Auto Club 400 starting grid: Starting lineup for NASCAR from Fontana
Kyle Larson wants to extend his points lead as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series comes to Fontana. Here’s the starting grid for Sunday’s Auto Club 400.
Will the Auto Club 400 be the race in which Kyle Larson finally gets his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win? Larson is certainly hoping so after winning the pole for Sunday’s contest in Southern California.
He’s been the perpetual bridesmaid of the 2017 season, yet he’s also the current points leader, so a victory at Fontana would not only get the monkey off his back but also build his advantage in the greater chase for the championship.
Standing in Larson’s way is Denny Hamlin, who finished in the top five the last time NASCAR came to Auto Club Speedway. The next three positions are all held by drivers who have already won races this year: Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr. and last week’s champion, Ryan Newman.
But perhaps the more interesting story is who isn’t up front. After a series of hold-ups getting through technical inspection, several big names failed to qualify for the Auto Club 400 and will start from almost the rear.
They include Phoenix pole sitter (and Kyle Busch’s favorite person) Joey Logano as well as last year’s Fontana champ Jimmie Johnson. How hard will they have to drive in order to contend on Sunday, or at least keep it from being a lost weekend?
Below is the complete starting grid for the 2017 Auto Club 400:
1 – Kyle Larson
2 – Denny Hamlin
3 – Brad Keselowski
4 – Martin Truex Jr.
5 – Ryan Newman
6 – Matt Kenseth
7 – Kevin Harvick
8 – Jamie McMurray
9 – Kyle Busch
10 – Daniel Suarez
11 – Austin Dillon
12 – Kasey Kahne
13 – Chase Elliott
14 – Erik Jones
15 – Kurt Busch
16 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
17 – Clint Bowyer
18 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
19 – Ryan Blaney
20 – Chris Buescher
21 – Ty Dillon
22 – Danica Patrick
23 – Paul Menard
24 – AJ Allmendinger
25 – Michael McDowell
26 – Landon Cassill
27 – David Ragan
28 – Cole Whitt
29 – Reed Sorenson
30 – Corey LaJoie
31 – Aric Almirola
32 – Jeffrey Earnhardt
33 – Derrike Cope
34 – Timmy Hill
35 – Joey Logano
36 – Trevor Bayne
37 – Jimmie Johnson
38 – Matt DiBenedetto
39 – Gray Gaulding
Next: Auto Club 400 qualifying results: Larson takes pole
The 2017 Auto Club 400 takes place on Sunday, March 26 at 3:30 p.m. ET. You can find out how to watch the race live on TV and online here, and get updates throughout race weekend by following the NASCAR section at FanSided here.