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NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: WISE Power 400
The Place: Auto Club Speedway
The Date: Sunday, February 27
The Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
The Purse: $8,035,061
TV: FOX, 3 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 400 miles (200 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 65),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 130), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)
2020 Race Winner: Alex Bowman
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: Production Alliance 300
The Place: Auto Club Speedway
The Date: Saturday, February 26
The Time: 5 p.m. ET
The Purse: $1,618,853
TV: FS1, 4 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 300 miles (150 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 35),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 70), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 150)
2020 Race Winner: Harrison Burton
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Next Race: Victoria’s Voice 200 presented by Westgate Resorts
The Place: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
The Date: Friday, March 4
The Time: 9 p.m. ET
The Purse: $699,491
TV: FS1, 8:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 201 miles (134 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30)
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 134)
2021 Race Winner: John Hunter Nemechek
NASCAR Cup Series
NASCAR looks forward to Auto Club Speedway return
After taking last season off from visiting Auto Club Speedway due to pandemic restrictions, the NASCAR Cup Series is looking forward to returning to the 2-mile track located just outside of Los Angeles in Fontana, California for the WISE Power 400 on February 27 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Groundbreaking for California Speedway, as Auto Club Speedway was originally known, took place in November of 1995. The track name was changed to Auto Club Speedway (ACS) in February of 2008. The first race at Auto Club Speedway was an ARCA Menards Series West race won by Ken Schrader on June 21, 1997.
The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway was held on June 22, 1997 and won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon driving the Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 24 Chevrolet.
The September 2004 event was the first night race at Auto Club Speedway and that also was the first year both the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series ran two races in a season there. There have been 31 NASCAR Cup Series races at Auto Club Speedway, the track hosted one race a season from 1997-2003, then two races per season from 2004-2010. In 2011, Auto Club Speedway returned to a single-race season.
Last season (2021) due to the COVID-19 Pandemic restrictions, Auto Club Speedway was removed from the NASCAR Cup Series schedule but has returned this season to be the second race on the 2022 schedule.
Auto Club Speedway’s 31 previous NASCAR Cup Series races have produced 20 different poles winners and 18 different race winners. 23XI Racing’s Kurt Busch leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Auto Club Speedway with four (2015, 2007 and 2006 sweep). Joe Nemechek won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series pole at Auto Club Speedway in 1997 with a speed of 183.015 mph (39.341 secs).
Six of the 20 NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club Speedway pole winners are active this weekend.
|
Active Pole Winners |
Poles |
Seasons |
|
Kurt Busch |
4 |
2006 Sweep, 2007, 2015 |
|
Denny Hamlin |
3 |
2009, 2012, 2013 |
|
Austin Dillon |
2 |
2016, 2019 |
|
Kyle Larson |
1 |
2017 |
|
Martin Truex Jr |
1 |
2018 |
|
Kyle Busch |
1 |
2005 |
Kyle Busch leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Auto Club Speedway with four victories (2005, 2013, 2014, 2019). Seven of the 18 NASCAR Cup Series race winners at Auto Club Speedway are active this weekend.
|
Active Winners |
Wins |
Seasons |
|
Kyle Busch |
4 |
2005, 2013, 2014, 2019 |
|
Alex Bowman |
1 |
2020 |
|
Martin Truex Jr |
1 |
2018 |
|
Kyle Larson |
1 |
2017 |
|
Brad Keselowski |
1 |
2015 |
|
Kevin Harvick |
1 |
2011 |
|
Kurt Busch |
1 |
2003 |
All the action begins this Saturday, February 26 at Auto Club Speedway with NASCAR Cup Series practice at 2 p.m. ET and qualifying at 2:35 p.m. ET.
Sunoco Rookie Austin Cindric starts 2022 season off with a big win
Team Penske’s Austin Cindric kicked down the door to his NASCAR Cup Series rookie season with a massive victory in the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.
With the victory, Cindric became the first rookie to win the prestigious event and the ninth different driver to win his first NASCAR Cup Series race in the Daytona 500; joining Tiny Lund (1963), Mario Andretti (1967), Pete Hamilton (1970), Derrike Cope (1990), Sterling Marlin (1994), Michael Waltrip (2001), Trevor Bayne (2011), Michael McDowell (2021). He also is the second youngest winner of the Daytona 500 at 23 years, 5 months, and 18 days behind Trevor Bayne, who won the event at the age of 20.
Now Cindric is looking to join Matt Kenseth (2009: Daytona, Auto Club), Jeff Gordon (1997: Daytona, Rockingham), David Pearson (1976: Riverside, Daytona), Bobby Welborn (1959: Champion, Daytona) and Marvin Panch (1957: Lancaster, Concord) as the fifth different driver to start a season with back-to-back wins.
This weekend will be Cindric’s series career track debut at Auto Club Speedway. The 23-year-old has three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at 2-mile track posting a best finish of third in 2020.
Cindric and Keselowski are tied atop the NASCAR Cup Series driver standings
After a wild season-opening Daytona 500 that concluded in overtime, the NASCAR Cup Series finds itself with a tie atop the driver standings with Team Penske driver and Daytona 500 champion Austin Cindric tied with RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski with 54 points each. Cindric’s victory at Daytona gives him the tiebreaker heading into this weekend at Auto Club Speedway.
Cindric’s win has locked him into the Playoffs, and now the rising star is tasked with becoming the sixth different driver to win the Daytona 500 and the series championship in the same season; joining Lee Petty (1959), Richard Petty (four times: 1964, 1971, 1974, 1979), Cale Yarborough (1977) and Jeff Gordon (1997), Jimmie Johnson (2006, 2013). If Cindric accomplishes the feat, he would be the first rookie to do so.
Kyle Busch is miles ahead of competition at Auto Club Speedway
When looking through the NASCAR Cup Series statistics for Auto Club Speedway one active driver jumps out from the rest – Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch.
The Las Vegas native leads the series in wins at Auto Club Speedway among active drivers with four victories (2005, 2013, 2014, 2019) and is one of only two drivers to win consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races at Auto Club Speedway – Jimmie Johnson (2009-2010) and Kyle Busch (2013-2014).
But Busch’s statistical dominance on the series doesn’t end there. Among active drivers he leads the series in top fives (11), top 10s (16) and laps led (807 led out of 4,899 completed; 16%).
Heading into this weekend Busch is also the series leader in several key Loop Data pre-race categories: Average finish of 8.905, series-best; Average Running Position of 8.169, series-best; Driver Rating of 111.4, series-best; 372 Fastest Laps Run, series-best; 3,962 Laps in the Top 15 (84.4%), series-most and 1,107 Quality Passes, series-most.
Plus, he is one of only three drivers that have won at Auto Club Speedway and the NASCAR Cup Series championship in the same season: Jeff Gordon (1997), Jimmie Johnson (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2016) and Kyle Busch (2019).
This weekend Busch will be making his 23rd career NASCAR Cup Series start at Auto Club Speedway.
New Practice/Qualifying format to begin this weekend at Auto Club Speedway
This season, NASCAR has announced the return of practice and qualifying to its race weekends, with a dramatic knockout-style qualifying format setting the starting lineup for each NASCAR Cup Series race.
The announcement comes after nearly two seasons with race weekends largely held without practice or qualifying – a procedure born out of necessity to reduce travel days and on-site personnel while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022, all events across all three NASCAR national series are scheduled to include qualifying.
“NASCAR is excited to return practice and qualifying to its race weekends,” said Scott Miller, NASCAR senior vice president of competition. “We missed seeing cars and trucks on track all weekend long, and so did our fans. We worked closely with our broadcast partners, teams and racetracks to create an exciting, unique qualifying format, while keeping several of the efficiencies that helped our entire industry successfully navigate the pandemic.”
For a majority of the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, the field will be split into two groups and participate in a practice and qualifying event that will last approximately two hours. The two-hour window will allow broadcast partners ample time and ability to cover the entire field, bringing wide-ranging, in-depth stories and insight to millions of fans each and every weekend.
During six NASCAR Cup Series weekends, five NASCAR Xfinity Series weekends and eight NASCAR Camping World Truck Series weekends, NASCAR will implement an extended practice weekend schedule, which will feature one standalone 50-minute practice as well as a qualifying event.
Below is the format for the NASCAR Cup Series this season.
Oval Qualifying
- Group A and Group B will each receive 15 minutes of practice
- Groups set by odd/even finishing order of previous race
- Qualifying Round 1 (Group A) – single car, one lap*
- Top 5 transfer to Final Round
- Qualifying Round 1 (Group B) – single car, one lap*
- Top 5 transfer to Final Round
- Qualifying Final Round (10 cars) – single car, one lap*
* — Two laps at Bristol, Dover, Martinsville and Richmond
Superspeedways
- Qualifying Round 1 (all cars) – single car, one lap
- Top 10 transfer to Final Round
- Qualifying Final Round (10 cars) – single car, one lap
Road Course
- Group A and Group B will each receive 20 minutes of practice
- Qualifying Round 1 (Group A) – 15-minute timed session
- Top 5 transfer to Final Round
- Qualifying Round 1 (Group B) – 15-minute timed session
- Top 5 transfer to Final Round
- Qualifying Final Round (10 cars) – 10-minute timed session
Click here for a downloadable graphic detailing the new practice/qualifying format.
ARCA Builds Champions
If you looked at the final running order from Sunday’s Daytona 500, you would see the ARCA Menards Series is living up to the tagline “We Build Champions.” The top four finishers in the race have all had wins within the ARCA Menards Series platform.
Daytona 500 champion Austin Cindric won at Kentucky Speedway in 2016 and scored two road course wins in the ARCA Menards Series East that season at Virginia International Raceway and Watkins Glen International. Runner-up Bubba Wallace has six career East wins between 2010 and 2012. Third-place finisher Chase Briscoe was the 2016 ARCA Menards Series champion with six career series wins (all in his championship season) and one additional ARCA Menards Series West victory last year at Sonoma Raceway.
And fourth-place finisher Blaney won in the ARCA Menards Series West at Phoenix Raceway in 2011.
The winners of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race (Zane Smith) and NASCAR Xfinity Series race (Austin Hill) also have wins on the ARCA Menards Series platform.
NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.
NASCAR Cup Series Featured Matchups: 2022 Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway – Below is a close look at the featured matchups fans can bet on heading into this weekend’s event.
· 2 – Austin Cindric VS. 12 – Ryan Blaney
o These two Team Penske teammates were the story of last Sunday’s Daytona 500, as they dueled fiercely for the win on the final lap after working together in the draft all race long – with rookie Cindric ultimately coming out on top.
o Blaney had a standout performance the last time the series visited Auto Club Speedway in 2020 – posting the second highest driver rating of the day (112.8) and leading 54/200 laps
· 24 – William Byron VS. 48 – Alex Bowman
o Byron and Bowman, both Hendrick Motorsports teammates, have been evenly matched at intermediate-style tracks since 2019, with Bowman edging Byron just slightly in average finish (13.11 to 14.53), while both are dead-even in intermediate track driver rating over the same span (91.4).
o Bowman is the most recent Cup Series winner at Auto Club Speedway, winning the 2020 event at the track in dominant fashion. Bowman also won 4 races in 2021 – including a midseason victory at Pocono Raceway, another intermediate circuit.
· 14 – Chase Briscoe VS. 23 – Bubba Wallace
o This matchup pits the second (Wallace) and third (Briscoe) place drivers in last Sunday’s Daytona 500 against each other.
o The two drivers enter the 2022 season with similar stats and similar expectations surrounding their teams. Wallace posted a 19.7 average finish in 2021, while Briscoe was a smidge better with a 19.6. Both drivers race for well-funded teams (Briscoe with Stewart-Haas Racing, Wallace with 23XI Racing) that are looking to take a step forward in the ’22 season.
· 43 – Erik Jones VS. 99 – Daniel Suarez
o A mid-tier battle wraps up the featured matchup slate for Auto Club, featuring the drivers who placed 24th (Jones) and 25th (Suarez) in points last season.
o The Next Gen car was designed with a goal of producing more competitive parity across the Cup Series landscape – making this matchup especially intriguing as it features two drivers who race for teams that have made big investments in capital improvements with the Next-Gen car in mind.
o Suarez races for Trackhouse, who purchased the assets of Chip Ganassi Racing at the end of 2021 with an eye on making a big splash with the Next Gen platform.
o Jones races for Petty GMS Motorsports – a new team that resulted from the merger of Jones’ old Richard Petty Motorsports group with standout Truck Series team GMS Racing. The new ownership group has re-built the team with an eye on being more competitive in the Next Gen era.
Nita Strauss to Perform National Anthem at WISE Power 400 – Auto Club Speedway announced this week that Nita Strauss will perform the National Anthem prior to the track’s NASCAR Cup Series race. She will also shred on her guitar during driver introductions, delivering the same sonic energy to NASCAR fans that she delivers to fans of the Los Angeles Rams each week as the in-house guitarist at SoFi Stadium.
“Nita Strauss has taken guitar playing to a whole new level,” said Auto Club Speedway President Dave Allen. “She combines energy and style to create soul-stirring sounds that connect with audiences all over the world. It’s an honor that she’ll rev up our fans before the best drivers in the world rev their engines.”
Strauss is a modern guitar virtuoso par excellence. Although the Los Angeles native rose to fame as the lead guitarist for Alice Cooper’s band, her work as a solo artist includes some of the best music ever produced on the instrument. Her 2018 album Controlled Chaos put her atop the Billboard charts as the No. 1 Top New Artist, furthering a reputation that has led to countless industry endorsements and critical acclaim.
RVnGO becomes Official RV Rental Partner of Auto Club Speedway – Auto Club Speedway announced last week that RVnGO is the Official RV Rental Partner of Auto Club Speedway. The announcement comes as NASCAR racing returns to the 2-mile oval on Feb. 26-27. RVnGO RV rentals are available from the 21st through the 27th for the Wise Power 400 NASCAR Cup Series Race.
“We look forward to what RVnGO adds to the Auto Club Speedway camping experience,” said Auto Club Speedway President Dave Allen. “Partnering with an innovative company like RVnGO only improves that experience and makes it easier for race fans to enjoy the wonderful GEICO Campground during all of our NASCAR events.”
RVnGO makes it easy for fans to enjoy the at-track camping experience by connecting existing RV owners with renters who want to camp in an RV on race weekend. The company’s free online rental and sales platform eliminates non-value added service fees or hidden fees between owners and renters. Through this new partnership, RVnGO creates new turn-key packages for fans to experience future events at the track.
Collective Soul Pre-Race Concert Set for WISE Power 400 – Auto Club Speedway announced that Collective Soul will perform a 60-minute concert in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Fan Zone. The iconic band’s performance will rev fans up for the NASCAR Cup Series race and be the musical highlight of the track’s 25th anniversary celebration, a sonic bridge to the track’s 1990s roots.
“What’s great about Collective Soul is that, like Auto Club Speedway, they’re just as relevant today as they were back in the 1990s,” said Auto Club Speedway President Dave Allen. “That staying power is a testament to their unwavering dedication to their fans and the commitment to their craft.”
Collective Soul burst onto the scene in 1993 with the landmark debut Hints Allegations & Things Left Unsaid in 1993. From there, they haven’t taken their foot off accelerator, producing music that’s seared itself into the souls of millions, including unforgettable hits like “Shine,” “December,” and “The World I Know.”
Moreover, the Georgia band refuses to rest on its laurels. They continue to produce new music and perform dynamic shows, with the 2019 album Blood launching the band on a fresh musical trajectory. And now E Roland (vocals / guitar), Dean Roland (rhythm guitar), Jesse Triplett (lead guitar / background vocals), Will Turpin (bass / background vocals) and Johnny Rabb (drums / background vocals) are ready to make their first live Southern California appearance in nearly three years.
Let the Games Begin – With 3 billion people calling themselves gamers, NASCAR continues to collaborate with some of the most popular games and creators in addition to hosting its own various eNASCAR initiatives throughout the season. FaZe Clan arrives at Auto Club Speedway after getting their first taste of NASCAR racing at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. One of the world’s most influential gaming organizations, FaZe Clan created content from the Busch Light Clash and introduced a FaZe Clan x NASCAR merch collection to their global fanbase earlier this month. Now they’re back for more and this time they have company.
Motorsports-lifestyle brand Hoonigan will also be on-site with four vehicles from the ever-popular racing game series Forza. The Halo Warthog, Donk, Camaro and Rolls will participate in race day activities after showing off their hot wheels at the eNASCAR Arcade throughout the weekend. Fans are invited to check out FaZe Clan and Hoonigan at the eNASCAR Arcade where they can also post the fastest lap on four NASCAR iRacing simulators or compete in NASCAR 21: Ignition and Mario Kart.
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill does it again at Daytona
Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Hill posted his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory this past weekend at Daytona but he’s no stranger to winning at the iconic superspeedway. He also posted a win in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season-opener in 2019, and now Hill is one of four drivers to win both the Xfinity and Truck Series races at Daytona; joining Kyle Busch, Tyler Reddick and Mike Wallace.
Hill led four times for 23 laps, second only to the 38 of last year’s Xfinity Series Champ, Daniel Hemric. Hemric finished the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 in 28th-place after falling victim to an incident on Lap 91.
It appears joining a new team brings Austin Hill some luck. Back in 2019, when he won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Daytona, he had just joined Hattori Racing Enterprises. That season, he went on to post four wins, seven top fives and 13 top 10s in the Truck Series.
Now Hill has the opportunity to become the fourth different driver to win the first two races of the year to start a Xfinity season; joining Tony Stewart (2008: Daytona, Auto Club), Chad Little (1995: Daytona, Rockingham) and Dale Earnhardt (1986: Daytona, Rockingham).
Coming in a close second was AJ Allmendinger, who finished runner-up in the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 for the second year in a row.
“We got single file and I saw Austin (Hill) kind of move up to the top there,” Allmendinger said. “I’m still learning and trying to be better at not getting too far out in the lead there, but he just timed it perfectly. He backed up, and for the last 20 laps or so I’d been pacing myself off the top and saying ‘okay, how big of a run can he get?’ He just timed to where that thing got a big push.”
Not far behind was Noah Gragson, Riley Herbst and Justin Allgaier to close out the top five.
Now Austin Hill finds himself second in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver standings just four points back from Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger heading to Auto Club Speedway this weekend. Both drivers have only made one series start at ACS. Allmendinger made his series debut at Auto Club Speedway in 2007 for Chip Ganassi Racing; he started 18th and finished 36th due to an incident. Hill, a Winston, Georgia native, made his series track debut at Auto Club Speedway in 2020 driving for Hattori Racing Enterprises; he started 15th and finished 16th.
Xfinity Series Next Stop: Production Alliance Group 300
This weekend, the NASCAR Xfinity Series returns to Auto Club Speedway for the Production Alliance Group 300 after a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19 Pandemic restrictions.
This weekend’s race will be the 32nd running of a NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Auto Club Speedway. The previous 31 Xfinity races have produced 20 different poles winners and 18 different race winners.
Joey Logano leads the NASCAR Xfinity Series in poles at Auto Club Speedway with four (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013). Only one former Xfinity Series pole winner at Auto Club Speedway is entered this weekend – Brandon Jones (2020 pole winner).
Kyle Busch leads the NASCAR Xfinity Series in wins at Auto Club Speedway with six victories (2008, 2009, 2010 sweep, 2011, 2013). Cole Custer (2019) is the only Xfinity Series former Auto Club Speedway winner entered this weekend. Harrison Burton is the most recent winner in the Xfinity Series taking the win in 2020.
Practice will be on Saturday, February 26 at 9 a.m. followed by qualifying at 9:30 a.m. The race begins at 5 p.m. ET on February 26, 2022 on NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Make sure to check the schedule for any changes or updated times.
All about the history at Auto Club Speedway
Auto Club Speedway held its inaugural NASCAR Xfinity Series race in 1997 where fans saw Todd Bodine take the win.
This two-mile D-shaped track has held a total of 31 Xfinity Series races with 18 different winners. Kyle Busch leads with six wins, followed by Matt Kenseth with four wins and both Joey Logano and Greg Biffle tied with three.
Harrison Burton with Joe Gibbs Racing is the most recent winner, leading a total of 40 laps. Riley Herbst finished second in 2020 followed by Austin Cindric, Ryan Sieg and Justin Haley to complete the top five.
2022 Sunoco Rookies: How’d they do?
After the incredible win this past weekend at Daytona International Speedway to open the season, Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill is leading the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings with 47 points.
Not far behind is Hill’s RCR teammate, Sheldon Creed, in second in the rookie standings (-16 points), who finished in sixth-place at Daytona and racked up 31 points to start the season.
In the third-place spot is Jesse Iwuji who tallied 10 points and finished the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. 300 in 27th-place.
The three drivers will be back for the Production Alliance 300 where Creed and Iwuji will be making their series track debuts at Auto Club Speedway. Hill made his series track debut back in 2020 with Hattori Racing Enterprises where he started 15th and finished 16th.
NASCAR Xfinity Series, Etc.
Former Daytona 500 winner, Trevor Bayne returns to Xfinity Series – Trevor Bayne is set to make his NASCAR Xfinity Series return, signing with Joe Gibbs Racing for select races in 2022. Bayne, 30, will be behind the wheel of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota for seven starts.
The former Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 Ford driver will make his first start Feb. 26 at Auto Club Speedway. He’s also scheduled to pilot the 2021 title-winning No. 18 at Phoenix Raceway (March 12), Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 28), Nashville Superspeedway (June 25), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (July 16), Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Oct. 15), and Homestead-Miami Speedway (Oct. 22).
Jason Ratcliff will serve as crew chief for Bayne and No. 18 team.
ARCA is proving ground for top finishers at Daytona – The NASCAR Xfinity Series winner at Daytona, Austin Hill, is another driver who worked his way up to the biggest stage by virtue of success on the ARCA Menards Series platform. Hill has five career East series wins and finished a career-best third in the series standings in 2015. Four of the top five, Hill, third-place Noah Gragson, fourth-place Riley Herbst, and fifth-place Justin Allgaier, all have wins within the ARCA platform.
Custer and Grala to make Xfinity starts at Auto Club Speedway – Two NASCAR Cup Series drivers, Cole Custer and Kaz Grala, will be moonlighting in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this weekend at Auto Club Speedway. Custer will be piloting the No. 07 SS Green Light Racing Ford and Grala will be in the No. 45 Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet.
Custer is the only previous Auto Club Speedway winner (2019) entered this weekend. Grala has made one Xfinity career start at ACS in 2018; he started 12th and finished 14th.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Front Row Motorsport’s Zane Smith jumps out front with season-opening win a Daytona
For a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season-opener at Daytona International Speedway, the 2022 NextEra Energy 250 was rather a tame event all up until about five feet before the White Flag dropped, then chaos erupted.
Front Row Motorsport’s Zane Smith was holding off a hard charging field advancing to the start/finish line when just before crossing to take the White Flag the caution came out forcing the 100 lap race into overtime. Smith would eventually hold on and win the first race of the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season at Daytona. It was his first victory at the historic track and the first with his new organization Front Row Motorsports and the No. 38 Ford team.
The win catapulted Zane Smith to the top of the Truck Series driver standings two points ahead of second place Ben Rhodes.
Smith victory also made Front Row Motorsports just the second team in series history to win the season-opening NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race (Zane Smith, 2022) and the Daytona 500 (Michael McDowell, 2021); joining Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing.
Next week the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ competitors will battle it out at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Victoria’s Voice “200” presented by Westgate Resorts on Friday, March 4 at 9 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Make sure to tune-in to all the action next weekend when the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series gets back on track for practice at 4:30 p.m. ET with qualifying following right after at 5 p.m. ET on Friday, March 4.
Defending champion Ben Rhodes is off to a hot start in 2022
Back-to-back titles in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has only been accomplished once (Matt Crafton: 2013-2014) since the inception of the series in 1995, but that isn’t slowing ThorSport Racing’s Ben Rhodes in 2022. The 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champ jumped right back into contention for another title with his runner-up finish in the season-opening Truck race at Daytona International Speedway last weekend. Now the Louisville, Kentucky native is second in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver standings a mere two points back from standings leader Zane Smith.
Heading to Las Vegas Motor Speedway next weekend, Rhodes will be looking to continue his hot start to 2022. The 24-year-old, Rhodes, has made 10 series starts at Las Vegas posting one win (2017), four top fives and seven top 10s. In his most recent start at the 1.5-mile track, last season’s Playoff race, he finished runner-up.
Sunoco Rookie Class learned a lot in Daytona
It was tough outing for the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year class in the season-opener at Daytona, none of the five rookies that made the event finished the race.
Lawless Alan had the best finish of the 2022 rookie class with a 25th-place finish after being involved in an incident in overtime. Alan is now tied in the rookie standings with Corey Heim, who finished 32nd due to an incident, at 12 points each. Alan holds the tiebreaker with his better finish at Daytona.
The remaining rookies to make the race, Blaine Perkins (31st), Jack Wood (33rd), and Dean Thompson (36th), all finished outside the top 30 at Daytona.
|
NCWTS Sunoco Rookie of the Year Standings Following Daytona |
|
|
Rookies |
Points |
|
Lawless Alan |
12 |
|
Corey Heim |
12 |
|
Blaine Perkins |
6 |
|
Jack Wood |
4 |
|
Dean Thompson |
1 |
