Kyle Busch gets milestone NASCAR Cup victory in Fontana finale: The Kyle Busch era at Richard Childress Racing began three weeks ago at the Los Angeles Coliseum, but the coronation was reserved for Sunday’s Pala Casino 400 in the last NASCAR Cup Series race at 2.0-mile Auto Club Speedway. Busch grabbed the lead from Ross Chastain on Lap 165 and regained it on Lap 180 at the end of a cycle of green-flag pit stops, as the race ran under green for the final 55 laps. He crossed the finish line on Lap 200 with a 2.998-second advantage over runner-up Chase Elliott.[Read More](2-26-2023)
#8-Kyle Busch won the Pala Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway. The win is his 5th at Auto Club Speedway, 61st career win, and 1st with Richard Childress Racing.
#9-Elliott finished 2nd followed by #1-Chastain, #99-Suarez, #4-Harvick, #11-Hamlin, #6-Keselowski, #48-Bowman, #3-Dillon, and #22-Logano.
Busch took the lead with 20 laps remaining and pulled away to win by nearly 3 seconds.
Pole sitter #20-Bell was involved in a restart accident on lap 87 that collected 10 cars and was the largest accident ever at Auto Club Speedway. He was unable to continue and finished 32nd.
Stage 1 and 2 were both won by #1-Chastain.
There were 28 lead changes among 13 drivers and 8 cautions for 38 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 127.603mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points Standings, Owner Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.
Race Fast Facts – Auto Club Speedway:
- Kyle Busch won the Pala Casino 400, his 61st victory in 644 Cup Series races.
- This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in 2023.
- This is his fifth victory and 17th top-10 finish in 24 races at Auto Club Speedway.
- Chase Elliott (second) posted his fourth top-10 finish in seven races at Auto Club Speedway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2023.
- Ross Chastain (third) posted his first top-10 finish in five races at Auto Club Speedway.
- Ty Gibbs (16th) was the highest finishing rookie.
- With his win today, Kyle Busch has now won a Cup Series race in 19 consecutive seasons, breaking a tie with Richard Petty for first all time who had won a race for 18 consecutive seasons from 1960 –1977.
- With his win today, Kyle and Kurt Busch now have a combined 95 Cup Series wins making them the winningest brothers in NASCAR history, breaking a tie with Bobby and Donnie Allison.
(NASCAR)
Cup Series Playoff Standings after Auto Club Speedway:
Race 2 of 26 in the regular season
1) #47-Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. [1 win], 73
2) #8-Kyle Busch [1 win], 67
3) #1-Ross Chastain, 92
4) #22-Joey Logano, 91
5) #48-Alex Bowman, 80
6) #4-Kevin Harvick, 79
7) #99-Daniel Suarez, 77
8) #17-Chris Buescher, 74
9) #11-Denny Hamlin, 64
10) #6-Brad Keselowski, 64
11) #19-Martin Truex, Jr., 60
12) #12-Ryan Blaney, 57
13) #7-Corey LaJoie, 51
14) #9-Chase Elliott, 49
15) #20-Christopher Bell, 49
16) #4-Michael McDowell, 40
See the Driver Points Standings and Owner Points Standings.
Paint Schemes
Cars to the rear: none
Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Pala Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #20-Bell chose pit stall 1.
Outside pole sitter #47-Stenhouse, Jr. took the 6th stall, with an opening in front of it.
See all pit choices on the Auto Club Speedway Pit Stall page.
Practice and qualifying have been cancelled: for the Pala Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway due to rain.
The starting lineup was set by NASCAR’s metric of 25% driver finish for the last race, 25% owner finish for the last race, 35% current year owner points, and 15% fastest lap rank for the last race.
Using that system, #20-Christopher Bell will start on the pole for Sunday’s race. #47-Stenhouse, Jr. will start second.
The rest of the top 10: #22-Logano, #48-Bowman, #17-Buescher, #16-Allmendinger, #99-Suarez, #1-Chastain, #12-Blaney, and #4-Harvick.
See the Pala Casino 400 Starting Lineup.
Qualifying Order
Crew Rosters
The entry list for the Pala Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway is posted, 36 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
See the full entry list on the Pala Casino 400 Entry List page.
Goodyear Fast Facts — Auto Club Speedway
TandemDraft Stats
Weekend Event Schedule