What happened?
Reigning NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson continued where he left off in 2021 by winning his first race of 2022 at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 27. It is his second career NASCAR Cup Series win in the California-based circuit. Following close behind him was Austin Dillon, who held off Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez and Joey Logano to complete the top five.
How did it happen?
Survival and patience won the day.
Throughout the whole first 180 laps, Larson almost was never in the mention for the lead of the Wise Power 400 in his home state except for one lap. Names such as Tyler Reddick, Jones, Chase Elliott and William Byron seemed to be the drivers in the hunt for the victory in Fontana.
Yet Larson was always near the front. He finished in fifth in both stages one and two.
It was an event marred by mechanical issues, ill-handling race cars and flared tempers. By the end of the race, almost all of those aforementioned leaders experienced issues that took them off the lead pace, and it was Larson’s time to pounce.
With 22 laps to go, one of the final restarts of the race found the Hendrick Motorsports trio of Larson, Elliott and Alex Bowman battling Logano for the lead. Bowman hit the wall upon the restart in turn 3, leaving Elliott and Larson to battle against Logano for the top spot.
The trio was three wide when Elliott built up enough momentum to pass around the other two on the outside. Unfortunately, his HMS teammate had the same idea.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know he was there."- Larson https://t.co/C6xwGVgTK6 pic.twitter.com/jcBjEwzdVS
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 28, 2022
The contact ruined Elliott’s day and he fell well off the pace.
With Larson taking the lead, Logano falling back, and Elliott swearing up a storm, it seemed it was time to drop the curtain on another Hollywood performance for the Californian.
Unfortunately, from the damage he sustained, Elliott couldn’t keep his Chevrolet straight for the rest of the race. He brought out the 10th and final unscheduled caution of the day.
It has been a frustrating day in California for Chase Elliott and the No. 9 team. pic.twitter.com/pTS5gBE6DD
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 28, 2022
After a late-race pit stop, Larson was left to defend against Suarez who is still looking for his first career Cup Series win.
With four laps to go, Larson restarted on the outside of the No. 99 Chevrolet, and they were dead even into the first corner.
Suarez received a push from Jones with three laps to go and took the lead briefly, but the dirt track savant of Larson used the high lane of turns 3 and 4 to his advantage. The momentum launched him around the Trackhouse Racing Team car and into the lead with two laps to go. He stayed there to the checkered to collect his 17th career Cup Series victory.
The final four laps were INCREDIBLE.
Wow. pic.twitter.com/dYZIIa2rs9
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 28, 2022
Who stood out?
Larson may have taken home the win, but Reddick stole the show.
From the moment he took the lead on lap 11, the driver of the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet was the favorite for everybody to win in Fontana. On his way of leading a race-high total of 90 laps, Reddick used his tried-and-true high line to rim-ride the blue walls of Auto Club Speedway. His high line gave him the advantage over the rest of the field and allowed him to win both stages one and two.
In the opening laps of the final stage, Reddick was holding off Jones, who was the only other driver throughout the day that appeared to have enough speed to contend with the dominant RCR Chevrolet.
By lap 151, the duo was still dueling in the top lane of the speedway for the lead when Reddick reported a vibration.
That vibration became a flat tire.
Heavy contact for Tyler Reddick and William Byron after a tire issue for the No. 8. https://t.co/4q2YOBTRE9 pic.twitter.com/j9kkAO0yfp
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 27, 2022
Just like that, Reddick’s perfect day ended. His race resulted in a 24th-place finish, one lap off the pace. After such a dominant performance for most of the day, however, it’s hard to think we won’t see Reddick running up front for the lead again in any of the remaining 34 races in 2022.
Who fell flat?
With overheating issues, spins and flat tires galore, Joe Gibbs Racing had an abysmal day.
Only one out of the four cars was able to score points in either of the first two stages of the race when Denny Hamlin earned one point with his 10th-place result in stage two.
Their headaches began when Kyle Busch spun early on followed by overheating issues for the Toyota which forced him to pit road. The issues placed him well behind the leaders where he would then suffer a flat tire. At one point, the candy man was multiple laps down.
Been a tough day in Fontana for Rowdy. https://t.co/dWBP2Wn5Do pic.twitter.com/hqunkQETV9
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 27, 2022
Overheating issues plagued Busch’s JGR teammates of Christopher Bell and Hamlin as well. While Hamlin was able to overcome his dilemma, Bell would spin later on.
Close your eyes if you're a @CBellRacing fan. pic.twitter.com/opZeDrjRne
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 27, 2022
Bell’s spin blew out his Goodyear eagles and was unable to get his Toyota to move on its own power again, a Gen 7 car problem that has plagued a few drivers this weekend and is being reviewed by NASCAR for a solution.
The Oklahoma native eventually received a tow back to pit road, but by that point, he was multiple laps down. The No. 20 team abandoned the race and did not return.
Christopher Bell, who lost six laps after his spin, just went to the garage.
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) February 27, 2022
Bell’s day ended with a 36th-place result – dead last.
The only JGR driver that had a normal day was Martin Truex Jr, but it wasn’t the typical top five run we have come to expect out of the No. 19 Toyota. Truex spent his day hovering near the edge of the top 10 and that’s where he finished in 13th.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the team by the end, however. Despite his abundance of issues and setbacks, Busch rejoined the lead lap late and clawed his way to a 14th-place finish. Hamlin followed suit in 15th.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the JGR team struggle at the beginning of the season, and the team will almost certainly be looking forward to next Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a track where it won last September.
What did this race prove?
The new car is hard to drive, and that’s great.
I am STRAIGHT UP having a GREAT TIME watching these drivers STRAIGHT UP having a HARD TIME. #NASCAR
— nascarcasm (@nascarcasm) February 27, 2022
It was a lesson 10 drivers learned throughout the practice and qualifying sessions on Saturday, Feb. 26. In practice, multiple drivers experienced handling issues that caused them to spin and even damage their race car, resulting in most being forced to forfeit their qualifying run to either repair their car or replace it. One such driver was the experienced veteran and 2011 Fontana winner Kevin Harvick.
Not how the No. 4 team wanted to start practice 👀 https://t.co/YYvX6wmRM7 pic.twitter.com/54jUYg1mEu
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 26, 2022
In the final qualifying session alone, Elliott, Byron, and Brad Keselowski all failed to post a time after each spun during their one-shot lap because of poor handling. Logano also smacked the wall but was able to post a qualifying time, albeit a much slower one.
In the race itself, it was clear from the beginning every driver must survive an ill-handling car if they wanted to stay ahead or even stay in the race at all. Busch was the first victim.
Kyle Busch goes for a spin in Fontana. https://t.co/GdXUimh6DO pic.twitter.com/kuxJDu7opw
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 27, 2022
Then Elliott spun, followed by Josh Bilicki, then Bell, Keselowski, Ross Chastain, and you get the idea.
Despite the spins, the damage, and no doubt the money spent on repairs and part replacement, the feedback has been positive.
Even from the drivers.
"The cars are hard to drive and they're supposed to be that way … A lot of the drivers asked for it and we got what we wanted."@keselowski is prepping for an intense run for the #BuschLightPole. pic.twitter.com/hsV2KMrV3Q
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 26, 2022
The event had 12 yellow flags throughout the day, which is the most since 2008 when the race was 500 miles rather than 400. It was only two yellow flags shy of the overall record.
Almost all of them came from spins.
#NASCAR … There have been 5 single-car incidents in today's Cup race.
You have to go to RACE 6 OF LAST SEASON before the series had its 5th single-car incident in 2021
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) February 27, 2022
In all, fans and drivers alike wanted the new car to be hard to drive so they can see talent – rather than money alone – rise to the top. They got what they wanted.
Now if we could only figure out that flat tire issue.
Paint scheme of the race
The No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and Interstate Batteries is one of NASCAR’s oldest ongoing sponsor relationships, and it looks as good as ever.
We’re in full @NASCAR_Xfinity qualifying mode right now, but let’s pause and take a look at @KyleBusch’s @interstatebatts Toyota Camry TRD 😍⚡️ pic.twitter.com/Iaq1mTcodm
— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) February 26, 2022
Busch had an absolute nightmare of a day, but at least his car looked good. The traditional Interstate Batteries lightning bolt mixed with a bright green primary color and white number and lettering made the Toyota stand out among the rest of the field.
Better than last time?
Let’s put it this way.
After the Fontana race in 2020, plans were developed to turn Auto Club Speedway into a short track and be rid of its 2-mile “cookie-cutter” design.
After this race, many fans believe it should be left exactly how it is.
Don't change Auto Club Speedway.#NASCAR #WisePower400
— Allen Ellis, roll the dice 🎲 (@Allen_TheAlpha) February 28, 2022
Let's not reconfigure Auto club speedway.
— David Allen (@racegearcom) February 27, 2022
The last race at Fontana saw eight different leaders for 17 total lead changes. There were only three unscheduled yellow flags. The race winner, Bowman, led a whopping 110 laps when it was all over.
Sunday’s event saw only nine leaders. With 10 unscheduled caution flags, however, drivers had ample opportunity to take a shot at the top spot, resulting in 32 lead changes.
The competition was far better it seems, and with no 550-horsepower rules package, the cars were sliding around on the bumpy surface making the on-track action more unpredictable.
Oh yeah, and the crowd was great too.
It's been a couple of years, but that is a GREAT crowd for Auto Club.#NASCAR #AutoClub400 pic.twitter.com/xTPcfgFhHi
— Daniel McFadin (@danielmcfadin) February 27, 2022
What’s next?
The Cup Series returns to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the first of two visits to Sin City in 2022.
Cup Series practice at the 1.5-mile oval starts on Saturday, March 5, at 1:30 p.m. ET and will be followed by qualifying at 2:05 p.m. ET with TV coverage being provided by FOX Sports 1. The Pennzoil 400 will follow on Sunday, March 6, at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
Dalton Hopkins began writing for Frontstretch in April 2021. Currently, he is the lead writer for the weekly Thinkin' Out Loudcolumn, co-host of the Happy Hour podcast, and one of our lead reporters. Beforehand, he wrote for IMSA shortly after graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2019. Simultaneously, he also serves as a Captain in the US Army.
Follow Dalton on Twitter @PitLaneCPT