Surprises And Disappointments From The Auto Club 500

There were quite a bit of surprises and disappointments during the 2009 Auto Club 500. Here is a list of what I thought were the biggest surprises and disappointments from last Sunday’s race.

Surprise

Matt Kenseth winning the first two races of the year was a big surprise to me. I know Roush Fenway has been dominate at this event the last several years, but for Kenseth to pull off that win surprised and impressed me. If you would have told me that Kenseth was going to win the race with 30 laps to go, I would have fell out laughing.

Disappointment

As Matt Kenseth was starting a new streak of his own, Kevin Harvick ended one. Harvick’s DNF Sunday night was his first in 81 races. A streak that was only three races shy of the all-time races without a DNF streak.

Surprise

Jimmie Johnson fading off towards the end was definitely a surprise. Usually, the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet team is at its best when it comes to the waning laps of a race – not this week. Johnson was running in dominating form during the early and middles stages of the race. When it got down to the last 30 to 40 laps, he began struggling and finished an uncharacteristic ninth.

Disappointment

The only real racing was on pit road. It is a shame that out of 250 laps on the track, the most excitement was the race off pit road. No wonder the Auto Club Speedway has a hard time selling tickets.

Surprise

Tony Stewart finished eight in both races thus far, and is fourth in points – tied with Kurt Busch with 294 points. We all know Stewart is a great race car driver, but to be doing so well with his new team was a surprise to me. I figured some new team struggles would hamper Stewart in the beginning of the season.

Disappointment

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. being 35th in points is a huge disappointment. I am not a Junior fan, but I expected him to be doing much better than this out of the gate. His bad driving hurt him in Daytona, and now his bad luck at Fontana has put him in a big hole to climb out of. It might be a long season for Junior Nation if his fortunes do not reverse soon…. real soon.

Surprise

Seeing Michael Waltrip and Juan Pablo Montoya in the top-10 in points. Waltrip and Montoya have started the 2009 season with strong finishes the first two races. Waltrip has finishes of seventh at Daytona and 15th at Fontana. Montoya has finishes of 14th at Daytona and 11th at Fontana. If these two can keep this up, they could be be contenders for a Chase spot. I doubt it really, but you never know in this sport. As for Waltrip, nothing motivates quite like the threat of firing yourself, huh?

Disappointment

I have been disappointed in how Joey Logano has run so far in 2009. I know the 18-year old is a rookie and has never ran at these tracks, but he has struggled badly. Maybe I am expecting too much from him too early. Logano is currently 38th in owner points. So if he doesn’t get a move on by Martinsville, he will have to qualify to get in the race. That could become a nightmare for the No. 20 Home Depot team.

 

I am looking forward to seeing what kind of surprises and disappointments we find at Las Vegas this Sunday.

Kenseth Makes It 2-for-2 With California Win

 

Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth made it two victories in a row Sunday, holding off a late challenge from Jeff Gordon to win the Auto Club 500.

Kenseth took the lead from Gordon in the pits with 38 laps to go in the 250-lap race and stayed ahead of the runner-up in the battle of former Cup champions, pulling away over the last 20 laps.

It is the first time a Cup driver has won the first two races of the season since Gordon did it in 1997 on the way to the second of his four championships.

"It's such a great team," Kenseth said. "I just thank these guys [on the crew]. They gave me a great stop and got me in clean air and that's just a huge difference."

Kenseth and Gordon were much faster than the rest of the field at the end, both of them pulling away from the pack. But Gordon, like Kenseth winless last year, was unable to get to Kenseth's rear bumper and get a real run on the No. 17 Roush Fenway Ford.

"It was a lot of fun," Gordon said. "This is a new team and they showed it tonight. We've still got a little bit of work to do. I'm so excited on one side because we ran so well and we started out the season so great, but I'm still mad on the other side because I felt like we had what it took to win tonight."

It was Kenseth's third victory on the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway oval and the fifth consecutive February victory for team co-owner Jack Roush.

Kyle Busch, who made NASCAR history by winning both the Truck and Nationwide races on Saturday, came up short of the weekend sweep.

"It's never been done before, so you know it's a challenge," Busch said after finishing third. "The last one's always the hard one to get. It's on Sunday and it's the biggest show. Maybe one day."

Greg Biffle was a contender throughout the race, but fell to 12th after being penalized for running over his own air hose on a pit stop on Lap 209. He charged all the way to fourth, but was still upset by his mistake.

"They should fire me," said Biffle, one of four Kenseth teammates. "You just can't make mistakes like that."

Kurt Busch finished fifth, followed by Denny Hamlin, defending race winner Carl Edwards, two-time Cup champion Tony Stewart and three-time reigning Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who led 74 laps but faded in the late-going.

 

2009 Auto Club 500 Final Results

 Pos     Driver       Lap   Speed  Time  Behind  Led 

1. Matt Kenseth  250 168.828 42.65 0.000  84

No. 17 Carhartt Ford

 

2. Jeff Gordon 250 169.133 42.57 1.464 64

No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet

3. Kyle Busch 250 169.276 42.53 6.980 0 

No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota

 

4. Greg Biffle 250 170.665 42.19 9.132 16 

No. 16 3M Ford

5. Kurt Busch 250 167.993 42.86 11.328 2

No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge

 

6. Denny Hamlin 250 168.575 42.71 12.008 0

No. 11 Fed Ex Freight Toyota

7. Carl Edwards 250 167.973 42.86 13.657 1

No. 99 AFLAC Ford

8. Tony Stewart 250 168.646 42.69 16.610 3

No. 14 Old Spice / Office Depot Chevrolet 

9. Jimmie Johnson 250 169.133 42.57 17.380 74

No. 48 Kobalt Tools / Lowe's Chevrolet 

10. Brian Vickers 250 168.417 42.75 21.325 0

No. 83 Red Bull Toyota

 

11. Juan Montoya 250 168.330 42.77 24.315 1

No. 42 Target Chevrolet

12. Kasey Kahne 250 168.130 42.82 29.316 0

No. 9 Budweiser Dodge

13. David Stremme 250 167.695 42.94 31.174 3

No. 12 Penske Championship Racing Dodge

 

14. David Reutimann 250 168.044 42.85 32.755 0

No. 00 Aaron's Toyota

 

15. Michael Waltrip 250 167.950 42.87 35.995 0

No. 55 NAPA Toyota

 

16. Jamie McMurray 250 166.366 43.28 39.015 0

No. 26 Crown Royal Ford

17. David Ragan 249 167.738 42.92 1  0

No. 6 UPS Ford

18. Travis Kvapil 249 168.177 42.81 1  0

No. 28 Farmers Insurance Ford

19. Clint Bowyer 249 168.753 42.67 1  0

No. 33 Cheerios / Hamburger Helper Chevrolet 

20. Bobby Labonte 249 168.224 42.80 1  0

No. 96 ASK.com Ford

21. Reed Sorenson 249 166.871 43.15 1  0

No. 43 Charter Communications Dodge 

22. Marcos Ambrose 249 165.320 43.55 1  0

No. 47 Little Debbie Toyota 

 

23. Sam Hornish Jr. 249 166.474 43.25 1  0

No. 77 AAA Insurance Dodge

24. Casey Mears 249 168.248 42.79 1  0

No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet

 

25. Elliott Sadler 249 166.779 43.17 1  0

No. 19 Best Buy Dodge

 

26. Joey Logano 249 167.275 43.04 1  0

No. 20 Home Depot Toyota

27. Martin Truex Jr. 249 165.746 43.44 1  0

No. 1 Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet

28. Ryan Newman 248 168.319 42.78 2  0

No. 39 Haas Automation Chevrolet

 

29. A.J. Allmendinger 248 166.933 43.13 2  0

No. 44 Charter Communications Dodge 

30. Robby Gordon 248 167.602 42.96 2  0

No. 7 Jim Beam Toyota

31. John Andretti 248 166.289 43.30 2  1

No. 34 Window World Chevrolet

 

32. Jeff Burton 247 164.873 43.67 3  0

No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet

33. David Gilliland 246 164.967 43.64 4  0

No. 71 Unsponsored Chevrolet

34. Jeremy Mayfield 245 162.785 44.23 5 0

No. 41 All Sport Energy Drink Toyota

 

35. Aric Almirola 242 80.339 89.62 8  0

No. 8 Guitar Hero Chevrolet

36. Scott Riggs 240 164.911 43.66 10  0

No. 36 Red Bank Toyota

 

37. Paul Menard 221 162.719 44.25 29  0 

No. 98 Menards Ford

38. Kevin Harvick 207 168.118 42.83 43  0

No. 29 Shell / Pennzoil Chevrolet

 

39. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 205 116.298 61.91 45  0

No. 88 AMP Energy / National Guard Chevrolet

 

40. Mark Martin 179 99.357 72.47 71  1

No. 5 CARQUEST / Kellogg's Chevrolet

 

41. Scott Speed 172 63.852 112.76 78  0

No. 82 Red Bull Toyota

 

42. Dave Blaney 50 107.339 67.08 200  0

No. 66 Unsponsored Toyota

 

43. Joe Nemechek 37 126.214 57.05 214  0

 

No. 87 Unsponsored Toyota

 

Race Statistics

Average Speed of Race Winner: 135.839 mph.

Time of Race: 3 hours, 40 minutes, 51 seconds.

Margin of Victory: 1.463 seconds.

Caution Flags: Five for 43 laps.

Lead Changes: 19 among 11 drivers.

Lap Leaders: J.Johnson 1-43; J.Andretti 44; Ku.Busch 45-46; J.Johnson 47-77; J.Gordon 78-85; G.Biffle 86; C.Edwards 87; J.Gordon 88-127; G.Biffle 128-142; J.Gordon 143; J.Montoya 144; M.Kenseth 145-170; J.Gordon 171; T.Stewart 172-174; M.Martin 175; M.Kenseth 176-195; J.Gordon 196-209; D.Stremme 210-212; M.Kenseth 213-250.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Led, Laps Led): M.Kenseth, 3 times for 84 laps; J.Johnson, 2 times for 74 laps; J.Gordon, 5 times for 64 laps; G.Biffle, 2 times for 16 laps; T.Stewart, 1 time for 3 laps; D.Stremme, 1 time for 3 laps; Ku.Busch, 1 time for 2 laps; C.Edwards, 1 time for 1 lap; J.Montoya, 1 time for 1 lap; J.Andretti, 1 time for 1 lap; M.Martin, 1 time for 1 lap.

Top 12 in Points: 1. M.Kenseth, 385. 2. J.Gordon, 304. 3. Ku.Busch, 294. 4. T.Stewart, 294. 5. G.Biffle, 268. 6. C.Bowyer, 266. 7. M.Waltrip, 264. 8. D.Ragan, 262. 9. C.Edwards, 260. 10. J.Montoya, 256. 11. E.Sadler, 248. 12. D.Reutimann, 248.

Will Anyone Stop ‘Wild Thing’ In Today’s Auto Club 500?

What ‘Wild Thing’, Kyle Busch, has done thus far during this weekend’s events at Auto Club Speedway is very impressive. Busch not only won both the San Bernardino County 200 in the Camping World Truck Series, and the Stater Bros. 300 in the Nationwide Series, he dominated those races.

Kyle Busch led a combined 238 laps out of a possible 250 laps. Now, I don’t know about you, but that is pure domination. He also made NASCAR history by winning two events in one day.

I know Busch is not a very popular driver with most fans. I have heard Busch referred to as a “young punk” among other superlatives that I won’t disclose here. Whatever you call Kyle Busch, a true race fan has to admit one thing – the man can drive a race car.

What Busch has been able to accomplish in his young career would not be possible without the teams he drives for. The Billy Ballew Motorsports truck team is one of the best teams in the truck series. Of course, the Joe Gibbs Racing Nationwide team is one of the best in that series, winning the owner points championship in 2008.

So after Kyle Busch’s phenomenal Saturday at Auto Club Speedway one question remains – Will he match that performance on Sunday?

California natives Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon are favorites to win the Auto Club 500, but I don’t know if anyone should count out Kyle Busch after Saturday’s events.

If Kyle Busch does win Sunday’s race in Fontana, California, it will mark the first time in NASCAR history that a driver has won all three events in one weekend.

Vickers Bounces Back To Win Pole For Auto Club 500

It might not erase the memories of the Daytona 500, but it didn't exactly hurt, either.

Brian Vickers put his Red Bull Racing car on the pole Friday afternoon at Auto Club Speedway in Southern California in advance of Sunday's Auto Club 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race, helping to at least turn the page on his Daytona 500 wreck with Dale Earnhardt Jr. last week.

"Obviously, the best way to move on from a situation or a controversy is to give them something else to talk about," he said. "We've given them that this week."

Vickers recorded a lap of 183.439 mph while the sun still burned down on the 2-mile track, then watched as no one else could match his efforts as the temperature cooled. The pole position is the sixth of his Cup career.

"It always feels good to be on the pole. ... Probably more important than that is the pit selection -- that's what you're fighting for, in my mind, on Sunday," Vickers said.

Hendrick Motorsports' Jimmie Johnson (183.164) came closest to knocking Vickers from the top spot, but settled for starting on the outside of the front row.

"The only thing I can think of is Brian and I went to In-N-Out Burger last night," Johnson said. "I had a double-double and he had a single. With that extra patty, five-hundredths of a second killed me."

Jamie McMurray (Roush Fenway Racing), Kurt Busch (Penske Racing) and Greg Biffle (Roush Fenway) rounded out the top five.

Sixth through 10th were Jeff Gordon (Hendrick), David Reutimann (Michael Waltrip Racing), Richard Petty Motorsports’ AJ Allmendinger, rookie Scott Speed (Red Bull) and Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing).

With 48 cars on the entry list, the go-or-go-home situation had some intrigue.

Allmendinger easily qualified his way into the field, with Tony Stewart (Stewart Haas Racing) close behind to assure he wouldn’t have to make use of his past champion’s provisional.

Also making the race were Dave Blaney (Prism Motorsports), David Gilliland (TRG Motorsports), Scott Riggs (Tommy Baldwin Racing), Travis Kvapil (Yates Racing), Jeremy Mayfield (Mayfield Motorsports) and Joe Nemechek (Nemco Motorsports).

Five cars failed to qualify: Todd Bodine (Gunselman Motorsports), Tony Raines (Front Row Motorsports), David Starr (Black Jack Racing), Mike Garvey (H&S Motorsports) and Sterling Marlin (Phoenix Racing).

Michael Waltrip Racing's Michael Waltrip changed an engine following qualifying and will start Sunday's race from the rear of the field.

 

 2009 Auto Club 500 Starting Lineup

Pos	Driver	Car #	Make	Qual. Speed
1	Brian Vickers	83	Toyota	183.439
2	Jimmie Johnson	48	Chevrolet	183.164
3	Jamie McMurray	26	Ford	182.653
4	Kurt Busch	2	Dodge	182.556
5	Greg Biffle	16	Ford	182.302
6	Jeff Gordon	24	Chevrolet	182.209
7	David Reutimann	00	Toyota	182.089
8	AJ Allmendinger	44	Dodge	182.048
9	Scott Speed	82	Toyota	181.965
10	Kyle Busch	18	Toyota	181.919
11	Tony Stewart	14	Chevrolet	181.901
12	Robby Gordon	7	Toyota	181.777
13	David Ragan	6	Ford	181.726
14	Marcos Ambrose	47	Toyota	181.653
15	Juan Pablo Montoya	42	Chevrolet	181.616
16	Bobby Labonte	96	Ford	181.461
17	Reed Sorenson	43	Dodge	181.429
18	Mark Martin	5	Chevrolet	181.264
19	Kevin Harvick	29	Chevrolet	181.210
20	Elliott Sadler	19	Dodge	181.173
21	Clint Bowyer	33	Chevrolet	181.137
22	Kasey Kahne	9	Dodge	181.132
23	Denny Hamlin	11	Toyota	180.836
24	Matt Kenseth	17	Ford	180.818
25	Carl Edwards	99	Ford	180.773
26	Sam Hornish Jr.	77	Dodge	180.746
27	Paul Menard	98	Ford	180.610
28	Ryan Newman	39	Chevrolet	180.397
29	Casey Mears	07	Chevrolet	180.374
30	Dave Blaney	66	Toyota	180.320
31	Aric Almirola	8	Chevrolet	180.248
32	David Gilliland	171	Chevrolet	180.234
33	Martin Truex Jr.	1	Chevrolet	180.176
34	Joey Logano	20	Toyota	180.059
35	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	88	Chevrolet	179.991
36	Scott Riggs	36	Toyota	179.721
37	Travis Kvapil	28	Ford	179.632
38	David Stremme	12	Dodge	179.390
39	Jeremy Mayfield	41	Toyota	179.301
40	John Andretti	34	Dodge	179.287
41	Jeff Burton	31	Chevrolet	179.109
42	Michael Waltrip	55	Toyota
43	Joe Nemechek	187	Toyota	177.997
44	Todd Bodine	64	Toyota	DNQ
45	Tony Raines	37	Dodge	DNQ
46	David Starr	51	Dodge	DNQ
47	Mike Garvey	73	Dodge	DNQ
48	Sterling Marlin	09	Chevrolet	DNQ