Race winner Kyle Larson receives the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race winner Kyle Larson acknowledges the fans after winning the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race winner Kyle Larson celebrates after winning the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Larson (center) races for position with Joey Logano (right) and Chase Briscoe (left) during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race winner Kyle Larson receives the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Larson takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Larson (right) passes Daniel Suarez (left) for the lead during the late laps of the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race winner Kyle Larson receives the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race leader Tyler Reddick shreds a tire during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Larson (left front) and Daniel Suarez (right) race for the lead during a late race restart during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Larson (right) pulls away from Austin Dillon (3) during the late laps of the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Larson (left) and Joey Logano (right) race for position during the early laps of the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Larson races through turn one during the early laps of the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Larson exits turn two during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Ross Chastain spins in turn 4 during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The crew of Justin Haley push his race car towards the starting grid prior to the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The crew of Joey Logano push his race car towards the starting grid prior to the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The crew of Austin Cindric slap hands as he pulls out of the pits prior to the start of the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The starting grid lines up 5-wide as a salute to the fans prior to the start of the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The starting grid lines up 5-wide as a salute to the fans prior to the start of the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race cars drive through turns one and two following their pit stops during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The starting grid lines up 5-wide as a salute to the fans prior to the start of the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Austin Cindric (front) makes a pit stop with the rest of the field during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Daniel Suarez races into turn one during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Larson leads Cole Custer into turn one during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race fans stand a top their recreation vehicles as they watch the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pole sitter Austin Cindric (front left) takes the green flag with the rest of the field to start the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pole sitter Austin Cindric (front left) leads the field into turn one to start the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race fans stand a top their recreation vehicles as they watch the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Busch makes an early unscheduled pit stop during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cars line up behind the pace car as they head down the back stretch towards turn 3 during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race leader Tyler Reddick (bottom right) leads the field through turn 4 during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cars race through turn 3 during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Larson (center) races for position with Joey Logano (right) during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Cars drive into turn 4 during a yellow flag period during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Larson exits turn 4 during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Tyler Reddick leads the field out of turn 4 during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race fans enjoy the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Tyler Reddick leads the field towards turn 3 during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A Daniel Suarez fan shows his allegiance to his driver during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Larson leads the field during the late laps of the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A group of Kyle Busch fans enjoy the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Larson (left) and Joey Logano (right) battle for the lead during the late laps of the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race fans enjoy the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A race fan cheers for his driver during the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Larson (right) leads Joey Logano uring the late laps of the NASCAR Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
FONTANA – Are you sure they haven’t already turned Auto Club Speedway into a short track?
OK, OK, it’s still a two-mile oval. But the 36 drivers who started the Wise Power 400 Sunday treated it like too much in the way of confined space. Lots of bumpin’, lots of grindin’, 12 different caution periods, and a race that was ultimately decided by a margin of less than two seconds, with defending Cup Series champion Kyle Larson getting to the finish line first ahead of Austin Dillon.
And it’s probably fitting that at the end of the day, after the resident of Elk Grove had won his 17th career victory and second in Fontana, the talk wasn’t so much about the win but about the way he and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott, um, bumped into each other on lap 191 of 200.
Speficically, Larson was flanked by Joey Logano on his left and Elliott on his right going into Turn 1, and Logano had just nosed in front when Larson suddenly veered right and nudged Elliott into the wall.
This will be the main talking point though tomorrow. This move by Kyle Larson as he tries to block Chase Elliott but he puts him in the wall instead. #WisePower400#NASCARpic.twitter.com/Gf3rkyHCFe
There were definitely hard feelings on Elliott’s part, teammates or not. His response, on the radio to his crew: “What the (bleep) is he doing?” Larson later said he was concentrating on Logano, didn’t see Elliott to his right, and by the time his spotter told him he’d already started his move. Elliott was third at the time, and finished 26th.
There will be a summit between the two and their crews at some point this week, Hendrick executive vice president Jeff Andrews said afterward. The main goal, he said – not surprisingly – is to do what’s best for the company.
“First that’ll need to start from our perspective between Kyle and Chase,” Andrews said. “And hopefully they can get to a good spot and, you know, kind of step back and look at the data and, you know, really watch what happened there … (VPs) Jeff Gordon, Chad (Knaus) and myself and (owner Rick) Hendrick, of course, we want to speak to them because we want to go to Las Vegas in a good spot.
“They both had great race cars. That’s the great news, right? This other stuff that happens on the racetrack, we can get all that to a good spot between those two teams.”
Larson’s explanation of the contretemps:
“I didn’t get through 3 and 4 very well,” he said. “Joey did a good job on the bottom and then we were side-drafting each other. And I’m not even looking in my mirror at that point because all I’m worried about is Joey … I went to peel off and as soon as I peel off my spotter’s going ‘outside, outside, outside,’ and I had no clue he (Elliott) was even coming.
“So yeah, I mean, I hate that I ended his day after they worked so hard to get back to the lead lap and back in contention to win (after damaging a toe link earlier in the race). But, I mean, it’s just an honest mistake on probably both of our faults. I should have had more awareness in my mirror. My spotter could have told me he was coming with a big run, and we would have avoided that mess. I would have probably not been side-drafting on Joey as hard as I was, I’d have been more protecting on Chase than worrying about Joey. But it happened, and I hate that it did.
“I know that they’re upset, but we’ll talk and hopefully we’ll get on the same page. I would never run into my teammate or block him that aggressively and that late on purpose.”
Fans, of course, don’t see them as teammates. Elliott’s supporters vented on social media after the incident, of course, so even if/when the drivers and their crews patch things up this week the public will be spoiling for another confrontation.
But if this is what we have to look forward to when NASCAR’s wishes are fulfilled and the Fontana layout ultimately becomes a half-mile track – or, as it’s known in motorsports parlance, a “bullring” – this should be 31 kinds of fun.
Of course, there were more yellow flags here Sunday than there are at some NFL games, the 12 cautions tying the high (set in February 2008) over 32 Cup Series races at Fontana. How crazy did it get? Tyler Reddick led 90 laps and each of the first two stages, but a blown left rear tire on the backstretch of lap 152 took him out of the running. Eight other drivers led laps at various stages, and five different drivers swapped the lead after Reddick gave it up: Elliott, Logano, Ryan Blaney, Erik Jones, and Larson, who led for 28 of the 200 laps and held off Dillon by .195 of a second.
Whether it was the resurfacing of the track, or the Next Gen car, or leftover vibes from the Coliseum race or Daytona, it was nuts. Interestingly so, even with all of those slow-speed chases under caution.
“The way the race played out today was almost like old school Darlington,” said Larson’s crew chief, Cliff Daniels. “You run 10 or 15 laps, somebody blows a tire, hits the fence, you pit. You had 12 sets of tires and I think we used all but one.”
Watch racing at Auto Club Speedway now and it’s easy to forget there was a time when a good percentage of drivers thought it was a boring track, too much room, nobody passes anybody, etc.
But it’s now been 25 years since the place was christened as California Speedway in June of 1997, the successor to decades of NASCAR racing at Riverside International Raceway and Ontario Motor Speedway.
Maybe the craziness is a good anniversary present.
