Kyle Larson wins action-filled NASCAR Cup Series race at Fontana: Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson waited until late in Sunday’s Wise Power 400 to flex his muscles. But in the end, the driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet held off a charging Austin Dillon by .195 seconds at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., to notch his first victory of the season, his second at the 2-mile track and the 17th of his career.[Read More](2-27-2022)
#5-Kyle Larson won the WISE Power 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway. The win is his 2nd win at Auto Club and 17th career win.
#3-Dillon finished 2nd followed by #43-Jones, #99-Suarez, #22-Logano, #10-Almirola, #4-Harvick, #45-Busch, #16-Hemric, and #47-Stenhouse.
Pole winner #2-Cindric finished 12th
Stage 1 & 2 were both won by #8-Reddick. He was leading the race with 47 laps remaining when he cut a tire down and got into the wall. He finished 24th.
There were 32 lead changes among 9 drivers and 12 cautions for 59 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 114.222mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points Standings, Owner Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Infraction Report.
Race Fast Facts – Auto Club:
Kyle Larson won the 25th Wise Power 400, his 17th victory in 261 NASCAR Cup Series races.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in 2022.
This is his second victory and fourth top-10 finish in eight races at Auto Club Speedway.
Austin Dillon (second) posted his third top-10 finish in eight races at Auto Club Speedway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2022.
Erik Jones (third) posted his third top-10 finish in five races at Auto Club Speedway.
Austin Cindric (12th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Auto Club Speedway with 12 victories – Jeff Gordon (1997, 1999, 2004), Kyle Busch (2005), Jimmie Johnson (2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016), Alex Bowman (2020), Kyle Larson (2022).
Four different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Auto Club Speedway; led by Chevrolet with 16 wins, followed by Ford (11), Toyota (four) and Dodge (one).
Today’s race produced 32 lead changes the third-most all-time in the NASCAR Cup Series at Auto Club Speedway behind 2014 (35) and 2008 (33).
(NASCAR)
Cup Series Playoff Standings after Auto Club:
1) #2-Austin Cindric [1 win], 85
2) #5-Kyle Larson [1 win], 65
3) #22-Joey Logano, 77
4) #19-Martin Truex Jr., 73
5) #12-Ryan Blaney, 70
6) #14-Chase Briscoe, 69
7) #43-Erik Jones, 68
8) #10-Aric Almirola, 66
9) #23-Bubba Wallace, 65
10) #6-Brad Keselowski, 64
11) #18-Kyle Busch, 61
12) #45-Kurt Busch, 53
13) #47-Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 53
14) #3-Austin Dillon, 52
15) #99-Daniel Suarez, 52
16) #41-Cole Custer, 48
See the Driver Points Standings and Owner Points Standings.
Paint Schemes
Cars to the rear: #1-Chastain (backup car), #4-Harvick (unapproved adjustments), #5-Larson (unapproved adjustments), #6-Keselowski (unapproved adjustments), #22-Logano (unapproved adjustments), #23-Wallace (unapproved adjustments), #31-Haley (oil cooler change)
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the WISE Power 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway have been made.
Pole winner #2-Cindric chose pit stall 1.
Outside pole sitter #43-Jones took the 6th stall with an opening in front of it.
See all pit choices on the Auto Club Speedway Pit Stall page.
#2-Austin Cindric won the Busch pole for the WISE Power 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway with speed of 174.647mph for his 1st career pole.
#43-Jones will start second followed by #18-Busch, #11-Hamlin, #16-Hemric, #12-Blaney, #22-Logano, #9-Elliott, #6-Keselowski, and #24-Byron.
#6-Keselowski, #22-Logano, #24-Byron, and #9-Elliott all spun during the final round.
Qualifying consisted of two groups, with the top 5 in each advancing to a second and final round.
36 teams were entered so everyone made the race.
See the complete qualifying results and the WISE Power 400 Starting Lineup.
Auto Club Speedway – Qualifying Fast Facts:
Austin Cindric # won the Busch Pole Award for the 25th WISE Power 400 with a lap of 41.226 seconds, 174.647 mph.
This is his first pole in nine NASCAR Cup Series career races.
This is his first pole and second top-10 start in 2022.
This is his first pole in his series career debut at Auto Club Speedway.
Erik Jones (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2022 and his second in five races at Auto Club Speedway.
Kyle Busch (third) posted his 14th top-10 start at Auto Club Speedway. It is his second in two races this season.
Austin Cindric (first) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
Since the Daytona 500 became the season-opening race in 1982, Austin Cindric has become the third different driver to win the Daytona 500 and the pole for the race the following weekend; joining Joey Logano (2015, Atlanta) and Jamie McMurray (2010, Auto Club).
(NASCAR)
Practice for the WISE Power 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway is over. The session was divided into two groups. Overall the top 5 were:
#11-Hamlin 173.414 (Group A)
#18-Busch 173.160 (Group A)
#8-Reddick 172.471 (Group B)
#22-Logano 172.442 (Group A)
#48-Bowman 172.203 (Group A)
Slowest: #78-McLeod 161.135mph
Most laps run: #21-Burton, 18 laps.
In the first session, #4-Harvick and #1-Chastain wrecked in separate incidents.
See complete results on the WISE Power 400 Practice speeds page.
Qualifying Order
Crew Rosters
Entry List for the WISE Power 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway is posted, 36 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #15-Smithley, #16-Hemric, #77-Bilicki.
Since 36 cars are entered, no one will miss the race.
See the full entry list on the WISE Power 400 Entry List page.
Goodyear Fast Facts — Fontana
