California Dreamin’ NASCAR Style
California Dreamin’ NASCAR Style
A preview of the Auto Club 500 at Fontana.
NASCAR’s California roots go pretty deep. The 1951 equivalent of NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series was known as Grand National, and they ran 5 races in the Golden State that year.
NASCAR founder Bill France wanted to spread NASCAR from its southern roots to the West Coast. In his words, “From sea to shining sea.â€
From 1970 to 1981 NASCAR’s first race of the year was not in Daytona Beach. It was on the road course at Riverside, California.
The 2 drivers with the most momentum from the Daytona 500 are winless at the 2 mile California track. But both Jamie McMurray and Dale Earnhardt Jr are optimistic heading into California.
“It’s much easier to go there after you run good somewhere else,†Dale Earnhardt Jr said. “You know, I look forward to seeing how we are as a team.â€
But if history is any indication Jimmie Johnson should have the advantage. Johnson has an average finishing position of 2.8 over the last 3 years at Fontana, with 3 wins.
Auto Club 500Race Facts
The Race: Auto Club 500
The Place:
Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, Calif.
(2-mile oval)
The Date: Sunday, Feb. 21
The Time: 3 p.m. (ET)
Race Distance: 500 miles/250 laps
TV: FOX, 2 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN and Sirius NASCAR Radio
Channel 128. (Local: KFRG-FM,
KVFG-FM, KXFG-FM.)
2009 Polesitter: Brian Vickers
2009 Winner: Matt Kenseth
Pre-race day schedule (all times
local): Friday—Practice, 12-1:30 p.m.
Qualifying, 3:40 Saturday—Practice,
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. and 12:45-1:50.