March 23, 2014
- Kyle Busch wins at Auto Club Speedway: #18-Kyle Busch won the Auto Club 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway for his 1st win of 2014, his 3rd at Auto Club Speedway and his 29th career win.
Rookie of the Year candidate #42-Larson finished 2nd followed by: #41-Busch, polesitter #20-Kenseth, #14-Stewart, #1-McMurray, #55-Vickers, #47-Allmendinger, #27-Menard, and #99-Edwards.
Tire problems throughout the weekend continued during the race with numerous teams having flats and cautions coming frequently. #48-Johnson was leading the race with 7 laps to go when he cut down a tire. A caution came out with 2 laps to go after #15-Bowyer lost a tire and spun out, causing the race to finish with a green-white-checker.
#11-Hamlin missed the race due to a sinus infection. He was replaced by Sam Hornish, Jr, who had to start at the rear of the field because of the driver change. Hornish finished 17th.
#2-Keselowski, who came into the race as the points leader, also had a late flat and finished 26th.
#99-Edwards is now in the points lead, 1 point over #88-Earnhardt, Jr.
There were 35 lead changes among 15 drivers and there were 9 cautions for 42 yellow flag laps.
The average speed was 132.987mph.
See unofficial race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Unofficial Auto Club Speedway Race Results page (pdf) and check out the Auto Club Penalty Report (pdf).(3-23-2014)
- Race Fast Facts – Auto Club Speedway:
Kyle Busch won the 18th Annual Auto Club 400, his 29th victory in 334 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in 2014.
This is his third victory and 12th top-10 finish in 17 races at Auto Club Speedway.
The race included 35 lead changes, which broke the previous track race record of 33 set back in Feb. 2008.
Kyle Larson (second) posted his first top-10 finish in one races at Auto Club Speedway. It is his second top-10 finish in 2014.
Kurt Busch (third) posted his 11th top-10 finish in 21 races at Auto Club Speedway.
Kyle Larson (second) was the highest finishing rookie.
Carl Edwards leads the points standings by 1 points over Dale Earnhardt Jr.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(3-23-2014)
- 2014 Sprint Cup Driver Chase Championship Points Standings:
[after Auto Club Speedway, race 5 of 36]
1) #99-Carl Edwards [1 win], 186
2) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 185, -1
3) #24-Jeff Gordon, 184, -2
4) #2-Brad Keselowski [1 win], 182, -4
5) #20-Matt Kenseth, 179, -7
6) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 165, -21
7) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win], 158, -28
8) #31-Ryan Newman, 150, -36
9) #3-Austin Dillon, 150, -36
10) #22-Joey Logano, 146, -40
Other drivers with a win:
25) #4-Kevin Harvick [1 win], 97, -89
See UNOFFICIAL drivers championship points standings on the Unofficial Drivers Points Standings (pdf).
See the UNOFFICIAL owner points standings on the Unofficial Owners Points Standings page (pdf).
(3-23-2014)
- Hamlin to miss Auto Club race; Hornish to fill in: #11-Denny Hamlin developed a sinus infection while in Fontana that has effected his vision. Doctors have advised him not to race. He was taken to the hospital for further treatment. Sam Hornish, Jr will fill in for Hamlin. Missing the race will not impact Hamlin’s Chase changes because he qualified the car and would likely receive a medical exemption from NASCAR if it had been needed. Hornish will start the race from the rear because of the driver change.(3-23-2014)
- NASCAR considering reducing horsepower to Cup cars next season: NASCAR is planning on making significant engine package changes in 2015 to extend the life of Sprint Cup powerplants and reduce horsepower. And along with engine changes, there likely will be aerodynamic and tire changes for the Cup cars in 2015 as well. That’s the word from NASCAR Vice President of Competition and Racing Development Robin Pemberton. Pemberton said the sanctioning body has had four meetings so far with representatives from Chevy, Ford and Toyota and race teams about how to implement those changes. No consensus has been reached yet, according to Pemberton, but discussions are ongoing in advance of making the changes for next year. Although Pemberton declined to specify how many horsepower NASCAR is looking to cut, sources familiar with the discussions said the reduction would be in the neighborhood of 75 to 100 horsepower. Currently, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series engines make about 860-900 horsepower at most tracks. Discussions are still in the early stages, Pemberton said, but given the fact that there are so few engine suppliers now, they will need plenty of lead-time to make changes for next year.
Among the options being discussed are reduction in engine displacement and changes to throttle body size. Sources familiar with the discussions say that Chevy and Toyota are pushing for a reduction to 5.0-liter engines, while the Ford camp is pushing for the use of tapered spacers, such as are used in the NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series engines. Pemberton said any change in the engine package likely would necessitate other changes as well.
“It’s not fully appreciated the fact that we’ve had the same engine for basically 25 or 30 years and it’s at 850 or 860 horsepower, where it used to be 500,” Pemberton said. “And we are at the same race tracks where we used to run 160 (miles per hour) we’re now qualifying at 190 and running 213 going into the corners. There’s been a lot of engineering and gains made across the board. Goodyear … we have the same tire patch as when we started.(FoxSports)(3-23-2014)
- Some teams having tire problems: A Goodyear official said there were 10 incidents with tires during practice at Auto Club Speedway the past two days as some Sprint Cup teams struggled to adapt setups. With new suspension rules leading to increased speeds and downforce, tires were facing more stress than ever on a 2-mile oval whose abrasive surface already causes as much wear as any track in NASCAR’s premier series. “I think everyone is trying to be aggressive and get as much grip as possible,” Goodyear’s director of race tire sales Greg Stucker said after the final session Saturday afternoon for the Auto Club 400. “A couple of guys had more problems than others.”
Team Penske was most affected with five tire problems between the Fords of #22-Joey Logano and #2-Brad Keselowski. Logano will start from the rear of Sunday’s race in a backup car after hitting the wall, as will Furniture Row’s Martin Truex Jr., who suffered a left-rear flat in his # 78 Chevrolet when entering turn 1.
Stucker said teams’ problems predominantly stemmed from left-rear tires that were run under the minimum recommended air pressure of 20 pounds. Teams push the limits on air pressure for better handling and speed, and Stucker said there were other teams that were below the minimum pressure that didn’t have problems. Stucker said the same tire was used the past two seasons at Fontana, and Goodyear believed it was structurally sound for use after teams adjusted to this season’s changes to the Gen 6 car. “It’s not just air pressure, it’s what else is under the car, and that’s what everyone is trying to get a handle on,” Stucker said. “Let’s face it: We have a different race car than last year. I’m confident everyone will adjust.”(USA Today)(3-23-2014)
- Drivers scheduled for Darlington Stripe Zone Fan Hospitality: A star-studded lineup of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers has been confirmed for the Darlington Stripe Zone Fan Hospitality. Coca-Cola Racing Family members Tony Stewart, Danica Patrick, and Ryan Newman are all scheduled for 15-minute question and answer sessions in the popular fan hospitality area on Saturday, April 12 prior to the Bojangles’ Southern 500. For fans that have not yet purchased a Stripe Zone hospitality package, this is the perfect opportunity to see NASCAR drivers in person, while enjoying the amenities the all-inclusive Stripe Zone has to offer. For $140 per package (plus the cost of a grandstand ticket), fans receive a pre-race cold pit pass (shirt and shoes required), full meal and snacks, unlimited non-alcohol beverage service until the scheduled race start, four beer coupons to guests 21 years of age and older, a Darlington-branded gift, event program and live entertainment. Combine that with scheduled driver appearances by Stewart, Patrick and Newman and it’s the perfect package for any race fan. In addition to the Stripe Zone, Darlington Raceway continues to offer race fans a hospitality option on Friday, April 11, prior to the Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200. The T4 Zone hospitality package offers a similar all-inclusive experience with scheduled driver appearances by rising stars James Buescher and Ty Dillon.(Darlington Raceway)(3-23-2014)
2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997