Harmony, N.C. – On Sunday, February 26, the NASCAR Cup Sequence will contend at Auto Club Speedway for the 2nd factors-spending race of the 2023 season. The race will mark the initially of a few consecutive events to be held on the West Coast.

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Opening in 1997, the Southern California facility has been on the schedule at least a yr, only missing 2021 due to the COVID-19 limits. Adhering to Sunday’s most important event, renovations are predicted to start out the operate to transform the venue into a brief keep track of. As a consequence, Automobile Club will not be on the 2024 schedule. 

The latest 2-mile oval is one particular of the fastest tracks that does not make the most of the superspeedway-model aero bundle. The vast corners are banked at 14 degrees and present various unique lines for drivers to utilize. The frontstretch totals 3,100 ft in length at 11 levels of banking, although the back straightaway is 2.500 feet extensive and has 3 degrees of banking. Previous season’s event saw the Future Gen car or truck offer close-quarters racing that provided a heavier reliance on drafting than in the past at the facility. 

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Kyle Larson enters this weekend not only as the hometown hero but also the defending race winner. Car Club has traditionally been a fantastic observe for the driver of the No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet. In his eight Cup Collection begins in Fontana, he has attained a pair of wins as very well as two runner-up finishes. Larson efficiently held off Austin Dillion and Daniel Suarez from getting the leading spot in the closing laps to safe the win in 2022. The 2-mile circuits on the agenda have been in the 2021 Cup Series champion’s wheelhouse. He has five blended wins at Automobile Club and Michigan Global Speedway as very well as the second-very best mixed ordinary finish at those people tracks (11.95) amongst active drivers. The 30-calendar year-outdated Elk Grove, California, indigenous will aim for his fourth Cup Collection earn in his home point out this weekend (Larson also received at Sonoma Raceway in 2021).

Fontana has been an up-and-down monitor for Alex Bowman in his Cup Series vocation. He had a dominating showing in his 2020 victory. After successful stage 1, the Tucson, Arizona, indigenous attained a runner-up complete in phase two. In the closing phase, the subject just could not capture the then No. 88 entry as he cruised to victory, top 110 laps in the process. In his other 5 commences below, he has finished outdoors the leading 10. The 2022 race observed Bowman jogging fourth on lap 179 just before make contact with with the wall resulted in a 25th-spot end.

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Whilst he has not still claimed victory at Fontana, Chase Elliott has revealed velocity at the 2-mile racetrack. He has scored one major-five end and three prime-10s in 6 starts at Car Club. Final time, the driver of the No. 9 NAPA Auto Elements Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 paced the subject for 12 laps prior to late-race get in touch with in a battle for the direct culminated in a 26th-area final result. His 9.39 common complete on active 2-mile venues (Auto Club and Michigan International Speedway) is the greatest among the lively drivers and second-ideal among the all motorists. 

In his to start with three begins at Auto Club, William Byron was the definition of consistency. From 2018-2020, the No. 24 entry completed 15th a few straight instances. Last season, Byron was on target for his ideal displaying but at this track in the Cup Series. Nevertheless, a flat tire in the final stage prompted Byron to reduce regulate of the vehicle and he made contact with Tyler Reddick. The incident introduced a untimely stop to what experienced been a reliable working day for the crew in the very first two levels. Though the remaining effects confirmed 34th, the crew finished 3rd and ninth in stages one particular and two, respectively. Byron experienced the third-fastest car or truck on environmentally friendly-flag pace (in accordance to NASCAR loop info) in the race and led 16 laps on the day. 

Hendrick Motorsports has claimed a Cup Sequence record 12 victories at Vehicle Club Speedway. Jimmie Johnson retains the record for most wins at the track with 6 – including his first job victory in 2002. Staff vice chairman and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon has 3 triumphs to his identify, together with a win in inaugural race at the observe in 1997. Kyle Busch, Bowman and Larson have every acquired a single victory at the track for the Rick Hendrick-owned team.

Similar: Every Hendrick Motorsports acquire at Automobile Club Speedway

Below is what you require to know to catch this weekend’s action.

WHAT TIME IS Practice AND QUALIFYING? 

Group exercise will just take place on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2:05 p.m. ET and be broadcast on FS1. Straight away pursuing the observe session will be Cup Sequence qualifying at 2:50 p.m. ET, also out there on FS1. Immediately after car or truck can take time in the initially spherical of qualifying, the best-five teams in just about every group will compete in the final round for the pole situation. Byron and Bowman will be in Group A, even though Elliott and Larson are in Group B.

WHAT TIME IS THE RACE?

The 200-lap Cup Series principal function is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 26, and will be broadcast on FOX.

CAN I Hear ON THE RADIO?

The race will be on MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90). Both of those stores will broadcast all the Cup Sequence action from Daytona. 

CAN I STREAM On-line?

Certainly. Download the FOX Athletics Reside app for on the internet coverage. Admirers can also hold up with the motion on Twitter by following @TeamHendrick.  

WHAT CHANNEL IS FS1 AND FS2?

It may differ by location, but this url allows viewers to find the channels by moving into their zip code and picking their television provider.  

5 Quick Specifics HEADING INTO Automobile CLUB

Knowledge furnished by Racing Insights

2: Most consecutive wins by an corporation at Car Club. Hendrick Motorsports has carried out this two times (in its October 2009 and February 2010 wins as very well as its March 2020 and February 2022 wins). A victory on Sunday would see the group come to be the very first to win 3 in a row at this facility. 

4: Active streak of races Byron experienced led a lap at the Fontana, California, location, which is the most among the energetic drivers in the Cup Series. If the 25-12 months-aged was to led a lap on Sunday, he would tie Denny Hamlin for the report of most consecutive races at this track with a lap led (five). 

12.17: Normal complete from Elliott at Vehicle Club in his career. This mark is third-most effective amid motorists entered in Sunday’s race.

110: The variety of laps Bowman led in his 2020 get at the 2-mile track. It is the optimum whole of laps led for the 29-calendar year-old in a race gain and the third-greatest whole he is led in a single race.

113: Details acquired by Larson during the West Coast swing in 2022. This was four points very clear of the subsequent closest driver.

By Tara