NASCAR Xfinity Series teams are revving up for the Roseanne 300 at Auto Club Speedway on Saturday, March 17th at 5 pm ET. Pre-race coverage starts at 4:30 pm ET on FOX Sports 1 with radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Distance: 300 miles (150 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 35),
Stage 2 (Ends on lap 70), Final Stage (Ends on lap 150)
What to Watch for: A JR Motorsports driver – Tyler Reddick or Elliott Sadler have led the points standings all season. Veteran Elliott Sadler currently holds a one-point advantage on his rookie teammate Tyler Reddick.
John Hunter Nemechek returns to the Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Chevrolet hoping to follow up on an impressive fourth-place in his first series start at Atlanta three weeks ago and Ryan Preece is back to drive the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota in what will be his Auto Club Speedway debut. Nemechek’s father Joe won the very first Cup Series pole position at the track in 1997.
There are four native Californians entered in the race, including Cole Custer, of Ladera Ranch; Ryan Reed, of Bakersfield, Dylan Lupton, of Wilton; and Reddick, of Corning.
Austin Dillon and Joey Logano are the only two Cup regulars entered in the California 300 and also the only former winners in the field.
Championship Case
Tyler Reddick and Christopher Bell are involved in a tight Sunoco Rookie of the Year battle in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series, but these two drivers are so talented, they are also very much in the championship hunt as well.
Reddick, the 22-year old California native, won the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway and trails his JR Motorsports veteran teammate Elliott Sadler by only one point in the early season standings.
Bell, 23, who has three top-five efforts in the last three races for his Joe Gibbs Racing team and won back-to-back pole positions at Atlanta and Las Vegas, is fourth in the championship, only eight points behind Sadler.
Last year, William Byron won the Xfinity title as a rookie. In 2014, Chase Elliott did the same.
West Coast Love: NASCAR Xfinity Series California Natives a Plenty
A total of 56 different drivers representing three countries (U.S.A., Mexico, and Canada) and 26 different states have made at least one start this season in the first four races of the 2018 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. And of those drivers, six are from the state of California.
California is tied with Florida (six each) for the second-highest number of series participants this season behind North Carolina’s eight drivers. The six drivers that call California home are Cole Custer (Ladera Ranch), Ryan Reed (Bakersfield), Dylan Lupton (Sacramento), Tyler Reddick (Corning), Kyle Larson (Elk Grove) and Kevin Harvick (Bakersfield).
Of the six California natives who have made series starts this season, four are entered in Saturday’s Roseanne 300 at Auto Club Speedway.
Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Mustang hails from Ladera Ranch, California, which is about 60 miles south of Auto Club Speedway. The 20-year-old in his sophomore season is currently 11th in the series driver standings after posting two top-tens in his first four starts of 2018. Custer made his series track debut last season at Auto Club Speedway and started fourth before getting caught in an incident on Lap 105 and that relegated him to a 35th-place finish. The So-Cal youngster will be looking to redeem himself in front of the home track fans this weekend.
Ryan Reed, driver of the No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Mustang is from Bakersfield, California, which is about 155 miles north of Auto Club Speedway. Reed isn’t the only Californian on the No. 16 team, the car chief, Dan Bormann, is also from The Golden State (Shingle Springs, California).
The 24-year-old Reed has been the model of consistency during his career, finishing in the top-ten in points ever since he started running full-time in 2014. Reed is ninth in the series standings heading into this weekend. In his first four starts of the season, he has posted one top-five and two top-tens.
“It’s (Auto Club Speedway) so much fun, I love going there, it’s one of my favorite race tracks we go to, if not my favorite, and also it’s a home track for me since I grew up in Bakersfield a few hours away,” said Reed. “I look forward to going there every year and it just means a lot to have a lot of friends and family there.”
Reed has made four series starts at Auto Club Speedway, posting an average finish of 14.2, including a 15th-place finish last season.
Dylan Lupton, driver of the No. 28 JGL Racing Ford Mustang is from just outside of Sacramento in Wilton, California, which is about 450 miles north of Auto Club Speedway. The 24-year-old is currently 22nd in the series standings after posting an average finish of 27.8 in his first four starts of the season. Lupton made his series track debut and lone start at Auto Club Speedway in 2016, where he started 22nd but finished 36th after being caught in an incident on lap 56.
“Auto Club Speedway is my favorite track that we race at all year long,” said Lupton. “The worn-out surface, the seams, and all the different lanes you can run on the track makes Auto Club really unique. I look forward to racing in my home state and having my friends, family, and Fatal Clothing guests join us at the track this weekend.”
Tyler Reddick, the driver of the No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro, is from Corning, California, which is about 550 miles north of Auto Club Speedway. The 22-year-old Reddick is currently second in the series standings, just one point behind his JRM teammate and the series standings leader Elliott Sadler. In the first four races of the season, Reddick has posted one win (Daytona) and three top-tens. His average finish of 9.5 this season is second only to Sadler’s 5.3 among title contenders this season. Reddick will be making his NASCAR national series track debut at Auto Club Speedway this weekend.
Sunoco Rookie of the Year Standings Get Tight Heading to California
With four races in the books, the top two drivers in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings, Tyler Reddick and Christopher Bell, are separated by only seven points.
After his third top-five finish in a row through his first four starts of 2018, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell has closed what was a 23-point lead between himself and JR Motorsport’s Tyler Reddick to a mere seven points as the series heads to Auto Club Speedway for the Roseanne 300 this Saturday.
Though Bell is bridging the points gap, Reddick still holds the rookie standings lead after he posted a win at Daytona, and three top-tens this season.
Plus, JGL Racing’s Kaz Grala, who sits third in the series Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings is just 54-points behind Reddick and 47 back from Bell. The 19-year-old Grala is starting to find his stride as well this season, posting an average finish of 13.8.
All three rookies, Reddick, Bell, and Grala will be making their NASCAR Xfinity Series track debuts this weekend at Auto Club Speedway.
“Fontana is one of the few tracks this season that I have never raced at in any car or truck,” Grala said. “That will definitely make this weekend more challenging for me, and it will change our approach in practice. Fortunately, it won’t be entirely foreign to me; last year as a rookie in the Truck Series, I unloaded almost every weekend at a track I’d never seen before, and this will be no different. Hopefully, I can get a handle on the track quickly, so we can start dialing our Mustang in for the race.”
Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings following ISM Raceway: Tyler Reddick (150), Christopher Bell (143), Kaz Grala (96), Alex Labbe (67), Austin Cindric (62), Vinnie Miller (40), Spencer Boyd (28), Chad Finchum (17), Josh Bilicki (14) and Matt Mills (12).
JR Motorsport’s Hold on the Series Driver Standings Strengthens
Is anyone a match for the trio of JR Motorsports drivers, Elliot Sadler (standings leader), Tyler Reddick (second in points) and Justin Allgaier (third in points) in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver standings this season? Not through the first four races, as a JRM driver has held the top spot in the standings following every race this season.
Now the organization has strengthened their hold atop the points with drivers occupying the top three spots in the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship driver standings; much like they finished the season with last year (2017 final standings top three: 1. William Byron 2. Sadler 3. Allgaier).
The veteran Sadler has taken the standings lead for the second time in 2018, leaning on a one-point cushion over his teammate Reddick as the series heads to California this weekend. Sadler leads the series with an average finish of 5.3 after posting three top-fives and four top-tens in his first four starts of 2018.
Sadler is no stranger to Auto Club Speedway, as the Emporia, Virginia, native has made 13 series starts on the two-mile track, posting four top-fives and nine top-tens. He has finished in the top-ten in his last seven consecutive Auto Club Speedway starts. He has yet to win at Auto Club Speedway and Sadler is looking to end a 43-race winless streak that dates back to 2016 (Kentucky).
“With the strong start to the season that this No. 1 Cessna team has had, I’m really looking forward to seeing how we finish out the West Coast swing,” said Sadler.
Sadler will be taking over OneMain Financial’s Facebook Live on Friday, March 16 at 2:30 p.m. ET to provide details on the OneMain Financial 200 at Dover International Speedway sweepstakes and to answer fan questions.
Reddick’s visit to ISM Raceway in the Valley of the Sun last weekend was one of perseverance. The California native crashed in qualifying and had to start the race at the rear of the field (40th) but managed to pilot his No. 9 Chevrolet to a tenth-place finish. Now the 22-year-old is second, just one point behind his teammate Elliott Sadler, in the championship standings. Reddick will be making his series track debut at Auto Club Speedway this weekend.
The latest JR Motorsports driver to join the top three in the NASCAR Xfinity Series point standings is Allgaier, who currently sits third in points, seven markers back from Sadler in the lead. Allgaier joins the JRM points party on the heels of an impressive performance at ISM Raceway, where he led the most laps (76) and finished runner-up to Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski. The Riverton, Illinois, native has now posted two top-fives and three top-tens this season.
“This No. 7 team has had a lot of momentum the past few weeks and I’m hoping we can continue that into this weekend at Auto Club Speedway. This is definitely a race where you need to bring your A-game.”
Allgaier has made nine series starts at Auto Club Speedway, posting four top-ten finishes; including a ninth-place finish last season.
Impressive Part-Timers Nemechek and Preece Return
Two talented drivers who have made the most of their recent part-time status in the NASCAR Xfinity Series are Chip Ganassi Racing’s John Hunter Nemechek and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ryan Preece. Both are returning this weekend for Saturday’s California 300 at Auto Club Speedway.
John Hunter Nemechek made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Atlanta Motor Speedway for Chip Ganassi Racing two weeks back and did so in impressive fashion by etching his name alongside just 21 other drivers in NASCAR Xfinity Series history to finish in the top-four in their series debut. Nemechek is the second driver this season to accomplish the feat, joining Kaz Grala who also finished fourth at Daytona in the season-opener.
This weekend, Nemechek will again be piloting the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Camaro with crew chief Mike Shiplett. Nemechek will be leaning on Shiplett quite a bit this week as it will be his series track debut, and because Shiplett led Nemechek’s GCR teammate Kyle Larson to the win at Auto Club Speedway last season.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ryan Preece has also returned and will be making his NASCAR Xfinity Series season debut this weekend at Auto Club Speedway. Preece has been climbing the NASCAR ladder in his career and each step he has taken he has impressed, especially last season when he signed with JGR to run four races. The 27-year-old from Berlin, Connecticut proved he deserves a shot by winning at Iowa and finishing in the top-five in the other three races.
Preece made his series track debut at Auto Club Speedway in 2016, driving for JD Motorsports. He started 24th and finished 25th. Preece will be driving the No. 18 Toyota Camry with crew chief Eric Phillips on the pit box.
Joe Gibbs Racing leads the series in wins at ACS with eight victories (Kyle Busch has five wins for JGR, Joey Logano has two and Tony Stewart has one).
Not Much Separating the Top-Ten in Points, a Look at Fifth-Tenth
Looking at the standings following Phoenix last weekend, the top four in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver championship standings are only separated by eight points, and the top-ten are all within 48 points of the standings lead. Below is a look at the drivers currently ranked fifth-tenth in the driver standings:
- Daniel Hemric – No. 21 Richard Childress Racing
Not shy of championship competition, Daniel Hemric is fifth in the standings after ISM Raceway just 21 points back from Elliott Sadler in the standings lead. Hemric and the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro team led by crew chief Danny Stockman Jr. posted two top-tens an average finish of 12.2 through four races this season. Hemric was 18th in the standings following the season opener at Daytona and has climbed up to fifth the last three races. Now Hemric and the team turn their attention to Auto Club Speedway.
“It (Auto Club Speedway’s surface) puts a lot back in the driver’s hands,” said Hemric. “You will have a lot of comers and goers throughout the race, and that’s a lot of fun. Anytime you can make speed and find more than the guy in front of you by searching around in different grooves, that’s fun.”
Hemric made his series track debut at ACS last season in his rookie year, starting second and finishing 11th.
- Spencer Gallagher – No. 23 GMS Racing
Spencer Gallagher has recently fit the puzzle pieces of several consistent runs together in his racing career and it is paying dividends. The Las Vegas native is currently sixth in the series standings, just 34 points back from Elliott Sadler in the standings lead. He is also only 13 points back from Daniel Hemric in fifth. Gallagher is in his sophomore season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and is aiming to make the Playoffs in 2018.
Gallagher and the No. 23 GMS Racing Chevrolet Camaro team led by crew chief Chad Norris have posted two top-tens and an average finish of 11.0 thus far in 2018. Gallagher has made two series starts at Auto Club Speedway, posting an average finish of 21.5. He finished 19th in this race last season.
- Brandon Jones – No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing
With almost a whole new stable of drivers this season, Brandon Jones is proving he can fit right in with the talent at Joe Gibbs Racing as the Atlanta, Georgia, native is currently seventh in the series driver standings, just 36 markers back from Elliott Sadler in the standings lead, and just two points back from sixth-place Spencer Gallagher. Jones made the move from Richard Childress Racing to Joe Gibbs Racing in the off-season.
Now Jones climbs into the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry with crew chief Chris Gabehart calling the shots from the pit box. The duo has posted two top-tens and an average finish of 11.2 in their first four starts of the season. Jones has made two series starts at Auto Club Speedway, posting a best finish of ninth in 2016.
- Ryan Truex – No. 11 Kaulig Racing
Ryan Truex joined Kaulig Racing during the off-season and early signs are showing it was a good decision on car owner Matthew Kaulig’s part to bring him in. Truex is currently eighth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver standings, just 37 points behind Elliott Sadler in the standings lead. Plus, he is just one point back from seventh-place Brandon Jones.
Truex and the No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Camaro team led by crew chief Chris Rice have posted two top-tens this season and an average finish of 11.5. Truex hasn’t made a series start at Auto Club since 2011 when he started 19th and finished 17th.
- Ryan Reed – No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing
Ryan Reed has entered his fifth full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series season with Roush Fenway Racing and once again is doing so in stellar fashion. Despite being diagnosed at the age of 17 with Type 1 Diabetes, through hard work, perseverance and working with his doctors, Reed has been able to manage his diabetes and set an example to others by becoming a competitor in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Reed is currently ninth in series driver standings 44-points behind Elliott Sadler in the standings lead.
Reed and the No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Mustang team led by crew chief Phil Gould have posted one top-five, two top-tens and an average finish of 12.5 this season. Reed, a California native, has made four series starts at Auto Club Speedway, posting an average finish of 14.2.
- Matt Tifft – No. 2 Richard Childress Racing
Matt Tifft is another driver who made a switch in organizations in the off-season moving, from Joe Gibbs Racing to Richard Childress Racing. After the first four races of the season, the Hinckley, Ohio, native is now tenth in the series standings, just 48 points behind Elliott Sadler in the standings lead. Tifft and the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro team led by crew chief Randall Burnett have posted one top-ten and an average finish of 12.2 this season.
Tifft struggled in California last season and is eager to get back to the two-mile track.
“I’m looking forward to getting to Auto Club Speedway to have a chance at redemption for myself,” said Tifft. “Last year was the first year I had ever been to that track, and it was a tough place for me to figure out.”
Tifft made his series track debut at Auto Club Speedway last season with Joe Gibbs Racing, he started 22nd and finished 17th.
Also Noteworthy…
Autograph Session In The Fan Zone On Friday: On Friday, March 16th, beginning at 4:30 p.m. local time, NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers are scheduled to take part in an autograph session located in the Auto Club Speedway Midway at the Fan Zone stage. Fans will have an opportunity to meet several of the drivers and get autographs.
Double dippers are also the only former ACS winners this weekend: Just two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers will be competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Auto Club Speedway this weekend – Austin Dillon (No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro) and Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Ford Mustang). Dillon and Logano are also the only former winners entered this weekend. Dillon captured the checkered flag at Auto Club in 2016 and Logano visited the ACS Victory Lane twice, in 2009 and 2012.
Xfinity Stage Points Accumulators: Through four races, stage points are proving to be ever more important to a title run in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The following drivers are the top-five in gathering stage points – Christopher Bell (40 stage points; which is 27.9% of his driver standings total), Justin Allgaier (38), Tyler Reddick (36), Daniel Hemric (31) and Elliott Sadler (24).
Owner Points Update: Following last weekend’s race at ISM Raceway, Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 42 Chevrolet team, driven by Kyle Larson, John Hunter Nemechek, and Jamie McMurray, has taken the owner standings lead by four points over second-place Team Penske’s No. 22 Ford team that is driven by Ryan Blaney, Austin Cindric, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano. Rounding out the top-five in the owner points are Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 18 Toyota team in third, JR Motorsport’s No. 1 Chevrolet team in fourth and the No. 9 JRM Chevrolet team is in fifth.
Xfinity Series – Auto Club Speedway – Quick Stats: Below is a look at some key stats heading into the California 300 at Auto Club Speedway this Saturday, March 17 at 5 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).