Race Weekend Central

Power Rankings: Fontana Edition

2020LasVegasNCSKevinHarvickCarRLP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Two races on downforce tracks in a row have given us a better look at which teams have improved for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season. There is no doubt that Hendrick Motorsports is better and that isn’t just because Bowman the Showman ended up in victory lane this past Sunday (March 1) at Auto …

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Couch Potato Tuesday: FOX Brings Action, Questionable Waltrip Role to Fontana

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(Photo: NKP)

Opinions on Auto Club Speedway have shifted significantly over the years. There was originally joy that NASCAR was back in Southern California, then anger that it was boring, and finally supreme anger toward NASCAR for giving the track a second date on Labor Day weekend back in 2004. That move was problematic for a bunch …

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Thinkin’ Out Loud: 2020 Auto Club 400 at Fontana

2020CaliforniaNCSAlexBowmanRacingRLP

(Photo: Randy Lanning)

The Headline(s): After winning the first stage and showing speed all weekend, Alex Bowman took the lead on lap 133 after a hotly-contested restart to begin the final stage, and never looked back. Gapping Ryan Blaney over the final run, Bowman cruised to his second career Cup victory and third career NASCAR national series win. …

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Up to Speed: Alex Bowman Delivering on High Expectations

2020CaliforniaNCSAlexBowmanBurnoutRLP(2)

(Photo: Randy Lanning)

No long ago, Hendrick Motorsports was the undisputed most dominant team in NASCAR.  Competitors and fans alike understood that the path to the Cup Series championship inevitably ran through the sprawling HMS campus in Concord, North Carolina.  Led most recently by Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick’s strong teams promised to be contenders each and every week. However, …

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The Big 6: Questions Answered After the 2020 Auto Club 400

NASCAR Xfinity Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Who… should you be talking about after the race? After losing a major sponsor prior to the season, Alex Bowman could be racing for his ride this year.  The 26-year-old Arizona native is a free agent after the season, and he may need to convince Hendrick Motorsports that keeping him is in the team’s best …

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Alex Bowman Dominates for 2nd Career Victory in Auto Club 400

2020 California NCS Alex Bowman Victory Lane RLP

(Photo: Randy Lanning)

A dominating performance at Auto Club Speedway by a Hendrick Motorsports driver isn’t a surprise — however, it wasn’t the driver most would expect. Alex Bowman dominated the Auto Club 400 on Sunday afternoon (March 1) en route to his second career NASCAR Cup Series victory. Bowman led 110 of the race’s 200 laps. He …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2020 Auto Club 400

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

California dreamin’, on such a winter’s day. The NASCAR Cup Series teams don’t have to dream, as they are in Fontana, Calif. this week for the Auto Club 400. The race will air on Sunday, March 1 at 12:30 p.m. ET on FOX. Temperatures at Auto Club Speedway on race day will definitely feel like …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR FanDuel Forecast: Auto Club 400 (Fontana)

2019 Kentucky MENCS Brad Keselowski Joey Logano Team Penske Car Nigel Kinrade Photography

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

The bright stars of Hollywood will out in full force this weekend, with NASCAR’s annual visit to the area’s two-mile oval in nearby Fontana, the Auto Club Speedway. This racetrack has the third oldest pavement on the circuit, only coming behind Dover International Speedway and the site of next week’s race, the Atlanta Motor Speedway. …

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Alex Bowman Tops Both Cup Series Practices Friday at Auto Club Speedway

2019 Dover MENCS Alex Bowman Car NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Alex Bowman led both of Friday’s (Feb. 28) NASCAR Cup Series practice sessions for the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway. First Practice Bowman posted a lightning-fast lap of 179.439 mph in his No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports’ Chevrolet in the opening session. Kyle Larson’s 177.703 mph lap speed was just enough for second-quickest. Rookie of …

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Daily Fantasy NASCAR DraftKings Forecast: 2020 Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube

Kevin Harvick Daytona 500 Media Day 2020

Photo/Davey Segal)

After Monday night’s wild and scary ending to the Daytona 500, NASCAR Cup Series teams travel to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Pennzoil 400 on Sunday, Feb. 23. The action should be much tamer this week at the 1.5-mile track. While big crashes are still possible, the cars won’t run in large packs except …

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Joey Logano Fastest in Uneventful Daytona 500 Happy Hour

2020 Daytona NCS Joey Logano Car NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Joey Logano led a line of Fords to the top of the speed charts in Saturday’s (Feb. 15) Happy Hour practice for the Daytona 500, capping an uneventful final practice that saw only the Blue Ovals engage in any extended drafting. Twenty-six of the 40 starters for Sunday’s 500 made laps during the session. 2020 …

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Trendy Tuesday: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., JTG Daugherty Racing All About 3

2020 Daytona NCS RIcky Stenhouse, Jr. Face NKP

(Photo: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

Hi, if you follow me on Twitter you probably know I love stats. So for the 2020 NASCAR season, we’re taking a few of those stats to the next level in a new Frontstretch column called Trendy Tuesday.  No, I didn’t put any stats on Twitter this week following The Clash, so the column may look a …

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