Micah Roberts: It's a perfect NASCAR goodbye to classic Fontana layout

I was absolutely thrilled to see Kyle Busch win at Fontana on Sunday in just his second start for new car owner Richard Childress. And those feelings weren't just me, a Vegas guy. it was an entirely new vibe from the crowd that has booed him in his last three wins there.

I've seen this before.

They booed Dale Earnhardt in most of his years and none of us could have imagined the shift to in fans respecting him later more than anything. Kyle Busch turned the corner with the fans, racing on a team that housed Earnhardt's famed black No. 3 Chevrolet.

What Busch's win did Sunday was assure us he's going to have speed and compete in all the intermediate tracks like Las Vegas next week. There are more of these types than road or short tracks, so he should be in store for at least 3-win or more season. And Tyler Reddick won two of the road course races last season as well and Busch used the same car Reddick drove at Fontana last season to lead a race-high 90 laps led.

Yes, it's going to be a good season. Maybe a championship season.

The cars look the same as last season and the past results worked out this week. I think we can approad Las Vegas the way as last week in regards to the drivers I expect to do well.

It was a fun race. It always has been. I saw the first race in 1997 won by Jeff Gordon. It was part of the wave of fandom that saw the rise of NASCAR into a major sport with big television contracts.

We saw the last of the 2-mile layout, and who knows for how long for NASCAR at the track. It's likely going to be turned into a .75-mile short track layout and maybe not ready for two seasons. Maybe not at all.

But this version we say goodbye to, which is odd because Fontana started the rise in West-coast NASCAR nationalized and now we saw goodbye because of a half-Billion dollar land deal.

And I think Busch closing this fun race track sets the beautiful sunset.

Enjoyed the race. Rah-rah NASCAR!

Kyle Busch wins first race for RCR, fifth overall at Fontana

 

Frontstretch Quotes

Sunday, February 26, 2023

An Interview with:

Kyle Busch

 

Kyle, the well-documented move to Richard Childress Racing, you’ve been up front every time in this car; it only took two points races until you get your first win with these guys.

 

KYLE BUSCH: Yeah, coulda-shoulda-woulda, right, last week. But no, I think it’s just phenomenal. I can’t thank Richard and Judy enough. I can’t thank Austin for calling me and getting me talking and getting me this opportunity to be able to come over here to RCR and be a part of Chevrolet and be able to race this Lucas Oil Camaro today, to be able to put it up front like that, man.

 

The guys did a great job, Randall, everybody that has worked so hard during the off-season. We’ve done a lot of sim stuff, we’ve done a lot of testing in general just with trying to get up to speed, systems and all that sort of stuff. But man, there’s nothing more rewarding than being able to go to Victory Lane.

 

Want to give a shout-out to my wife and son and daughter back at home. I miss you guys, I’ll see you back at home tonight, and also Rowdy Energy, appreciate them. I need some 3Chi for my hands; I death gripped that wheel throughout the second half of that race. We held on, man, we got it today.

 

You’ve won a lot of big races through your career, but given everything that went in with the move and the change in teams, where does this one rank?

 

KYLE BUSCH: I think it ranks high just because it ranks to the fact of I can do it. I never doubted myself, but sometimes you do. You kind of get down on it, you wonder what’s going on and what’s happening and you put yourself in a different situation and you’re able to come out here and reward your guys. It’s not about me always winning but it’s about the guys. I’ve been with a lot of great people that have given me a lot of great opportunities in my career, so it’s awesome to be able to reward them.

 

I’m going to enjoy it for sure, and hopefully there’s many more left to go.

Chase Elliott is 9/1 to win 2023 Pala Casino 400

 

9 CHASE ELLIOTT   Age: 27 (Nov. 28, 1995)   Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia   Resides: Dawsonville, Georgia   Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson   Standings: 29th

No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro ZL1   DAYTONA 500 REWIND: Chase Elliott was putting together a solid race at Daytona International Speedway last Sunday when he got caught up in a multi-car incident in stage two. The heavy damage to the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 ultimately forced an early exit for the team on lap 119. The two-time DAYTONA 500 pole sitter was scored with a 38th-place finish. GOING BACK TO CALI: On Sunday, Elliott will make his seventh NASCAR Cup Series start at Auto Club Speedway (ACS). In the Dawsonville, Georgia, native’s most recent start there, Elliott was battling for the lead late in the race when he made contact with the wall after a block from another car. He ultimately finished 26th. While the 27-year-old has never won at ACS, his 12.17 average finish at the track is third-best among drivers in Sunday’s field. In his six Cup Series starts there, he has three top-10 finishes with a best effort of fourth in 2020. Elliott also made two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at ACS, finishing sixth during his 2014 championship campaign and fourth in 2015. 2-MILE STATS: This weekend, Elliott is set to make his 19th Cup start at a 2-mile track (ACS and Michigan International Speedway). In his 18 previous Cup Series starts on this track length, Elliott has earned four top-five finishes – including three runner-up efforts – and 13 top-10s with 161 laps led. The 2020 Cup Series champion’s average finish of 9.39 on 2-mile ovals ranks best of all active drivers and second-best among all drivers with more than two starts. GUSTAFSON AT ACS: No. 9 team crew chief Alan Gustafson is set to call his 24th race from atop the pit box at the Fontana, California, track this weekend. The track is home to the veteran crew chief’s first career Cup Series pole (February 2005) as well as his first win (September 2005) – both of which were with Kyle Busch as the driver. In his 23 Cup starts at ACS, Gustafson has one win, five top-five finishes and 12 top-10s.  NAPA IN THE VALLEY: NAPA Auto Parts will serve as the No. 9 team’s primary partner this weekend. The Atlanta-based company’s colors have been on board Elliott’s Chevrolet for each of his previous eight career starts across the Cup and Xfinity Series on the 2-mile oval. See this year’s paint scheme here. NEW TO THE FAMILY: Last Thursday, it was announced that the Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) joined Hendrick Motorsports as the Official Beverage Partner of Elliott and the No. 9 team. Throughout the 2023 season, Coca-Cola will appear as an associate sponsor of Elliott’s race cars and the iconic beverage brand will also adorn the No. 9 team’s uniforms and equipment. Read more about it here. HOME TO CALIFORNIA: No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts rear-tire changer Chad Avrit will compete at his home track in “The Golden State” this weekend. Avrit grew up in El Centro, California, and was an avid surfer before moving to Mooresville, North Carolina, to pursue a career in motor sports. When not at the track, he enjoys spending time with his two sons, hanging out on the lake and mountain biking. Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on starting the West Coast swing: "I'm looking forward to kicking off the West Coast swing at Fontana. I really enjoy going out there. The track is unique and it's just a cool place. It’s one of those places you kind of forget about until it comes up on the schedule because you only race there once a year and it’s so early in the season. I felt like we had a pretty good run going there towards the end last year but didn’t end up with the finish to show for it. Hopefully, we’re able to improve upon that this weekend." Alan Gustafson, crew chief of the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on returning to the site of his first win as a crew chief: "Fontana is kind of special for me. It’s where I got my first win and I just really enjoy going there. It’s a really fast track and it’s super unique. It’ll be interesting this weekend with the weather. Hopefully, it holds off and we’re able to get some practice time in, but it could be a situation where we’re starting the race on Sunday without any track time."

William Byron is 12/1 to win at Fontana

 

24 WILLIAM BYRON   Age: 25 (Nov. 29, 1997)   Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina   Resides: Charlotte, North Carolina   Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle   Standings: 30th

No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1   FONTANA FACTS: This Sunday’s race at Auto Club Speedway (ACS) marks the first race of the NASCAR Cup Series West Coast swing and driver William Byron’s fifth trip to the 2-mile oval. In fact, in his first three showings, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native finished 15th in all three events. Last year, Byron finished 34th due to an on-track incident on lap 152 but not before finishing both stages in the top 10. On the day, he spent 102 laps within the top five – fifth-most – and led 16 laps before having a flat tire. In fact, Byron has led a lap in all four of his starts at the California track, which is the longest active streak in the field. The 25-year-old also has one NASCAR Xfinity Series start under his belt at Auto Club, in 2017, where he started from the sixth position and crossed the finish line in fifth. TWO - (THREE) – FOUR: In the Cup Series at ACS, the No. 24 has reached victory lane on three different occasions. Those three wins tie the No. 24 with two other car numbers for the most wins at the California-based track in the Cup Series behind only the No. 48's six wins. Byron hopes to add to that winning tradition with a victory in Sunday’s race.  WEST COAST VIBIN’: During the three-race West Coast swing last year, Byron collected a total of 97 points. That mark was tied with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott for the sixth-most by a driver in those races in 2022. RUDY RETURNS: When the Cup Series takes to the track this weekend, Sunday will mark crew chief Rudy Fugle’s second race at the Fontana, California, venue at the highest level of competition. In last year’s event, Fugle and the No. 24 team ran consistently within the top 10 before being collected in an on-track incident just past the three-quarter mark of the race. The Livonia, New York, native has three other starts at the 2-mile oval, all coming in the Xfinity Series. In those three starts, Fugle’s best finish came in 2009 with Michael Annett, where the duo scored a sixth-place effort.  RAPTOR® TOUGH: RAPTOR® Tough and Tintable Protective Coatings will appear on Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. RAPTOR® is a durable protective coating that is designed to tolerate the toughest climatic conditions and can be applied to a wide range of items, including truck beds, lawnmowers, outdoor furniture and more. With 16 pre-mixed colors available, it’s easy to personalize anything you want to protect. RAPTOR® is available at local paint distributors, auto parts stores, and online retailers. For a better look at Byron’s No. 24 RaptorTough.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, click here. RETURNING TO THE ROOTS: Byron was victorious twice at New Smyrna Speedway last week. Driving the No. 24 Super Late Model for Wilson Motorsports, he scored the win in Monday night's World Series of Asphalt race and then won Tuesday night's 100-lapper. With two wins in each of the past two seasons, Byron now has four victories in five starts in the event.  William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on his thoughts for this weekend in Auto Club: "Last year’s race I think was the best race I’ve had there in the Cup Series. I know we didn’t finish well, but we were up front all race. Even after having a flat tire while leading, we still had a shot at it. Hopefully, this weekend will be about the same for our team. I know weather will play a factor, though, so we’ll see how that goes. Our plan is to go in and control what we can control. That’s all we can do. I think we showed in Daytona that we’ve made strides as a team, and I think we will do that again in California." Rudy Fugle, crew chief of the No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, on why he enjoys racing at Auto Club: "This is the last time we get to race on the big track in Fontana, unless they change their mind on reconfiguring it, which I hope they do. As a crew chief, that track makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Seeing them rip the fence with such little grip up there – it’s unnerving. I’m always excited to go there and race. Even in practice, it’s hairy because there tends to be wrecks just because everyone is on such a fine line. I’m really excited to get there and see what we can do."

Last chance to catch NASCAR on the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway

With the announcement that this weekend’s Pala Casino 400 (Feb. 26 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) will be the last NASCAR Cup Series race on the 2-mile configuration, the anticipation for a spectacular final event is steadily growing. Planning continues for a proposed half-mile short track located on a portion of the speedway’s current property, but timing for commencement of that project remains uncertain making this weekend that much more special.

 

The 2023 Pala Casino 400 will be the 33rd-time the NASCAR Cup Series has competed at the paved 2-mile oval located in Fontana, California. The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway took place on June 22, 1997, and was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon driving the Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet.

In total, 172 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway producing 21 different pole winners and 18 different race winners. Kurt Busch leads the series all-time in poles at Auto Club Speedway with four (2015, 2007 and 2006 sweep), and Jimmie Johnson leads the series in wins with six (2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016).

 

Five of the 21 NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club Speedway pole winners are active this weekend, led by Denny Hamlin with three poles (2009, 2012, 2013).

 

Active Auto Club Pole Winners	Poles	Seasons
Denny Hamlin	3	2009, 2012, 2013
Austin Dillon	2	2016, 2019
Kyle Larson	1	2017
Martin Truex Jr	1	2018
Kyle Busch	1	2005

 

Six of the 18 NASCAR Cup Series race winners at Auto Club Speedway are active this weekend, led by Kyle Busch with four victories (2005, 2013, 2014, 2019).

 

Active Auto Club Race Winners	Wins	Seasons
Kyle Busch	4	2005, 2013, 2014, 2019
Alex Bowman	1	2020
Martin Truex Jr	1	2018
Kyle Larson	1	2017
Brad Keselowski	1	2015
Kevin Harvick	1	2011

 

All the NASCAR Cup Series on-track activity begins with practice and Busch Light Pole Qualifying on Saturday, Feb. 25 and both events will be televised on FS1 starting at 2 p.m. ET.

 

JTG Daugherty DAYTONA 500 victory was bog for the organization

JTG Daugherty Racing accomplished a few feats this past weekend at Daytona International Speedway.

 

First, owner Brad Daugherty became the first African American car owner in the NASCAR Cup Series to win the DAYTONA 500.

 

Secondly, JTG Daugherty Racing grabbed their second NASCAR Cup Series career victory with the DAYTONA 500 win last weekend, snapping a 482-race winless streak dating back to 2011 when the organization got its first victory with driver A.J. Allmendinger at Watkins Glen International. With the win they became the first single-car team to win the DAYTONA 500 since the Wood Brothers in 2011.

 

And last but not least, with the win to open the season JTG Daugherty Racing has earned a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series Owner Playoffs, and it is just the second-time the organization has qualified for the postseason (2011, 2023) in the series.

Chase Briscoe is 40/1 to win at Fontana

 

CHASE BRISCOE Fontana Advance No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil Delvac Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing

Event Overview

● Event: Pala Casino 400 (Round 2 of 36)  ● Time/Date: 3:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday, Feb. 26  ● Location: Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California  ● Layout: 2-mile oval  ● Laps/Miles: 200 laps/400 miles  ● Stage Lengths: Stage 1: 65 laps / Stage 2: 65 laps / Final Stage: 70 laps  ● TV/Radio: FOX / MRN / SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Notes of Interest

● Next up on the NASCAR Cup Series Schedule is the Pala Casino 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Chase Briscoe heads to Fontana looking to turn around his start to the 2023 season after a 35th-place finish in the Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway last Sunday. The No. 14 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) led twice for five laps before being shuffled into the pack during pit stops and had nowhere to go as cars were collected ahead of him in an lap-181 incident.   ● Briscoe will strap into the No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil Delvac Ford Mustang this weekend for his second Cup Series race at the 2-mile oval in Fontana. His two Fontana starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series resulted in a best finish of fifth in 2019. In 2020, Briscoe started third and led five times for 16 laps before a spin on lap 126 relegated the team to a 19th-place finish.   ● 14 Years Together…Rush Truck Centers returns to the No. 14 Ford Mustang for the first time this year. Fontana marks the 11th year that Rush Truck Centers has appeared as a primary sponsor on an SHR car and its 14th season as a team partner. All of the SHR cars travel from race to race in haulers from Rush Truck Centers, the premier service solutions provider to the commercial vehicle industry. And those haulers are supported by the RushCare Customer Support team of parts and service experts, who also provide concierge-level service for scheduling maintenance, technical support, mobile service dispatch and roadside assistance, help locating the nearest dealer, and more. Rush Truck Centers is the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in North America with 150 locations in the United States and Ontario, Canada, and takes pride in its integrated approach to customer needs – from vehicle sales to aftermarket parts, service and body shop operations, plus financing, insurance, leasing and rental, as well as alternate fuel systems and other vehicle technologies.   ● Mobil Delvac joins Rush Truck Centers for the Pala Casino 400. Mobil Delvac heavy-duty diesel engine oils are designed to help commercial fleets save money and boost uptime through fuel economy savings, extending the life of engines, and lengthening oil drain intervals. In 2020, the SHR haulers moved from three oil changes per season to a single oil change by using Mobil Delvac diesel engine oil.

Chase Briscoe, Driver of the No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil Delvac Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

The plan is for Fontana to be reconfigured into a half-mile track following this weekend’s race. How do you feel about it possibly being the last race on the 2-mile layout? “I think it’s going to be bittersweet for all the drivers because it’s just so fun from a driver’s standpoint. It’s so slick and worn out. It’s rough and you just bounce around. You can run wherever on the racetrack, especially with the Next Gen car. I thought that it was just a really good racetrack for these cars, so I’m bummed we didn’t get more time to race it as is. It’s one of my favorite tracks to go to just because I feel like that’s one of the tracks where a driver can make quite a bit of a difference, so I’ll be sad to see it go. But, if it becomes a short track, that may not be so bad. We don’t have a short track out West, so that would give us some variety during the West Coast swing.”   The West Coast swing is usually when we get a good idea of who the stronger teams will be. Is that still the case with the NextGen car? “I’m not really sure, but I’d say probably not. It used to be that after the first four races, we’d kind of know, but it seems like things have been a little different. Maybe around week eight or nine we’d have a good idea. But even so, we’ve seen that the swings in performance with the NextGen are a little bigger. One week you can be really good and the next not even close to being good. So, I guess at this point we see who seems to be on top after that race at Phoenix and then look back later to see if that holds up.”