Cole Custer dominates Xfinity race at Fontana in three NASCAR overtimes: Californian Cole Custer was the only former Auto Club Speedway winner in the field for Saturday’s Production Alliance 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race in Fontana, Calif. Three overtimes, 12 cautions and more than three hours of official race time later, Custer was still the only former winner in the Fontana field, having beaten runner-up Noah Gragson to the finish line by .565 seconds.(Read More)(2-26-2022)
Despite three overtime restarts, the field had nothing for the dominant car of #07-Cole Custer in his return to the Xfinity Series at Auto Club Speedway on Saturday. Custer won the Production Alliance Group 300, his second win at his home state track, first within the Xfinity ranks since 2019, and 10th career win.
Custer dominated the race with a total of 80 laps led. His win provides long-time car owner Bob Dotter and his SS Green Light Racing team their first series win.
#9-Noah Gragson finished second followed by #18-Trevor Bayne, #8-Josh Berry, and #23-Anthony Alfredo in the top-five.
#1-Sam Mayer was sixth, followed by pole-sitter #16-AJ Allmendinger in seventh. #7-Justin Allgaier, #98-Riley Herbst, and #39-Ryan Sieg closed out the top-10 finishers.
Stage 1 was won by #18-Bayne and Stage 2 was won by #07-Custer.
There were 19 lead changes among eight drivers and 12 cautions for 58 yellow flag laps. The final caution flag of the day on lap 157 also saw a 23-minute red flag for cleanup after sand barrels at the entrance of pit road were shattered during an accident involving #19-Brandon Jones, #2-Sheldon Creed and #99-Stefan Parsons.
The average speed of the race was: 105.682mph.
See race details at: Race Results, Drivers Points Standings, Owners Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.
Auto Club Paint Schemes
Race Fast Facts – Auto Club:
Cole Custer(i) won the 23rd Production Alliance Group 300, his 10th victory in 106 NASCAR Xfinity Series races.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in 2022.
This is his second victory and third top-10 finish in four races at Auto Club Speedway.
Noah Gragson (second) posted his first top-10 finish in three races at Auto Club Speedway. It is his second top-10 finish in 2022.
Trevor Bayne (third) posted his fourth top-10 finish in eight races at Auto Club Speedway.
Austin Hill (27th) was the highest finishing rookie.
This is SS Green Light Racing’s first win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
(NASCAR)(2-26-2022)
Xfinity Series Standings after Auto Club (Race 2 of 33):
1) #21-Austin Hill, 1 win
2) #16-AJ Allmendinger, 90
3) #9-Noah Gragson, 89, -1
4) #7-Justin Allgaier, 87, -3
5) #18-Riley Herbst, 71, -19
6) #39-Ryan Sieg, 71, -19
7) #54-Ty Gibbs, 71, -19
8) #8-Josh Berry, 63, -27
9) #23-Anthony Alfredo, 62, -28
10) #11-Daniel Hemric, 61, -29
11) #68-Brandon Brown, 60, -30
12) #1-Sam Mayer, 51, -39
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.
Cars to the rear: #26-Earnhardt(unapproved adjustments), #27-Burton(unapproved adjustments), #34-Iwuji(unapproved adjustments), #35-Gase(unapproved adjustments), #44-Martins(unapproved adjustments), #78-Williams(unapproved adjustments), #38-Graf(driver change), #28-Sieg(engine).
Pit Stall Selections
With a speed of 179.829 mph, #16-AJ Allmendinger will start from the pole in the Production Alliance Group 300. It’s Kaulig Racing’s second consecutive pole with Daniel Hemric winning the pole at Daytona.
Competing for SS GreenLight Racing, #07-Cole Custer turned the second quickest time (179.793 mph). #19-Brandon Jones (179.677 mph), #18-Trevor Bayne (179.582 mph) and #11-Daniel Hemric (178.620 mph) round out the top five.
#9-Noah Gragson, #10-Landon Cassill, #21-Austin Hill, #2-Sheldon Creed and #51-Jeremy Clements make up the rest of the top 10.
Failed to qualify: #08-Joe Graf Jr., #33-Will Rodgers, #47-Brennan Poole
See the complete Auto Club Starting Lineup.
Auto Club Speedway – Qualifying Fast Facts:
AJ Allmendinger won the Pole Award for the 23rd Production Alliance Group 300 with a lap of 40.038
seconds, 179.829 mph.
This is his fourth pole in 62 NASCAR Xfinity Series races.
This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2022.
This is his first pole in two races at Auto Club Speedway.
Cole Custer(i) (second) posted his first top-10 start of 2022 and his fourth in four races at Auto Club Speedway.
Brandon Jones (third) posted his fifth top-10 start at Auto Club Speedway. It is his second in two races this season.
Austin Hill (eighth) was the fastest qualifying rookie.
Chevrolet has tied Toyota for the NASCAR Xfinity Series most poles at Auto Club Speedway with 12 each.
Qualifying Order
Practice for the Production Alliance Group 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Auto Club Speedway is complete. After 20 minutes, the top five, slowest, news and notes:
#7-Justin Allgaier 178.425 mph
#9-Noah Gragson 177.826 mph
#19-Brandon Jones 177.664 mph
#16-AJ Allmendinger 177.056 mph
#54-Ty Gibbs 176.952 mph
Slowest: #47-Brennan Poole 160.424 mph
Most laps run: #18-Trevor Bayne, #8-Josh Berry, 18
Notes: #44-Tommy Joe Martins spun early in the session getting out of first gear. The practice concluded 30 seconds earlier as #34-Jesse Iwuji was stopped on the track.
See full Auto Club Practice Results.
Crew Rosters
Goodyear Tire Notes
There are 41 driver/teams on the entry list for the Production Alliance Group 300 at Auto Club Speedway. Six drivers will fail to qualify for the event.
Notables: #07-Cole Custer, #08-Joe Graf Jr., #18-Trevor Bayne, #26-Jeffrey Earnhardt, #33-Will Rodgers, #36-Alex Labbe, #38-Timmy Hill, #45-Kaz Grala, #47-Brennan Poole.
See the full entry list on the Auto Club Entry List page.
