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The Underdog House: Erik Jones Returns No. 43 to Former Glory

It had been nearly a decade since Richard Petty’s famous No. 43 had started on the front row for a NASCAR Cup Series race. The last occurrence happened in 2013, when Aric Almirola sat on the pole for the fall Talladega event.

However, the streak came to a halt with the Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway (Feb. 27) when Erik Jones piloted the No. 43 to the outside pole position.

The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2022 Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway

The NASCAR Cup Series field lines up for the start of the 2022 Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway. Photo: NKP

Auto Club Speedway was the first intermediate track of the 2022 season and the first the NASCAR Cup Series has visited since Kansas Speedway last October. The result, though, wasn’t new at all.

Kyle Larson won the last intermediate track race of 2021 and he won the first of 2022 on Sunday (Feb. 27), taking the top spot in the WISE Power 400.