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What are NASCAR’s stage lengths at Auto Club Speedway in California?

By Nick Tylwalk

March 24, 2017; Fontana, CA, USA; NASCAR cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) car is taken to the garage during qualifying for the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
March 24, 2017; Fontana, CA, USA; NASCAR cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) car is taken to the garage during qualifying for the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Every week of the 2017 NASCAR season introduces stage racing for the first time at different tracks, and this week it’s the Auto Club Speedway in California.

The Auto Club Speedway is known for its width, meaning drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series should be able to race three and four-wide at times this weekend. They’ll have extra motivation to do so earlier in races too since stages will be part of the points system for both the Auto Club 400 and NXS 300 in Fontana.

To review, the first two stages in a race in either of the top series award 10 points to their winners, plus a bonus point for the playoffs should those drivers make it. Second place in a stage awards nine points, third place gets eight points and it proceeds from there down to a single point for 10th place.

The green and white checkered flag signifying the end of a stage is followed by a caution, and pit strategy can be a factor, particularly in the XFINITY Series where stages are shorter. Auto Club Speedway has stages almost twice as long for the Cup Series, which is in line with what other tracks have done so far this season.

Courtesy of NASCAR.com, here are the stage lengths for both the races this weekend from California:

XFINITY Series NXS 300 stage lengths

  • Stage 1 ends on Lap 35
  • Stage 2 ends on lap 70
  • Final stage concludes on Lap 150 for stages of 35-35-80 laps assuming no overtime

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 stage lengths

  • Stage 1 ends on Lap 60
  • Stage 2 ends on Lap 120
  • Final stage concludes on Lap 200 for stages of 60-60-80 laps assuming no overtime

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Historically, Cup Series races at Auto Club Speedway have seen cars go between 40 and 45 laps under green before needing fuel, so drivers will need to stop at least once in each of the first two stages on Sunday but might also be able to make it through the final stage on just one stop.

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