It’s awkward to be talking about “win-and-you’re-in” this early in the Spring Cup Series racing season, but with a bevy of different winners so far this year, that’s more than likely. NASCAR tells us that if there are more than 15 winners in the first 26 races, all bets are off – a race winner could be left out of the Chase. But that’s unlikely, say the experts. Last year, there were five different winners to start the season – and the regular season still ended with 13 different winners in the first 26 races.
Here’s where we’ll be for all the weekend’s action:
TreatMyClot.com 300
Series: NASCAR Nationwide Series
When: Saturday, March 22
Racetrack: Auto Club Speedway – Fontana, CA
How to watch from home: 4:30PM (EST) on ESPN, MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90
Note: CV’s trailer is in the pits and available for people with pit passes only
What you need to know: In Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series TreatMyClot.com 300 at Auto Club Speedway, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth and Elliott Sadler have the opportunity to reach double digits – that is, win Joe Gibbs Racing’s 10th consecutive race at Auto Club Speedway. With 10 total victories among the three national series, Busch reigns supreme in Fontana, especially in Nationwide where he’s racked up six wins. Putting all of that aside for a moment, heading into Fontana, only one point separates Regan Smith and second-place Trevor Bayne in the Nationwide standings. This time last year, Sam Hornish Jr. held a 22-point advantage over second-place Justin Allgaier. This season’s NASCAR Nationwide Series championship battle is already heating up!
Auto Club 400
Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
When: Sunday, March 23
Racetrack: Auto Club Speedway – Fontana, CA
How to watch from home: 2:30PM (EST) on FOX, MRN and Sirius XM Ch. 90
Note: CV’s trailer is in the pits and available for people with pit passes only
What you need to know: Dale Earnhardt, Jr., will try to rebound from his first finish outside the top two (he finished 24th last weekend at Bristol). In 21 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway, Junior’s best finish is a pair of 2nd-place showings. With the natural progression of his improvement over his last two trips to Auto Club, you may want to believe that Earnhardt’s due for a win. His Daytona win and the new Chase qualifying format where a win all but guarantees a driver a spot in the postseason has allowed him to race all out for the win every weekend. And just in case you’re wondering, Earnhardt did win the 1998 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Auto Club, so he knows what it takes to win at this particular track.
Mobile 200
Series: ARCA Racing Series
When: Saturday, March 22
Racetrack: Mobile International Speedway – Mobile, Al
Note: CV’s trailer is in the pits and available for people with pit passes only
What you need to know: The fastest week in Alabama got underway earlier this week with a day-long testing session for all ARCA teams on March 15, and culminates with the drop of the green flag of the ARCA Mobile 200 at 2:00 PM on Saturday March 22. The ARCA Series is one of the most versatile racing series in the world competing on superspeedways, short-tracks, road courses and dirt today. In just two years, ARCA’s Mobile 200 races have drawn fans from 22 states and Canada. Look for Justin Boston, Anderson Bowen and Grant Enfinger to battle it out for this year’s Mobile 200 title.
