2013 Auto Club 400

2013 Auto Club 400
Race details[1][2]
Race 5 of 36 in the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season

Track map of the speedway at Auto Club Speedway AKA California Speedway
Date March 24, 2013 (2013-03-24)
Location Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, California, United States
Course Permanent racing facility
2 mi (3.2 km)
Distance 200 laps, 400 mi (643.7 km)
Weather Clear with a temperature around 73 °F (23 °C); wind out of the SW at 9 miles per hour (14 km/h).
Average speed 135.351 mph (217.826 km/h)
Pole position
Driver Joe Gibbs Racing
Time 38.410 seconds
Most laps led
Driver Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing
Laps 125
Winner
No. 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing
Television in the United States
Network Fox
Announcers Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds
Nielsen Ratings 4.7/10
(8.002 million viewers)

The 2013 Auto Club 400 was a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on March 24, 2013, at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, United States. Contested over 200 laps on the 2-mile (3.2 km) asphalt D-shaped oval, it was the fifth race of the 2013 Sprint Cup Series championship. Kyle Busch of Joe Gibbs Racing won the race, his first of the season, and the first Sprint Cup win at Auto Club for Joe Gibbs, completing a weekend sweep, while Dale Earnhardt, Jr. finished second. Joey Logano, Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch rounded out the top five.

Report

Background

Auto Club Speedway, the track where the race was held

Auto Club Speedway is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2 miles (3.2 km) long.[3] The track's turns are banked from fourteen degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at eleven degrees. Unlike the front stretch, the backstraightaway is banked at three degrees.[3] The track has a seating capacity of 92,100 people.[3] The race consists of 200 laps, which is equivalent to a race distance of 400 miles (640 km).[3]

Before the race, Brad Keselowski was leading the Drivers' Championship with 166 points, while Dale Earnhardt, Jr. stood in second with 157 points. Jimmie Johnson followed in the third position, 23 points ahead of Clint Bowyer and 25 points ahead of Greg Biffle in fourth and fifth. Denny Hamlin, with 125, was one point ahead of Kasey Kahne and Carl Edwards, as Paul Menard was three points ahead of Kyle Busch and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. in tenth and eleventh. Joey Logano completed the first twelve positions with 104 points.[4] The defending winner of the race was Tony Stewart, who won the race in 2012.[5]

Practice and qualifying

Denny Hamlin won the pole position, the twelfth of his career

Three practice sessions were held before the race. The first session, held on March 22, 2013, was 60 minutes long. The second and third were held on March 23, and were 55 and 50 minutes long.[6] During the first practice session, Bowyer was quickest with a time of 38.832, ahead of Hamlin and A. J. Allmendinger in second and third. Kyle Busch followed in the fourth position, ahead of Logano in fifth.[7]

In the Saturday morning session, Biffle was quickest, ahead of Allmendinger and Busch in second and third. Hamlin and Kurt Busch followed in the fourth and fifth positions.[8] Bowyer, Mark Martin, Earnhardt, Jr., Martin Truex, Jr., andLogano rounded out the first ten positions.[8] In the final practice session for the race, Martin was quickest with a time of 39.269 seconds.[9] Bowyer followed in second, ahead of Matt Kenseth and Johnson in third and fourth.[9] Keselowski, who was eighteenth quickest in second practice,[8] managed fifth.[9]

During qualifying, forty-three cars were entered, meaning all of the cars were able to start because of NASCAR's qualifying procedure.[10] Hamlin clinched his twelfth career pole position, with a time of 38.410 seconds.[11] After his qualifying run, Hamlin commented,“Honestly, I think our car was really fast. I knew, talking to a few people in my motor home... it’s cocky to say, but I said, ‘Man, I can almost guarantee a pole, if we have a late draw.’ When they told me we were third, I was like, ‘OK. Well, just never mind. Forget that."[12] He was joined on the front row of the grid by Biffle.[11] Keselowski qualified third, Kyle Busch took fourth, and Kenseth started fifth.[11] Logano, Truex, Jr., Tony Stewart, Martin, and Kurt Busch completed the first ten positions on the grid.[11]

Race

With seven laps to go, Joey Logano took the lead after a brief duel with former teammates Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. Hamlin and Logano had been involved in an incident the previous race at Bristol, with the sentiments carrying over to this race.[13] Hamlin ran Logano down and the two were side-by-side for most of the final lap, but Logano attempted to block Hamlin in the final turn and was sent up into the outside wall, while Hamlin came off the banking and smashed head-on into the inside concrete retaining wall, allowing Busch to pass both cars on the high side and take the win.[14]

Although Hamlin climbed out of the car right after the crash, he immediately collapsed and lied on the track. He was airlifted to the hospital as a precaution. It was announced the next day that Hamlin had suffered a massive L1 compression fracture, or a collapsed vertebra, likely because the area where his car hit the wall was lacking a SAFER barrier.[14][15] The resulting injuries forced Hamlin to miss the next four races. Mark Martin filled in for Hamlin at Martinsville[16] while Brian Vickers filled in at Texas, Kansas, and Richmond. Hamlin did not start another race until Talladega in May, although the team arranged for Vickers to take over at the first caution flag pit stop. Hamlin did not return full-time to his race car until the following week at Darlington.

In response to the accident, for 2014, Auto Club Speedway installed an additional 1,000 foot SAFER barrier along the wall where Hamlin's car had impacted.[17]

Following the finish, Logano was also involved in an altercation with Stewart after a blocking move made by Logano on Stewart during the final restart. Stewart ended with a 22nd-place finish following the incident. Stewart went on to confront Logano in the pit lane and who had to be restrained by crews from Danica Patrick's team after Logano threw a water bottle at Stewart.

Results

Qualifying

Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Time Speed
1 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 38.410 187.451
2 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford 38.458 187.217
3 2 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Ford 38.472 187.149
4 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 38.476 187.130
5 20 Matt Kenseth Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 38.567 186.688
6 22 Joey Logano Penske Racing Ford 38.603 186.514
7 56 Martin Truex, Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 38.653 186.273
8 14 Tony Stewart Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 38.738 185.864
9 55 Mark Martin Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 38.753 185.792
10 78 Kurt Busch Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 38.777 185.677
11 13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Ford 38.886 185.157
12 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 38.901 185.085
13 15 Clint Bowyer Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 38.945 184.876
14 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 38.979 184.715
15 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 38.998 184.625
16 5 Kasey Kahne Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 39.051 184.374
17 1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 39.081 184.233
18 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 39.121 184.044
19 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 39.128 184.011
20 39 Ryan Newman Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 39.133 183.988
21 9 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 39.162 183.852
22 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 39.194 183.702
23 43 Aric Almirola Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 39.195 183.697
24 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford 39.222 183.570
25 47 Bobby Labonte JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota 39.291 183.248
26 51 A. J. Allmendinger Phoenix Racing Chevrolet 39.320 183.113
27 27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 39.340 183.020
28 83 David Reutimann BK Racing Toyota 39.382 182.825
29 7 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 39.418 182.658
30 35 Josh Wise Front Row Motorsports Ford 39.422 182.639
31 17 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 39.448 182.519
32 30 David Stremme Swan Racing Toyota 39.458 182.473
33 93 Travis Kvapil BK Racing Toyota 39.465 182.440
34 38 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 39.671 181.493
35 98 Michael McDowell Phil Parsons Racing Ford 39.760 181.087
36 33 Landon Cassill Circle Sport Chevrolet 39.760 181.087
37 36 J. J. Yeley Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 39.955 180.203
38 44 Scott Riggs XXXtreme Motorsports Ford 40.038 179.829
39 32 Timmy Hill FAS Lane Racing Ford 40.118 179.471
40 10 Danica Patrick Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 40.155 179.305
41 19 Mike Bliss Humphrey Smith Racing Toyota 40.369 178.355
42 34 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 40.492 177.813
43 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO-Jay Robinson Racing Toyota 40.645 177.144
Source:

Race results

Pos Grid Car Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Points
1 4 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 200 48
2 15 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 42
3 6 22 Joey Logano Penske Racing Ford 200 42
4 24 99 Carl Edwards Roush-Fenway Racing Ford 200 40
5 10 78 Kurt Busch Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 200 39
6 2 16 Greg Biffle Roush-Fenway Racing Ford 200 38
7 5 20 Matt Kenseth Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 200 38
8 27 27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 36
9 16 5 Kasey Kahne Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 35
10 20 39 Ryan Newman Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 200 34
11 19 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 33
12 18 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 200 32
13 14 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 32
14 23 43 Aric Almirola Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 200 30
15 11 13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Ford 200 29
16 26 51 A. J. Allmendinger Phoenix Racing Chevrolet 200 28
17 22 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 200 27
18 7 56 Martin Truex, Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 200 26
19 17 1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 200 25
20 34 17 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Roush-Fenway Racing Ford 200 24
21 29 7 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 200 23
22 8 14 Tony Stewart Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 200 23
23 3 2 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Ford 200 21
24 42 34 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 200 21
25 1 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 199 20
26 40 10 Danica Patrick Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 199 18
27 37 36 J. J. Yeley Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 199 17
28 25 47 Bobby Labonte JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota 198 16
29 34 38 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 198 15
30 36 33 Landon Cassill Circle Sport Chevrolet 194 14
31 32 30 David Stremme Swan Racing Company Toyota 193 13
32 43 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO-Jay Robinson Racing Toyota 193 0
33 28 83 David Reutimann BK Racing Toyota 192 11
34 33 93 Travis Kvapil BK Racing Toyota 188 11
35 13 15 Clint Bowyer Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 184 9
36 21 9 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 182 8
37 9 55 Mark Martin Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 179 7
38 12 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 169 6
39 39 32 Timmy Hill FAS Lane Racing Ford 108 5
40 30 35 Josh Wise Front Row Motorsports Ford 103 0
41 38 44 Scott Riggs XXXtreme Motorsports Ford 66 3
42 35 98 Michael McDowell Phil Parsons Racing Ford 60 2
43 41 19 Mike Bliss Humphrey Smith Racing Toyota 44 0

Standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings
Pos Driver Points
1 1 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 199
1 2 Brad Keselowski 187
3 Jimmie Johnson 183
4 4 Carl Edwards 164
5 Greg Biffle 164
4 6 Kyle Busch 163
7 Kasey Kahne 159
1 8 Paul Menard 154
3 9 Joey Logano 146
4 10 Denny Hamlin 145
2 11 Matt Kenseth 141
1 12 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. 139

Manufacturers' Championship standings
Pos Manufacturer Points
1 Chevrolet 36
2 Toyota 34
3 Ford 25
  • Note: Only the first twelve positions are included for the driver standings.

References

  1. "Sprint Cup Series Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  2. Brown, Brian (March 20, 2013). "Auto Club 400". Rotoworld.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Auto Club Speedway Track Facts". Auto Club Speedway. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  4. "Pre-race Drivers' Championship Standings" (PDF). Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  5. "2012 Auto Club 400". Racing-reference.info. USA Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  6. "Auto Club 400 Practice/Qualifying Times". Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  7. "2013 NSCS Auto Club 400 First Practice Session Speeds". Catchfence. Citizen Journalist Media Corps. March 22, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 "Auto Club 400 2nd Practice Speeds". Motor Racing Network. March 23, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  9. 1 2 3 "Auto Club 400 Final Practice Speeds". Motor Racing Network. March 23, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  10. "Entry List: Auto Club 400" (PDF). Jayski's Silly Season Site. ESPN. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Auto Club 400 Starting Grid". Motor Racing Network. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  12. "Hamlin Wins Third Sprint Cup Pole at Fontana". NASCAR. March 22, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  13. Ryan, Nate (March 17, 2013). "Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin continue feud at Bristol". USA Today. Bristol, Tennessee: USA Today. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  14. 1 2 Pockrass, Bob (March 24, 2013). "Denny Hamlin injured after last-lap crash with Joey Logano at California". Sporting News. Fontana, California: Sporting News. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  15. Bruce, Kenny (March 25, 2013). "Hamlin suffers L1 compression fracture". NASCAR. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  16. Pockrass, Bob (April 3, 2013). "Denny Hamlin still upset with Joey Logano, says rival wrecked him intentionally". Sporting News. Huntersville, North Carolina: Sporting News. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  17. Caraviello, David (March 18, 2014). "SAFER BARRIER ADDED IN AREA OF HAMLIN CRASH". nascar.com. NASCAR. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  18. "Sprint Cup Results: Auto Club 400". NASCAR. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
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