Some of NASCAR’s biggest stars got off to rough starts in the Auto Club 400 in California.
It’s not exactly a demolition derby at Auto Club Speedway, but don’t tell that to Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick and other drivers who got into early trouble during the Auto Club 400.
The great thing about the California track is that its super wide surface allows cars to run just about anywhere. The downside is that all that slicing and dicing through the field means there are more chances for cars to get into each other.
The problems started right from the green flag, as Denny Hamlin failed to get going, causing an accordion effect that damaged the cars of both Brad Keselowski and Ryan Newman, last week’s race winner. Both drivers needed to have some body work done on the race’s very first caution.
Kevin Harvick had multiple issues, needing a big tape job on the hood of his No. 4 Busch Ford and later cutting a right rear tire to force an unscheduled pit stop. Harvick lost a lap in the process and will likely not factor in the stage points for one of the few times in the 2017 season so far.
Even Jimmie Johnson, the undisputed king of Auto Club Speedway, made contact with multiple cars during stage 1. Crew chief Chad Knaus seemed more concerned about the impact on the 48 than its driver, but an uncharacteristically slow start to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series could continue for Johnson.
One driver who’s been able to remain out of the fray so far is pole-sitter Kyle Larson, who led nearly the entire race until green flag pit stops handed the lead to Martin Truex Jr. It wouldn’t be surprising to see both of those drivers contending for a win when it’s all said and done, but they’ll have to avoid the difficulties other top stars have encountered in only the first 30 laps of the Auto Club 400.