  #7-Kevin Conway (31st) was the highest finishing rookie.
  #48-Jimmie Johnson leads the point standings by 36 points over Denny Hamlin. Three drivers are within 85 points of Johnson.
  (NASCAR Statistics)(10-10-2010)

• 2010 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings:
  [after Auto Club, race 30 of 36, Chase Race 3 of 10]:
  rank, car#, driver, points, behind
  1) #48-Jimmie Johnson [6 wins], 5673
  2) #11-Denny Hamlin [6 wins], 5637, -36
  3) #29-Kevin Harvick [3 wins], 5619, -54
  4) #24-Jeff Gordon, 5588, -85
  5) #14-Tony Stewart [2 wins, 5566, -107
  6) #2-Kurt Busch [2 wins], 5533, -140
  7) #99-Carl Edwards, 5511, -162
  8) #31-Jeff Burton, 5496, -177
  9) #18-Kyle Busch [3 wins], 5486, -187
  10) #16-Greg Biffle [2 wins], 5458, -215
  11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 5432, -241
  12) #33-Clint Bowyer [1 win], 5426, -247
  (Bowyer without penalty 5576, -97 would be 5th)
  See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.(10-10-2010)

• 2010 Sprint Cup Driver 'Classic' Points Standings:
  [after Auto Club, race 30 of 36....the OLD way]:
  rank, car#, driver, points, behind
  1) #29-Kevin Harvick, 4312
  2) #24-Jeff Gordon, 4081, -231
  3) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 4040 -272
  4) #14-Tony Stewart, 3973, -339
  5) #18-Kyle Busch, 3951, -361
  6) #99-Carl Edwards, 3938, -374
  7) #11-Denny Hamlin, 3919, -393
  8) #31-Jeff Burton, 3886, -426
  9) #2- Kurt Busch, 3850, -462
  10) #17-Matt Kenseth, 3778, -534
  11) #39-Ryan Newman, 3656, -716
  12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 3647, -656
  13) #16-Greg Biffle, 3625, -665
  14) #1-Jamie McMurray, 3596, -687
  15) #5-Mark Martin, 3506, -857 16) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, 3455, -806
  See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.(10-10-2010)

• Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Charlotte:
  No one moved in to or out of the top-35. BUT the #7 team is only 25 points ahead of 36th, the #38 team.
  34) #71-Cassill-Labonte/TRG: 2130, +43
  35) #7-Conway/RGM, 2112, 25 points ahead of 36th
  these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:
  36) #38-Blaney/Front Row: 2087, -25 points out of the top 35
  37) #26-Carptenier/Latitude43: 1942, -170
  The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
  For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(10-10-2010)

• Penalty Report - Auto Club:
  Car#, Lap, Reason, Penalty
  #11, Pre-Race to the rear, Tail End, Transmission
  #42, 36 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Pass Thru
  #71, 39 Excessive speed EXITING the pits, Tail End
  #16, 40 Pitting before pit road is open
  #47, 53 Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End
  #99, 58 Pitting before pit road is open
  #78, 94 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Pass Thru
  #29, 95 Excessive speed EXITING the pits, Pass Thru
  #78, 115 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Tail End
  #99, 115 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Tail End
  #47, 136 Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End
  #42, 137 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Tail End
  #99, 138 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Tail End
  #47, 139 Running the stop and go sign/light, Stopped on Track & gave back
  #1, 145 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Tail End
  #7, 145 Outside half of the pit box tire violation/Team member not in contact with the outside tires, Tail End
  #18, 155 Pitting before pit road is open
  #24, 156 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Tail End
  #1, 184 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Tail End
  #31, 184 Lug nut(s) not installed, Must come in
  #2, 194 Pitting before pit road is open, Tail End
  #6, 194 Pitting before pit road is open
  #2, 194 Excessive speed ENTERING pits, Tail End
  (NASCAR Statistics)(10-10-2010)

• Lucky Dogs - Who got a lap back on each caution at Auto Club: (and their finish)
  Caution 1: #38-Gilliland, 20th
  Caution 2: #42-Montoya. 14th
  Caution 3: #34-Kvapil, 28th
  Caution 4: #38-Gilliland (2), 20th
  Caution 5: #78-Smith, 12th
  Caution 6: NONE awarded
  Caution 7: #37-Blaney, still 2 laps down, 29th
  Caution 8: #37-Blaney, still 1 lap down, 29th
  Caution 9: #37-Blaney, 29th
  (10-10-2010)

• Start and Parks? Which teams parked their cars early in the race at Auto Club (or seemed to)?
  43rd: #66-Leffler, 23 laps run
  42nd: #36-Yeley, 33 laps
  40th: #64-Cassill, 43 laps
  with NASCAR's new rule of the first non-crashed car out of the race to be inspected, it would be the #66 this week
  (only count a team with a history of start and park, not a wreck or engine blow and only if 25% or less of race completed)(10-10-2010)

• Pit Stall Selections - Auto Club: The selections of pit stalls for the Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway have been made. Pole sitter #1-McMurray chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
  Outside pole sitter #19-Sadler took pit stall 12A, the first with an opening in front of it [after the 1st stall of course].
  #17-Kenseth, who starts 3rd took the 26th pit stall, the next stall with an opening in front of it.
  The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #00-Reutimann, who starts 23rd.
  To see where all the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Auto Club 500 Pit Stall Selection chart.(10-9-2010)

• Race Coverage of the Pepsi Max 400 at Auto Club Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, October 10, 2010.
  Television (TV): ESPN at 3:00 pm/et; pre-race show at 2:00 pm/et; green flag approx 3:16pm/et
  Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 128
  Scheduled Race Re-Airs:
  ESPN2, Monday. October 11, 2010 at 3:00am/et
  SPEED, Wednesday, October 13 at 12:00pm/et

• The Chase Is On: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Live from California: The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship continues Sunday, Oct. 10, as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races in the Pepsi Max 400 at the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., and ESPN will have a live telecast. The NASCAR Countdown pre-race show airs at 2 p.m. ET with the race telecast at 3 p.m. The race’s green flag is at 3:16 pm/et.
  Marty Reid will call the action with analysis by Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree. Tim Brewer will report from the ESPN Craftsman Tech Garage, while pit reporters will be Dave Burns, Jamie Little, Dr. Jerry Punch and Vince Welch. NASCAR Countdown from the ESPN pit studio will be hosted by Allen Bestwick with analysis by Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty. The studio team will interact with the booth during the telecast of the race.

• ESPN Radio Raceday Airs Saturday, Sunday: Each weekend morning, ESPN Radio’s RaceDay starts its engines at 6:00am/et with host Pat Patterson anchored from Daytona Beach, Fla. Patterson also originates the broadcast from several racetracks with key races during the season. On both Saturday and Sunday mornings, ESPN Radio’s RaceDay listeners get an hour of news, previews and analysis, as well as profiles and interviews with NASCAR’s biggest names and newsmakers and the involvement of listeners via calls and e-mails. A list of ESPN Radio affiliates can be found at www.espnradio.com.

• NASCAR Revises Green-White-Checkered Race Procedure: NASCAR announced a revision to one of its race procedures, allowing a maximum of three restart attempts prior to the White Flag under NASCAR's Green-White-Checkered flag finish. If the leader has taken the White Flag and the caution flag is displayed, the field is frozen and the race will not be restarted. Previously, there was only one restart attempt. The new procedure will be implemented beginning with today's running of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' Gatorade Duel at Daytona and will apply to all three national series. NASCAR officials met with drivers and teams Wednesday at Daytona International Speedway to discuss the change and get their input. The announcement was made during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' drivers and crew chiefs meeting Thursday morning. "We want to do all we can to finish our races under green flag conditions – the fans want to see that and so do the competitors," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. "We felt that putting a cap at three attempts to finish the race under green is the way to go. It gives the fans what they want and it also gives the teams a better opportunity to prepare for their end of race strategy." The change amends procedure 9-14C of the 2010 NASCAR rulebook.(NASCAR)(2-11-2010)

• Jayski's - 2010 Sprint Cup Race Results Page
  (pole and race winner with speed and starting/finishing position, links to race results, drivers & owners points, pit stall selections, qualifying results/starting lineup, practice speeds and chase stats as well as link to race track and race information page for each race)

• NASCAR tweaks wave-around rule: NASCAR has tweaked its rule on wave-around cars under caution. The new rule now dictates that cars under penalty at the time of the caution are ineligible for the wave around. The change began last week with the Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway after a situation came up in the Nationwide Series race that was new to the double-file restart system instituted in June. In the Nationwide race, Roush Fenway Racing's Carl Edwards was penalized for speeding under green, and then the caution came out. He stayed out and didn't pit and then was among those cars on the end of the lead lap. He then got the "wave around" the caution car (along with the rest of the cars that had stayed out and were on the end of the lead lap) to get to the rear of the line of lead-lap cars. Edwards then went to the end of the line to serve his penalty. That move would not be allowed anymore. The driver would not get the wave around and would start a lap down at the rear of the field on the restart, the penalty for a driver who had a speeding penalty under green but never served it before the caution came out. The new rule in general is any driver under penalty is no longer eligible for the wave around.(SceneDaily)(10-11-2009)

• Happy Hour practice: for the Pepsi Max 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway is being, after 60 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and any notes:
  #48-Johnson 179.587
  #24-Gordon 179.560
  #1-McMurray 179.488
  #16-Biffle 179.011
  #29-Harvick 178.900
  slowest: #7-Conway 172.674 & #37-Blaney 172.695
  See fastest speeds, average speeds & laps run on the Auto Club Practice Speeds Page.(10-9-2010)

• Saturday's 1st practice: for the Pepsi Max 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway is over, after 45 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and any notes:
  #16-Biffle 181.837
  #17-Kenseth 181.630
  #00-Reutimann 181.205
  #1-McMurray 181.191
  #24-Gordon 181.182
  slowest: #7-Conway 171.473 & #87-Nemechek 173.465
  See fastest speeds, average speeds & laps run on the Auto Club Practice Speeds Page.(10-9-2010)

• McMurray wins pole at Auto Club: #1-Jamie McMurray won the Coors Pole for the Pepsi Max 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway with a speed of 185.285mph for his 4th pole of 2010 and 7th of his career, McMurray has not won a race from the pole in his 6 other tries. #19-Sadler will start 2nd followed by #17-Kenseth, #42-Montoya, #9-Kahne, #56-Truex Jr., #16-Biffle, #48-Johnson, #88-Earnhardt Jr. and #20-Logano.
  The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #13-Mears [starts 12th], #46-McDowell, #36-Yeley, #38-Gilliland, #66-Leffler, #87-Nemechek, #64-Cassill and #09-Labonte who uses a past champions provisional to make the race.
  The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (2): #55-Bliss and #26-Carpentier.
  See the starting lineup, qualifying speeds and notes on my Auto Club Starting Lineup/Qualifying Results page.(10-8-2010)

• Qualifying Fast Facts - Auto Club:
  #1-Jamie McMurray won the Coors Light Pole Award for the Pepsi MAX 400 with a lap of 38.859 seconds, 185.285 mph.
  This is his seventh pole in 288 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
  This is his fourth pole and 12th top-10 start in 2010.
  This is his second pole in 15 races at Auto Club Speedway. McMurray won the pole here in February. He is the second driver to sweep poles in a season at Auto Club Speedway (Kurt Busch, 2006)
  #19-Elliott Sadler (second) posted his second top-10 start of 2010 and his fifth in 19 races at Auto Club Speedway.
  #17-Matt Kenseth (third) posted his third top-10 start at Auto Club Speedway. It is his seventh in 30 races this season.
  Drivers not qualifying for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup took 5 of 6 starting positions.(NASCAR Statistics)(10-8-2010)

• Starting Spots for the Chase drivers at Auto Club:
  Only four of the 12 Chase drivers qualified in the top 10 for the Pepsi Max 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway, the starting spots for the 12 chasers:
  [by current points standings]:
  1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 8th
  2) #11-Denny Hamlin, 34th
  3) #29-Kevin Harvick, 21st
  4) #99-Carl Edwards, 20th
  5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 17th
  6) #2-Kurt Busch, 38th
  7) #18-Kyle Busch, 16th
  8) #16-Greg Biffle, 7th
  9) #31-Jeff Burton, 15th
  10) #14-Tony Stewart, 22nd
  11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 3rd
  12) #33-Clint Bowyer, 13th
  See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.(10-8-2010)

• Coverage of Qualifying for the Pepsi Max 400 at Auto Club Speedway is scheduled for Friday, October 8, 2010 at 6:40pm/et.
  Television (TV): ESPN2 at 6:30pm/et
  Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 128
  Jayski.com: Jayski's Semi-Live Qualifying Page
  Qualifying Re-Air: non-scheduled

• Qualifying Order for the Pepsi Max 400 at Auto Club Speedway is posted. 45 cars/drivers are listed. Go-or-go homers will qualify at the end of the session, once the top-35 drivers are done.
  The first of the top-35 drivers scheduled to go out is #00-Reutimann.
  The final top-35 driver scheduled to go out is #37-Blaney.
  The first go-or-go homer scheduled to qualify [36th] is #38-Gilliland with the final driver scheduled to qualify being #64-Cassill.
  See the full qualifying order on the Auto Club Qualifying Page.(10-8-2010)

• Friday's practice: for the Pepsi Max 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway is over, after 90 scheduled minutes, the top five, slowest and any notes:
  #1-McMurray 183.833
  #43-Allmendinger 183.407
  #16-Biffle 183.239
  #18-Busch 183.006
  #5-Martin 182.950
  #42-Montoya 182.950
  slowest: #34-Kvapil 174.808 & #83-Sorenson 175.447
  notes: late in practice, #83-Sorenson spun off turn 2, didn't hit anything, but blew the tires.
  See fastest speeds, average speeds & laps run on the Auto Club Practice Speeds Page.(10-8-2010)

• Auto Club practice rank for the non top-35 drivers:
  if things stay the same, these eight drivers would make the race:
  #13-Casey Mears, 23rd fastest
  #66-Jason Leffler, 30th
  #55-Mike Bliss, 32nd
  #36-J.J. Yeley, 34th
  #87-Joe Nemechek, 35th
  #64-Landon Cassill, 36th
  #38-David Gilliland, 37th
  #09-Bobby Labonte [PC1], 38th
  these drivers would miss the race if the order stayed the same:
  #46-Michael McDowell, 39th
  #26-Patrick Carpentier, 41st
  [PC] = [past champion and order, 1 is more recent champ]

• Some Chassis selections for Auto Club Speedway:
  #1-Jamie McMurray: Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion and the #1 McDonald's team will bring chassis #1016 to Auto Club Speedway this weekend. This chassis was first used a month ago at Atlanta where McMurray qualified 12th and finished 15th.
  #2-Kurt Busch and his Steve Addington-led “Blue Deuce” team will be racing their “PRS-736” Dodge Charger at the Auto Club Speedway at Fontana, Calif., this weekend. This is the car that the team debuted at Dover two weeks ago where Busch started eighth and finished fourth. “This Miller Lite Dodge proved to be a great new car that Kurt really liked,” offered crew chief Addington. “We got behind during the middle of the race when we got slapped with the speeding penalty. Kurt drove one of the best races I’ve ever seen coming back up through the pack to finish fourth like he did. We have a ton of confidence that this will be a car Kurt can win with out at Fontana this weekend.”
  #5-Mark Martin: crew chief Alan Gustafson has chosen Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 5-595 for Sunday's race at Auto Club Speedway. This chassis never has been raced or tested.
  #6-David Ragan: Primary: RK-640 last ran Michigan and finished 11th. Backup: RK-620, last ran at Vegas and finished 23rd. This will be the second time this season that UPS Freight is featured on the #6-Ford. The UPS Freight Ford made its 2010 debut in Chicago, resulting in a 12th-place finish.
  #11-Denny Hamlin: and the FedEx Racing team will unload JGR 276 at Auto Club this weekend. This car won at Richmond in September. JGR 270, which won at Texas in April, will serve as the backup. The #11 FedEx Office Camry will carry the number 7363 on the B-posts this weekend in recognition of the FedEx Office Ohio market sales team. The Ohio team is being recognized for excellence in customer service and partnership between the sales team and in-store staff.
  #12-Brad Keselowski: The #12 Penske Dodge Charger team will use chassis PRS-716 during Sunday’s Pepsi Max 400 at Auto Club Speedway. Keselowski last drove this chassis to a 26th-place finish at New Hampshire in June.

  #14-Tony Stewart: Chassis No. 14-564: This car debuted at Texas last November, where it delivered a strong performance by qualifying fourth and finishing sixth. The 2009 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway marked the car's second career start. There, it qualified fifth and led twice for 43 laps before two separate on-track incidents with Juan Pablo Montoya relegated it to a 22nd-place finish. It saw action during the off-season when it was used for a Goodyear tire test at Texas Jan. 19-20. Chassis #14-564 returned to competition in February at Auto Club Speedway, where in the second race of the 2010 campaign, it started 16th and finished ninth. It returned to Texas in April for its fourth career start, where it qualified on the pole and led five times for 74 laps before a late-race accident relegated it to an undeserved 32nd-place finish. It was repaired and fitted with a new body for the series' June stop at Michigan, where it qualified 17th and finished a solid fifth. It sat idle until it returned to Michigan for the series' August visit to the 2-mile oval, qualifying fourth and leading three times for 36 laps before finishing sixth.
  #16-Greg Biffle: crew chief Greg Erwin on Auto Club Speedway: “We’ve also see fuel mileage come into play at California several times so pit strategy will be a factor. We finished fourth in Michigan a couple of months ago with the car we’re racing this weekend and these two tracks are pretty similar.”
  #17-Matt Kenseth: Primary: RK-707 is a brand new chassis.
  #18-Kyle Busch: Chassis No. 280 will make its second career start during Sunday’s Pepsi Max 400 at Auto Club Speedway. In its maiden start at Michigan in August, Busch qualified No. 280 in 18th and ran within the top-10 before a scrape with the wall relegated him to an 18th-place finish.
  #29-Kevin Harvick: will pilot Chassis No. 288 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Earlier in the year, this Chevy scored a win at Michigan in August. Additionally, Harvick scored runner-up finishes at Indianapolis and at Auto Club Speedway, finished ninth at Atlanta in March, and finished seventh at Dover in May. The Shell-Pennzoil team raced this chassis three times in the latter part of the 2009 season, finishing 18th at Charlotte, fifth at Texas and third at Homestead.
  #31-Jeff Burton: will pilot chassis No. 317 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. Built new this season, this is the same Caterpillar Chevy Burton drove to an eighth-place finish at Pocono in August and to a 24th-place result at Michigan just two weeks later after being involved in a wrong place, wrong time incident with under 50 laps remaining.
  #33-Clint Bowyer: will pilot chassis No. 324 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable. This is a brand new #33 racer that will be put through its first paces in this weekend's 400 miler. The white, blue and maroon paint scheme of The Hartford will adorn Bowyer's #33 Chevy at Auto Club Speedway.
  #39-Ryan Newman Chassis No. 39-609 will make only its second appearance of the season this weekend at Auto Club Speedway. The car made its first appearance at Indianapolis in July in the Brickyard 400 and finished a respectable 17th.
  #42-Juan Pablo Montoya: Brian Pattie and the #42 Target team are bringing chassis #1003 to Auto Club Speedway this weekend marking the fourth time this chassis has been used in 2010. The team last used this chassis at Atlanta in September where Montoya started eighth and finished ninth. Montoya also ran this chassis at Chicagoland where he qualified 10th and finished 16th and in the Coke 600 where he finished 38th due to an on-track incident.
  #48-Jimmie Johnson: Johnson last piloted primary chassis No. 580 to a 35th-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway in August. Backup chassis No. 553 was driven to Victory Lane by Johnson at Auto Club Speedway in February.
  #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Crew chief Lance McGrew and the #88 engineers will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-612 this weekend in California. Earnhardt first raced this chassis last month at Atlanta, where he finished 22nd. Earnhardt Jr. will celebrate his 36th birthday on Sunday.
  #99-Carl Edwards: The #99 Aflac team will unload RK-702 for the weekend. Edwards finished second with it at Atlanta in September when it was new.(from team PR's/sites if reported)(10-6-2010)

• The Entry List for the Pepsi Max 400 at Auto Club Speedway is posted, 45 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:
  Not in top 35 of owners points for the first five races in 2010:
  #09-Bobby Labonte (2009 race winner as owner)(2000 Champ)(39/29)
  #13-Casey Mears (38/29)
  #26-Patrick Carpentier (37/29)
  #36-J.J. Yeley (40/29)
  #38-David Gilliland (36/29)
  #46-Michael McDowell (42/29)
  #55-Mike Bliss (43/29)
  #64-Landon Cassill (46/17)
  #66-Jason Leffler (44/29)
  #87-Joe Nemechek (41/29)
  In the event qualifying is rained out or cancelled:
  the eight who would make it [8]: #'s 26,09,38,13,36,87,46,55
  missing the race would be [2]: #'s 66,64
  See the full entry list at my Jayski's Auto Club Entry List.(10-4/7-2010)

• Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Auto Club:
  No one moved in to or out of the top-35. The #7 team stays in 35th, but their lead falls from 110 points to to 84 over the #38 team. 34) #71-Cassill-Labonte/TRG: 2075, +96
  35) #7-Conway/RGM, 2042, 63 points ahead of 36th
  these teams/ drivers must qualify by speed:
  36) #38-Blaney/Front Row: 1979, -63 points out of the top 35
  37) #26-Carptenier/Latitude43: 1914, -128
  The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
  For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(10-3-2010)

• 2010 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Standings:
  [after Kansas, race 29 of 36, Chase Race 3 of 10]:
  rank, car#, driver, points, behind
  1) #48-Jimmie Johnson [6 wins], 5503
  2) #11-Denny Hamlin [6 wins], 5495, -8
  3) #29-Kevin Harvick [3 wins], 5473, -30
  4) #99-Carl Edwards, 5450, -53
  5) #24-Jeff Gordon, 5445, -58
  6) #2-Kurt Busch [2 wins], 5433, -70
  7) #18-Kyle Busch [3 wins], 5423, -80
  8) #16-Greg Biffle [2 wins], 5418, -85
  9) #31-Jeff Burton, 5402, -101
  10) #14-Tony Stewart [1 win], 5376, -127
  11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 5354, -149
  12) #33-Clint Bowyer [1 win], 5251, -252
  (Bowyer without penalty 5401, -102)
  See drivers championship points standings on Jayski's Drivers Points Standings page.(10-3-2010)

• 2010 Sprint Cup Driver 'Classic' Points Standings:
  [after Kansas, race 29 of 36....the OLD way]:
  rank, car#, driver, points, behind
  1) #29-Kevin Harvick(X), 4166
  2) #24-Jeff Gordon(X), 3938, -228
  3) #18-Kyle Busch(X), 3888, -278
  4) #99-Carl Edwards(X), 3877, -289
  5) #48-Jimmie Johnson(X), 3870, -296
  6) #31-Jeff Burton(X), 3792, -374
  7) #14-Tony Stewart(X), 3783, -383
  8) #11-Denny Hamlin(X), 3777, -389
  9) #2-Kurt Busch(X), 3750, -416
  10) #17-Matt Kenseth(X), 3700, -466
  11) #16-Greg Biffle(X), 3585, -581
  12) #39-Ryan Newman, 3501, -665
  13) #1-Jamie McMurray, 3479, -687
  14) #33-Clint Bowyer(X), 3472, -694
  15) #5-Mark Martin, 3346, -837
  16) #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, 3329, -820
  (X) = chase driver.(10-3-2010)

• What happens if qualifying gets rained out?
  After the 5th race of the season, the current season OWNERS points are used:
  #1) - First 35 by current Owner Points [position 1-35][top 35 teams do NOT need to attempt ALL the races]
  #2) - Last Years Sprint Cup Champ or the Event Champion if not already in the field
  #3) - Car Owners whose team has won in the previous and current season not already in the field
  #4) - Drivers who have won in the previous and current season not already in the field
  #5) - ALL Past Sprint Cup Champions not in by 1 thru 4 [is NOT charged against the 6 past champ provisionals]
  #6) - Qualifying Attempts [not starts] with Owners points as the tie breaker, if still tied then by best finish
  #7) - Qualifying Order Position
  (all above apply as long as the team was entered by the entry deadline - usually 7-13 days before the race)

• Qualifying Rules/Notes/News page

• Go or Go Home Drivers to Qualify Together: Teams outside the top 35 in owners points will qualify together at the end of the qualifying session. The thought is that nobody would have an advantage in track conditions.

• How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Bristol(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph

• How to break a tie during qualifying? (same speed/time) When drivers are tied for a starting spot during qualifying, it is broken by owners points standings (not drivers points).

• Determining Race Line-Ups - Top 35 Guarantee: At the start of the 2005 season, NASCAR instituted a new procedure for establishing the starting race field in the Sprint Cup Series [NSCS]. NASCAR revamped the system by simplifying the procedure with teams no longer accruing provisionals throughout the season to gain entry into the starting fields. While starting positions one through 42 in the NSCS still will be determined by qualifying speed, the new system will assure the highest-ranked 35 positions of the NSCS OWNER [not Driver] championship points that have entered the event prior to the entry deadline [usually 13 days before the day of the race] one of those starting positions in the field, providing they have made an attempt to qualify [which usually means the team at least practiced and made an effort to qualify].
  The remaining seven positions [36-42] will be assigned to those drivers with the fastest qualifying speeds whose car owners are not among the top 35. The final starting position [43rd] – the champion’s provisional – can be utilized by a car owner whose driver is a current or past Sprint Cup champion who participated as a driver during the current of previous season and was entered in the event for that owner in that car prior to the entry deadline.
  If there is more than one series champion vying for the position, it will be given to the most recent series champion. If the final provisional starting position – 43rd in the Sprint Cup – is not filled by a current or past series champion, it will be assigned to the next eligible car owner according to qualifying results.
  Through the first five races of the season for the Sprint Cup, the top 35 in the NSCS of the previous owner championship points entered in the event prior to the entry deadline will be assured one of the 42 starting positions in the field, provided they have made an attempt to qualify. From the sixth race on, the current owner championship points will be used to determine the top 35 each race week. In the event that conditions prevent qualifying from being run, starting positions will be assigned according to the respective series’ current Rule Book.(NASCAR PR)
  Simple: so the field is set by speed to where the 7th fastest non-top 35 driver is on speed. The any drivers in the top 35 of OWNERS [not drivers points] are placed to the 42nd spot. The 43rd spot is used for the most recent past Sprint Cup champion NOT already in the field from being in the top-35 in owners points or one of the seven no top-35. If their is not past champ for the 43rd spot, it goes to the next fastest [8th fastest driver]

• Past Champions Limited To 6 Provisional Berths in Sprint Cup: See my 2010 Past Champions Provisional Page for more

• There are three current race tracks the Cup Series runs on that Tony Stewart has not won at a Sprint Cup race:
  Auto Club Speedway 0 for 18 with a best finish of 4th in 1999 & 2001, last race 2/2010 9th
  Las Vegas 0 for 12 with a best finish of 2nd in 2000, last race 2/2010 7th
  Darlington 0 for 18 with a best finish of 3rd in 2009
  Stewart has won at 19 of 23 tracks he has raced on, didn't win at Rockingham which is no longer active for Cup racing.(5-8-2010)

• February 2010 Race Winner: #48-Jimmie Johnson, 141.911, started 7th

• October 2009 Race Winner: #48-Jimmie Johnson, 143.908, started 3rd

• Track Race Record: #24-Jeff Gordon, June 1997, 155.012mph

• Slowest Race Record: #38-Elliott Sadler, Sept 2004, 128.324mph

• Oldest Winner: Rusty Wallace, 44 years, 8 months, 15 days, 4/29/2001

• Youngest Winner: Kyle Busch, 20 years, 4 months, 2 days, 9/4/2005

• Worst Starting Spot to Win: Matt Kenseth, 2/26/2006, started 31st

• February 2010 Pole Sitter: #1-Jamie McMurray, 183.744, finished 17th

• October 2009 Pole Sitter: #11-Denny Hamlin, 183.870, finished 37th

• Track Qualifying Record: #5-Kyle Busch, Feb 2005, 188.425mph

• Oldest Pole Winner: Mike Skinner, 42 years, 10 months, 2 days, 4/30/2000

• Youngest Pole Winner: Kyle Busch, 19 years, 9 months, 25 days, 2/27/2005

• Most Wins: 5 - Jimmie Johnson

• Most Poles: 3 - Kurt Busch

• Most Top 5s: 10 - Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson

• Most Top 10s: 12 - Matt Kenseth; 11 - Jimmie Johnson

• Most Laps Led by a Leader: Mark Martin, 5/3/1998, 165 laps

• Fewest Laps Led by a Race Winner: 26 - Jeremy Mayfield, 4/30/2000

• Most Leaders: 16 - 9/7/2007

• Most Lead Changes: 33 - 2/24/2008

• Fewest Leaders: 8 - done twice, most recently 4/28/2002

• Fewest Lead Changes: 18 - 5/3/1998

• Most Cautions: 12 - 2/24/2008

• Most Caution Laps: 51, 9/5/2004

• Fewest Cautions: 4 - 6/22/1997

• Fewest Caution Laps: 22- two times, most recent 4/30/2000

• Most Running at the Finish: 42 - 9/3/2006

• Fewest Running at the Finish: 31 - 10/11/2009

• Most Wins by Manufacturer: 10 - Ford; 9 - Chevy; 1 - Dodge

• Races won from starting pos 1: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 2: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 3: 3
  
• Races won from starting pos 4: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 5: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 7: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 9: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 16: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 17: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 19: 1
  
• Races won from starting pos 24: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 25: 2
  
• Races won from starting pos 31: 1
  
• Races won from the top 5: 8 of 20
  
• Races won from the top 10: 11 of 20
  
  

• At Auto Club Speedway::
  · Groundbreaking for California Speedway, as Auto Club Speedway was originally known, took place in November 1995.
  · The first race at Auto Club Speedway was a NASCAR K&N Pro Series, West race won by Ken Schrader on June 21, 1997.
  · The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on June 22, 1997, won by Jeff Gordon.
  · September 2004 was the first night race at Auto Club Speedway and that also was the first year both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series ran two races in a season there.
  · The track name was changed to Auto Club Speedway in February 2008.
  · There have been 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Auto Club Speedway since the track opened in 1997.
  · Four drivers have competed in all 20 races: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Joe Nemechek.
  · Joe Nemechek won the pole for the inaugural race in 1997.
  · There have been 14 different pole winners, led by Kurt Busch (three). Brian Vickers and Jeff Gordon each have two poles.
  · Twelve different drivers have posted victories. Jimmie Johnson leads all drivers with five wins. Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth each have won three races.
  · Hendrick Motorsports has won nine races, more than any other team.
  · Nine of the 20 races were won from starting positions outside the top 10; only one has been won from the pole (Jimmie Johnson in 2008). The most prolific starting position is third, with three victories.
  · Matt Kenseth won the 2006 spring race from the 31st starting position, the deepest in the field that a race winner has started.
  · Three active drivers have averaged a top-10 finish: Carl Edwards (7.2), Jimmie Johnson (5.5) and Matt Kenseth (9.1).
  · Kyle Busch won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup pole (2/05) and first race (9/05) at Auto Club Speedway.
  · Jimmie Johnson won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at ASC on April 28, 2002.

• Race Winners
  2/21/2010: Jimmie Johnson(5), #48-Chevy, 141.911, started 7th
  10/11/2009: Jimmie Johnson (4), #48-Chevy, 143.908, started 3rd
  2/22/2009: Matt Kenseth (3), #17-Ford, 135.839, started 24th
  8/2008: Jimmie Johnson (3), #48-Chevy, 138.857, started 1st
  2/2008: Carl Edwards, #99 Ford, 132.704, started 9th
  9/2007: Jimmie Johnson(2), #48-Chevy, 131.502, started 2nd
  2/2007: Matt Kenseth(2), #17 Ford, 138.451, started 25th
  9/2006: Kasey Kahne, #9 Dodge, 144.462, started 9th
  2/2006: Matt Kenseth, #17 Ford, 147.852, started 31st
  9/2005: Kyle Busch, #5 Chevy, 136.356, started 25th
  2/2005: Greg Biffle, #16 Ford, 139.697mph, started 5th
  9/2004: Elliott Sadler, #38 Ford, 128.324mph, started 17th
  5/2004: Jeff Gordon(3), #24 Chevy, 137.268mph, started 16th
  2003: Kurt Busch, #97-Ford, 140.111mph, started 16th
  2002: Jimmie Johnson, #48 Chevy, 150.088mph, started 4th
  2001: Rusty Wallace, #2 Ford, 143.118mph, started 19th
  2000: Jeremy Mayfield, #12 Ford, 149.378mph, started 24th
  1999: Jeff Gordon(2), #24 Chevy, 150.276mph, started 5th
  1998: Mark Martin, #6 Ford, 140.220mph, started 3rd
  1997: Jeff Gordon, #24 Chevy, 155.012mph, started 3rd

• Pole Winners
  2/21/2010: Jamie McMurray, #1 Chevy, 183.744, finished 17th
  10/9/2009: Denny Hamlin, #11-Toyota, 183.870, finished 37th
  2/20/2009: Brian Vickers, #83-Toyota, 183.439, finished 10th
  8/2008: Jimmie Johnson, #48-Chevy, 180.397, finished 1st
  2/2008: none, rained out
  9/2007: Kurt Busch, #2 Dodge, 182.399, finished 9th
  2/2007: Jeff Gordon, #24 Chevy, 185.735, finished 2nd
  2/2006: Kurt Busch, #2 Dodge, 187.086, finished 16th
  9/2005: Carl Edwards, #99 Ford, 185.060, finished 4th
  2/2005: Kyle Busch, #5 Chevy, 188.425, finished 23rd
  9/2004: Brian Vickers, #25 Chevy, 187.417, finished 13th
  5/2004: Kasey Kahne, #9 Dodge, 186.940, finished 13th
  2003: Steve Park, #1 Chevy, 186.838, finished 40th
  2002: Ryan Newman, #12 Ford, 187.432, finished 14th
  2001: Bobby Labonte, #18 Pontiac, 182.635, finished 22nd
  2000: Mike Skinner, #31 Chevy, 186.061, finished 7th
  1999: none, rained out
  1998: Jeff Gordon, #24 Chevy, 181.772, finished 4th
  1997: Joe Nemechek, #42 Chevy, 183.015, finished 18th
  (1997 Greg Sacks, #40 Chevy was the fastest but in 2nd round 183.753mph)

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PAINT SCHEME NEWS

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Car#/Driver	Sponsor/Scheme/Promo	Image Link
#1-Jamie McMurray	McDonald's	#1 Team Schemes Page
#2-Kurt Busch	Miller Lite / Operation Homefront	none...yet
#5-Mark Martin	CARQUEST	#5 Team Schemes Page
#6-David Ragan	UPS Freight	#6 Team Schemes Page
#11-Denny Hamlin	FedEx Office (blue)	#11 Team Schemes Page
#14-Tony Stewart	Office Depot	#14 Team Schemes Page
#19-Elliott Sadler	Reynolds	#19 Team Schemes Page
#24-Jeff Gordon	Pepsi Max	#24 Team Schemes Page
#33-Clint Bowyer	The Hartford	#33 Team Schemes Page
#39-Ryan Newman	Tornados	#39 Team Schemes Page
#43-A.J. Ambrose	Valvoline	#43 Team Schemes Page
#47-Marcos Ambrose	Little Debbie	#47 Team Schemes Page
#48-Jimmie Johnson	Jimmie Johnson Foundation	#48 Team Schemes Page
#78-Regan Smith	Farm America	#78 Team Schemes Page
#88-Dale Earnhardt Jr	AMP Energy	#88 Team Schemes Page
#98-Paul Menard	Menard's / Vertis	none...yet

• Farm American scheme back on the #78: For the third time this season Regan Smith's #78 Furniture Row Racing Chevy will carry the Farm American paint scheme, which will pay tribute to the American farmer and rancher at this weekend's Pepsi Max 400 Sprint Cup race in Fontana, Calif. "There's been plenty of excitement with our Farm American car and I look forward to driving it in Southern California, which is known for its dairy and cattle farming" said Smith. "Protecting the American farmer and rancher and our nation's food supply is a cause we at Furniture Row Racing strongly believe in and having both my mother and father grow up on a farm makes it even more special for me."(Furniture Row Racing)(10-7-2010)

• Special scheme for Jeff Gordon at Auto Club: During the Pepsi Max 400 this weekend at Auto Club Speedway, #24-Jeff Gordon will race the newest Pepsi Max paint scheme. In conjunction with the race, Pepsi Max will be awarding 400 lucky winners one of 400 Prizes in 400 Miles! Tune in October 10th at 2:30 pm/et on ESPN, where Jeff Gordon will be revealing, during his pre-race interview, the unique word that fans can text to 73774 or enter online at www.facebook.com/pepsimaxusa for their chance to win. Prizes include trip packages to Vegas, Bristol Motor Speedway and Hendrick Motorsports; autographed PEPSI MAX hats; and a phone call from Jeff Gordon (Pepsi), see images of the car on my #24 Team Schemes page.(10-6-2010)

• Special scheme for Kurt Busch: Miller Lite is announced a $100,000 donation to Operation Homefront, an organization that helps troops in need. Miller Lite Racing, in its third year of supporting to the organization, is also encouraging consumers to donate and send thank-you postcards to military members. “Operation Homefront does an incredible job of driving awareness to the needs of military members and their families,” said Grant Leech, vice president of marketing for Miller Lite. “The men and women of our armed services, and their families, make incredible sacrifices every day. All of us at Miller Lite are proud to show our appreciation, and we hope everyone who enjoys the great taste of Miller Lite will also make a contribution to Operation Homefront.”
  Consumers can visit www.MillerLite.com/vets to make a donation and visit participating Miller Lite retailers to write thank-you postcards, which will then be sent to local Operation Homefront chapters. Additionally, the # 2 Miller Lite Dodge, driven by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title contender Kurt Busch, will feature a special Operation Homefront paint scheme for each race between October 3 and November 7, including a full-car takeover for the November 7 Texas race. “The Operation Homefront paint scheme shows the racing world that Miller Lite is a strong supporter of the military,” said Busch. “And on a personal level, I’m proud to drive this car. I’m hoping to revisit Victory Lane several times in it, just as I did in Texas last year. And I hope all the fans of the Blue Deuce will chip in, too.”(Tom Roberts PR)(10-1-2010)

• Johnson to run Foundation scheme at Auto Club; Helmet of Hope returns: The Jimmie Johnson Foundation announced that it will partner with Samsung for the 2010 Samsung Helmet of Hope program. In its third year, the program allows fans and media members to nominate their favorite charity to receive special recognition. In conjunction with Jimmie Johnson's Helmet of Hope, Lowe's will run a special #48 Lowe's/Jimmie Johnson Foundation paint scheme at the Auto Club Speedway race in October. This marks the fifth-consecutive year that Lowe's has run the foundation paint scheme (JJF). See more on my Racing Charities page.(7-18-2010)

• Sponsor debut for Newman at Vegas: While Ryan Newman embarks on his 299th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend, he will also celebrate an important first for his #39 Stewart-Haas Racing team. Sunday’s Shelby American will be the first of nine races where new sponsor Tornados, a brand of family owned Ruiz Foods, will adorn the #39 Chevy as the team’s primary sponsor (SHR) at the following races:
  Las Vegas - 2/28
  Atlanta - 3/7
  Phoenix - 4/10
  Charlotte - All Star Race - 5/22
  Daytona - 7/3
  Michigan - 8/15
  Auto Club Speedway - 10/10
  Martinsville - 10/24
  Texas - 11/7
  See a schedule of races for Tornados on my #39 Team News & Links page and images of the scheme on my #39 Team Schemes page.(2-24-2010)

• Carquest returns to sponsor #5 team: Carquest Auto Parts has extended its relationship with Hendrick Motorsports and the #5 Chevy driven by Mark Martin through the 2011 NASCAR season. The two-year pact will showcase Carquest with primary sponsor placement in eight points races annually beginning in 2010. When its red, white and blue shield is not on the hood, Carquest will maintain a significant presence on the #5 Chevys as a major associate sponsor. "Carquest is pleased to be an eight-race primary sponsor of Mark Martin and the #5 team for the 2010 NASCAR season," said Temple Sloan III, president and CEO of General Parts/Carquest Auto Parts. "In our eight years as a partner of Hendrick Motorsports we have enjoyed many successes, and this year has been tremendous. As the Official Auto Parts supplier to Hendrick Motorsports we are proud to have Mark, Alan Gustafson (crew chief) and the team partnering with us. Winning is the goal our team strives for every day, both on the track and in our stores." For more information about Carquest, visit www.Carquest.com.(Hendrick Motorsports)
  The CARQUEST Auto Parts #5 Impala is scheduled to race in 2010 at:
  Martinsville in March
  Charlotte in May
  New Hampshire in June
  Daytona in July
  Bristol in August
  Atlanta in September
  California in October and
  Texas in November.
  See an image of the scheme on my #5 Team Schemes page.(11-13-2009)

• More Paint Scheme news can be found on Paint Schemes Gallery

• Track Specifications:
  Track/Race Length: 2.0 mile D-shaped oval, 200 laps, 400 miles
  Superspeedway: 2.0-mile oval 75 feet wide with a 15 foot apron
  Banking: turns: 14°; frontstretch 11°; backstretch 3°
  Front Stretch: 3,100feet
  Back Stretch: 2,500feet
  Pit Road: 2,200 feet long with 44 individual pit stalls
  Pit Road Speed: 55mph
  Pace Car Speed: 60mph
  Approx: 1,800 Infield RV spaces
  Grandstand seating capacity: 92,000
  Seating Chart
  Opened: 1997

• Race Festivities/Officials:
  Grand Marshal: California Gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman
  Command to start engines: Meg Whitman
  Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: Actress Sharon Stone
  Invocation: MRO's Jeff Hamilton
  National Anthem: Kenny Loggins
  Military Flyover: 4 F-18's, VFA-94, Navil Air Station, Lemoore, CA

• For the season race officials by track, see my Race Officials page

• Websites:
  Auto Club Speedway
  ESPN's NASCAR Track Guide: Auto Club Speedway ISC Motorsports
  Auto Club Speedway - Twitter
  Auto Club Speedway - Facebook
  Auto Club Speedway - MySpace

• February 2010: see my Auto Club 500 Race Info page

• October 2009: see my Pepsi 400 Race Info page

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• California Gubernatorial candidate named Grand Marshall for Sunday: California Gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman will serve as Grand Marshal for NASCAR’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race – the Pepsi MAX 400 – at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday, Oct.10. As Grand Marshal, the former eBay President and CEO, will give the command, “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines,” to the 43-car field of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Through the years Whitman’s career led her to key executive positions at some of America’s best-known companies, including Disney, Stride Rite, FTD and Hasbro. In the fall of 1997 she met the founder of a tiny start-up company called eBay. She served as President and CEO from 1998-2008. When she joined eBay, the company had just $4.7 million in revenues and 30 employees; when she retired in March of 2008, ten years later, the company had nearly $8 billion in revenues and 15,000 employees worldwide.
  Tickets: Race fans can be a part of all the Sunday action with tickets starting as low as $35 and many packages to choose from. Fans experiencing Auto Club Speedway can also take advantage of free parking, bring in their own food, or partake in the unbelievable menu items on site as well as other cost-savings opportunities while enjoying a full day of entertainment and fun at a fantastic family value. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 1-800-944-RACE (7223) or visit www.autoclubspeedway.com and be part of NASCAR in Southern California.(ACS)(10-8-2010)

• ISC cuts jobs, keeps tightening belt: International Speedway Corp.[ISC] has cut more than 40 corporate positions -- all at its headquarters in Daytona, FL -- since announcing in August a company-wide initiative to reduce operational costs. The company's goal of reducing by 20% the size of its headquarters staff, which numbered 250 at the start of the year, has been met, said Dan Houser, ISC chief financial officer, said in a phone interview Thursday. Whether there will be additional job cuts will depend on the state of the economy, Houser said, although he added there are no further plans for staff reductions at this time. The company, hit by declining revenue because of the slow economy, has also responded by lowering ticket prices at its racetracks and putting some of its big development projects on hold, including its proposed entertainment/retail/dining complex across the street from Daytona International Speedway. ISC quietly severed ties late last year with the Baltimore-based developer that was to be a 50/50 partner in the planned Daytona Live! complex.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(10-8-2010)

• NASCAR Hauler Parade at Auto Club Speedway: As if meeting NASCAR drivers and getting autographs wasn’t enough of a highlight for fans attending the Stater Bros. Racefest presented by Pepsi at Auto Club Speedway on Thursday, Oct. 7, add in a multi-city hauler parade and a chance to meet the likes of four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and Pepsi driver, Jeff Gordon. For the 6th year, Stater Bros. Supermarkets will sponsor this free event to the public (free admission and parking) which will be held in the DiscoverIE FanZone outside the front stretch and in the shadow of Auto Club Speedway.
  Beginning at 6:15 pm on Thursday, Oct. 7, at Citizens Business Bank Arena, the spectacle of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hauler Parade will begin making its way to Auto Club Speedway through Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana. Stretching nearly an entire mile from the first hauler to the last, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hauler Parade will make its way to Cherry Ave. and Auto Club Speedway’s main entrance around 7:00 pm Fans are expected to greet the haulers along the parade route, until the haulers make their final approach to the Auto Club Speedway DiscoverIE FanZone where all the Stater Bros. Racefest activities are taking place.
  Stater Bros. Racefest is scheduled from 5 – 9 p.m.. In addition to the usual Racefest fare of driver autograph and Q&A sessions, a freestyle motocross stunt show with Rockstar Metal Mulisha, live music, rides, games, souvenir trailers and great food & beverages, this year’s event adds a few extra goodies for fans to enjoy. More info at autoclubspeedway.com.(10-6-2010)

• Richard Petty added to Ford Racing Party Zone at Auto Club Speedway: "The King" Richard Petty has been added to the already impressive Ford Racing Party Zone lineup for Pepsi MAX 400 Weekend at Auto Club Speedway. Petty's Ford Racing Party Zone appearance is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 10 at 10:30a.m. In addition to "The King", Jack Roush will make a special appearance in the Ford Racing Party Zone fan hospitality tent during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoff race weekend Oct. 9-10. Don't miss the chance to see these two legends of NASCAR reflect about their life - past, present and future. Joining "The King" and Roush in the Ford Racing Party Zone on Sunday, Oct. 10, will be NSCS Ford Racing Team drivers Elliott Sadler, Greg Biffle and AJ Allmendinger. By simply upgrading a grandstand ticket, fans can take their NASCAR race weekend experience to the next level. Admission to the Ford Racing Party Zone requires a valid grandstand ticket, in addition to the Ford Racing Party Zone upgrade at an additional charge. To purchase tickets, visit us online or by calling 800-944-RACE (7223).(ACS)(9-27-2010)

• Kenny Loggins to perform at Auto Club Speedway: The Auto Club Speedway DiscoverIE FanZone will be transformed into a Danger Zone when Grammy Awarding-winning, singer/songwriter Kenny Loggins takes the DiscoverIE FanZone main stage prior to the Chase for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series playoff race - the Pepsi MAX 400 on Sunday, Oct. 10 at Auto Club Speedway. Tickets to the Pepsi MAX 400, which includes the Kenny Loggins live performance, start as low as $35. Those wanting an extra dose of Kenny Loggins, can experience his race day performance at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 10, and then again at his full concert at Pechanga Resort and Casino on Friday, Oct. 29 for just $60. Get your Kenny Loggins ticket package before it expires on Thursday, Oct. 7, or while supplies last. For more information or to purchase the Kenny Loggins ticket package, call 800-944-RACE (7223), log on to www.autoclubspeedway.com or visit the Auto Club Speedway Ticket Office.(ACS)(9-26-2010)

• Time Limited to get some deals at Auto Club: Now is the time to get some of the best deals for NASCAR weekend at Auto Club Speedway October 8-10 before they soon expire. Experience the thrill of NASCAR, with special ticket packages offering a full weekend of world-class racing and entertainment before it’s too late.
  Expires September 19: Kevin Harvick Ticket Package for Only $29
  Expires September 24: 10/10/10 Wedding and Vow Renewal Ticket Packages
  Expires September 28: Ticket Tuesday Offer
  Expires September 30: First Time Fan Ticket Package for the Pepsi MAX 400 on Sunday, Oct. 10 for $99
  Expires September 30: Thunder and Chrome Ticket Package for $85
  Expires October 7: All Day Food Fest Ticket Add-On just $35 (ages 13 and over) or $20 (ages 12 and under)
  Expires October 9: Ford Racing Party Zone Ticket Add-on
  Expires October 9: Budweiser Block Party Ticket Package for $99
  Available While Supplies Last: Show Your Card and Save and Auto Club Speedway Lefty’s Kids Club Members. For more information or to purchase tickets call 800-944-RACE (7223) or visit www.autoclubspeedway.com.(ACS)(9-21-2010)

• All Day Food Fest at Auto Club Speedway: On October 10, not only will NASCAR fans get their fill of "The Chase," they'll also get their fill of great food when the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup comes to Auto Club Speedway. For a limited time only, for just $35 (ages 13 and over) or $20 (ages 12 and under) fans can fill up on their favorite food as part of Auto Club Speedway's special all you can eat "All Day Food Fest" package. The advance purchase only package is available for the day of the Pepsi MAX 400 on Sunday, Oct. 10 at participating Auto Club Speedway concession stands scattered throughout the property. The "All Day Food Fest" package does not include a ticket to the race and all "All Day Food Fest" guests must have a valid grandstand admission or infield ticket to enjoy the all you can eat package. An "All Day Food Fest" wristband will be issued and is valid for (1) entrée, one (1) snack and one (1) non-alcoholic beverage each time through the line at participating locations and each pass is only valid for one person (no sharing). Hungry race fans must act now, as the All Day Food Fest package expires on Oct. 7.(ACS)(8-16-2010)

• Auto Club Speedway will have one race for 2011: Auto Club Speedway will host one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend - March 25-27 - returning to its traditional spot on the schedule beginning in 2011. Speedway officials also continue to work in earnest to add events to the Speedway's race schedule in an effort to diversify on-track activity for the 2011 year. "Moving our Auto Club 500 event from February to March provides us the opportunity to show off the area's beautiful 'Chamber of Commerce' weather," said Auto Club Speedway President Gillian Zucker. "Our staff and the thousands of Southern California loyal race fans look forward to the return of NASCAR's most talented drivers in both the Sprint Cup Series and the Nationwide Series as well as Southern California's own four-time Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.(ACS)(8-10-2010)

• Rusty Wallace Racing Experience coming to Auto Club Speedway: Rusty Wallace announced the creation of The Rusty Wallace Racing Experience, a racing-themed attraction set to open this August at Auto Club Speedway in San Bernardino County, California. The Rusty Wallace Racing Experience will offer fans the chance to drive authentic stock cars built to current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series specs. The majority of the vehicles in The Rusty Wallace Racing Experience stables have actually been raced in Sprint Cup competition. Reservations for The Rusty Wallace Racing Experience are now being accepted. Dates are currently available this September through December, with many more dates scheduled for 2011. For reservations, additional information and details on upcoming promotions at The Rusty Wallace Racing Experience, please visit racewithrusty.com or call 877.722.1232.(RWI PR)(7-3-2010)

• Past track news: posted in the past at Jayski's Past Track News/Rumors - Auto Club Speedway

Tire: Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials

Number of Tires: Left-side – 1,400; Right-side – 1,400

Tire Codes: Left-side -- D-4382; Right-side -- D-4386

Tire Circumference: Left-side -- 87.2 in.; Right-side -- 88.3 in.

Technical Inspection Inflation:
Left Front -- 30 psi; Left Rear -- 30 psi;
Right Front -- 48 psi; Right Rear -- 45 psi

Minimum Recommended Inflation:
Left Front -- 22 psi; Left Rear -- 20 psi;
Right Front -- 45 psi; Right Rear -- 42 psi

Estimated Pit Window: Every 40-44 laps, based on fuel mileage (Sprint Cup).

Notes: While NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series teams will be running the same right-side tire code (D-4386) at California this weekend, they will be running distinct left-side codes . . . the Sprint Cup Series' left-side code is D-4382 . . . teams in each series will be running their same set of left- and right-side tires they ran at California this past February, as well as at Kansas last weekend . . . as on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run liners in all four tire positions at California . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.

• See the Sprint Cup Series Team / Driver Chart, which has links to past news for each team and info on each team.