The date/time: Sun., Feb. 24 at 4:00 p.m. (ET).(race time)
TV: FOX, 3:30 p.m. (ET).
TV Announcers: Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, Darrell Waltrip
Dick Berggren, Matt Yocum, Steve Byrnes, Krista Voda (Pit Reporters)
Radio: MRN Radio Network 12:15 p.m. (PT), KKGO 1260 AM, KTDD 1350 AM,
Sirius NASCAR Radio Ch. 128 * Spanish - KWKW 1330 AM and KWKU 1220 AM
Radio Announcers: Barney Hall, Joe Moore (Booth Announcers)
Dave Moody, Dan Hubbard (Turn Announcers) Winston Kelley, Jeff Striegle, Alex Hayden (Pit Reporters)
* Celso Gaspar, Armando Aguayo (Booth Announcers - Spanish)
Posted awards: $6,144,605; First Place - $283,025
Race length: 500 miles, 250 laps.
Track: Two-mile D-Shaped Oval; 75-feet wide with a 15-foot apron
Front Stretch: 3,100 feet
Back Stretch: 2,500 feet
Banking: 14 degree of banking in the turns;
Banking: 11 degree of banking in the tri-oval;
Banking: 3 degree of banking down the backstretch
Pit Road: 2,200 feet long with 44 individual pit areas
Garages: Three garages with 100 spaces
Grandstands: 92,000
Infield RVs: Approximately 1,800 Infield RV spaces;
Qualifying/Race Data
2007 Polesitter: Jeff Gordon
2007 Winner: Matt Kenseth
Weekend Schedule
Friday, February 22, 2008
7:00 a.m. Parking Lots Open to Public
9:00 a.m. Opportunity, California FanZone Gates Open to Public *
9:45 a.m.-11:50 a.m. NNS Practice
12:00 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. NSCS Practice
1:40 p.m. NCTS Qualifying (Two Laps, All Positions)
3:40 p.m. NSCS Qualifying (Two Laps, All Positions)
5:45 p.m.- 6:45 p.m. NNS Final Practice
Saturday, February 23, 2008
6:00 a.m. Parking Lots Open to Public
9:00 a.m. Opportunity, California FanZone Gates Open to Public *
9:00 a.m.- 9:30 a.m. TV Exhibition Run
9:35 a.m. NNS Qualifying (Two Laps, All Positions)
11:30 a.m. NCTS Driver Introductions – Security Clear Pit Road
12:00 p.m. San Bernardino County 200 NCTS Race (100 Laps, 200 Miles)
2:00 p.m.- 3:55 p.m. NSCS Final Practice
4:00 p.m. NNS Driver Introductions – Security Clear Pit Road
4:30 p.m. Stater Brothers 300 NNS Race (150 laps, 300 Miles)
12:00 a.m. Vehicle in Parking Lots Towed
Sunday, February 24, 2008
5:00 a.m. Parking Lots Open to Public
8:00 a.m. Opportunity, California FanZone Gates Open to Public *
12:30 p.m. NSCS Driver Introductions – Security Clear Pit Road
1:00 p.m. Auto Club 500 NSCS Race (250 Laps, 500 Miles)
All Times Eastern * Schedule is tentative and subject to change.
Edwards Wins At California
Edwards Celebrates * CIA Stock Photo
It was a long way from where it started to where it finally wound up. The Auto Club wasn't an auto race, it was a marathon. Not only for the drivers and crews but for track personnel, NASCAR employees, the fans and the media. The race was red-flagged twice and the second one lasted over night. It was finally resumed at 1:00 PM Eastern time, 24 hours after the original start time. On Monday the track was hotter and slicker than it had been on Sunday night and that changed the dynamics of setups on all the cars. Slicker usually means an advantage for guys that like that kind of track. Carl Edwards is one of those drivers, the slicker the better. Edwards battled with and then out-ran Jimmie Johnson to win his first ever Sprint Cup race at the newly named Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Johnson hung on for second. "It's a good rebound from Daytona and we'll roll on," said Johnson. "I was too loose off the corners to do anything with Carl."
The victory was the eighth of a 123 race career for Edwards. It also was the fourth straight win in the spring race at the speedway. Edwards joins his Roush Fenway Racing Ford teammates Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth as winners at the 2-mile track.
Jeff Gordon, who looked like he was untouchable on Sunday night, lost the magic on Monday and finished third. "Carl Edwards was in another league. We've got some work to do to catch those guys," said Gordon, who blew an engine on the final (yellow Flag) lap. Kyle Busch brought his Interstate Batteries Toyota home in the fourth spot while Matt Kenseth was fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman. The Sprint Cup Series moves to Las Vegas Speedway next Sunday March 2nd, 2008, for the UAW-Dodge 400. The race is scheduled to start at 3:30 PM / Eastern Time on Fox.
Race details to follow... To read the full article...(Insider Racing News) For full final race results...(Insider Racing News) For top-40 Nextel Cup drivers points...(Insider Racing News)
Speedway Changes Name
International Speedway Corporation, a leading promoter of motorsports activities, today announced a 10-year, multi-million dollar partnership with the Automobile Club of Southern California ("Auto Club"), the nation's largest member of the AAA federation, to re-name California Speedway as Auto Club Speedway of Southern California (the "Speedway"). Specific financial terms were not released. The partnership will place a premium on enhancing the fan experience at the Auto Club Speedway, with special initiatives aimed at Auto Club members, and a series of capital improvements that will make the racetrack more comfortable, accessible and enjoyable. Detailed plans are still being developed, but as soon as this year, fans can expect to see new escalators, increased shade, additional misting zones, and more interactive fan-friendly elements incorporating new technologies. The announcement is the culmination of a relationship that has spanned more than a decade. An original California Speedway corporate partner, the Auto Club's relationship with the Speedway began in 1997 with the Auto Club 200 Inaugural NASCAR Grand National West Series race. The company moved its sponsorship to the Saturday cup companion race in 1999 with the Auto Club 300 (now the Stater Bros 300), continuing with that event through the 2002 race. The Auto Club assumed the event title sponsorship of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at California Speedway in 2003. In addition, the Auto Club became a naming rights partner at the track in 2005 through the naming of the Auto Club Dragway, the Speedway's quarter-mile dragstrip. ...More
Rain Washes Out Day's Events
Sprint Cup qualfying at California Speedway has been rained out. Sunday's Auto Club 500 line-up will be set by points as determined by the NASCAR rule book. It is expected to be a normal schedule on Saturday. Nationwide Series and Craftsman Truck Series practices and qualifying were also wiped out. All Series will start their respective races based on owners points. The revised schedule now has Nationwide Series final practice beginning at 12:30 p.m. eastern time, followed by the Craftsman Truck Series San Bernardino County 200 at 3:00 p.m. eastern time The Stater Brothers 300 is set for 7:30 p.m. eastern time. Several drivers in the Cup Series made the long trip home, A.J. Allmendinger, Ken Schrader, Patrick Carpentier, Mike Skinner and Burney Lamar.
For Full Starting Lineup...(Insider Racing News)
Tony Stewart and Crew at the California Speedway
The Auto Club 500 will mark Stewart’s 322nd career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start and his 14th career Sprint Cup start at California Speedway.
Stewart is currently third in the Sprint Cup point standings with 170 points, 20 markers behind series leader Ryan Newman as a result of his third place finish in the season-opening Daytona 500. At this point last year Stewart was 40th in the standings with 39 points, 151 markers behind series leader and Daytona 500 winner Kevin Harvick. Stewart has scored 131 more points this year than he did last year heading into the second race of the season.
Stewart has six top-10 finishes in his 13 career starts at California, three of which came in his first three appearances there. In his most recent outing at the two-mile oval last Labor Day weekend, Stewart finished 13th.
Stewart’s best finish at California Speedway is fourth (2001 and 1999).
Stewart dominated the 2003 spring race at California, leading three times for 100 laps before the halfway point. But on lap 128 a connecting rod broke within the engine, ending Stewart’s day. He finished 41st and surrendered his first DNF (Did Not Finish) at California.
In the 2006 spring race at California, Stewart again had the car to beat, leading twice for 28 laps before a late race engine failure relegated him to a 43rd place finish and only his second DNF at California.
In the 2005 Labor Day weekend race at California, Stewart led eight times for 56 laps before finishing fifth. It was his first top-five at California since finishing fourth in the 2001 NAPA Auto Parts 500.
Stewart’s career total of 225 laps led at California is sixth-best among active Sprint Cup drivers.
Stewart scored his third career NASCAR Nationwide Series pole when he set fast time in qualifying for the 2005 spring Nationwide Series race at California driving for Kevin Harvick Inc. Stewart’s track record time of 38.722 seconds at 185.941 mph still stands.
“You Must Be a Local” – gas man Jeff “Gooch” Patterson is from Escondido, Calif.
West Coast Swing – Stewart flew to California on Tuesday night, as he joined Toyota’s roster of NASCAR drivers on Wednesday at its headquarters in Torrance, Calif.
Home Depot store No. 3865, located in Lima, Ohio, will be represented on the lower rear quarterpanel of the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota during the Auto Club 500. Store No. 3865 was judged to be the outstanding store of the past week, thereby earning its place on the No. 20 car.
Pre-Race and Post-Race Entertainment
Three-time Emmy Award winner and the star of the FOX comedy “’Til Death”, Brad Garrett, will be serving as Grand Marshal for the Auto Club 500. Southern California native, Kina Grannis will perform the National Anthem. Grannis, an Interscope Records recording artist, was the winner of the Doritos “Crash the Super Bowl” promotion this past January. Rounding out the race officials group for the race will be San Diego Chargers Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman who will serve as an honorary starter and wave the green flag.
Prior to Sunday’s race, blues-rock legends ZZ Top will perform a special pre-race concert on the track. That Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame trio will also serve as the Grand Marshals for Saturday’s Stater Bros. 300. Academy of Country Music 2006 Newcomers of the Year, Little Big Town, will perform the National Anthem for that race.
Additionally, George Thorogood and the Destroyers will play during the Miller Lite Rock ‘n Racing show after the conclusion of Saturday’s races.
New Car Will Run Track
The NASCAR Sprint Cup will be making its 16th visit to California Speedway and the first stop in 2008. The Auto Club 500, the West Coast Premiere of NASCAR, will be the second of 36 Sprint Cup races during the 2008 season. The Auto Club 500 will mark the Southern California debut of the new NASCAR Sprint Cup car, as the car has yet to run in a race on the 2.0-mile superspeedway.
A Pat on the Back
Kevin Harvick will recognize students from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Friday, February 22 at 2:05 p.m. in the California Speedway media center. These students designed and built a prototype vehicle that traveled 1,902.7 miles per gallon using conventional fuel to win the 2007 Shell Eco-marathon Americas competition. The Shell Eco-marathon Americas challenges college teams to travel the farthest distance using the least amount of fuel. Teams compete using prototype vehicles fueled by conventional or alternative fuels or energy sources. The winning team receives a grand prize of $10,000 that is awarded to the team’s educational institution. The winning vehicle will also be on display at the California Speedway media center.
Kina Grannis To Perform National Anthem
Southern California native and winner of Doritos “Crash the Super Bowl” music challenge, Kina Grannis will perform the National Anthem prior to the Auto Club 500, California Speedway President Gillian Zucker announced today.
“NASCAR has built a reputation on drivers and crews who prove time-and-time again that hard work and passion pay off with success,” said Zucker. “We are thrilled to be able to provide a national platform on FOX for a local star to continue to pursue her dream of a career in professional music.”
A native of Mission Viejo, CA and graduate of the University of Southern California, Grannis rose to national prominence this month by winning the Doritos “Crash the Super Bowl” music challenge – an online contest among unsigned artists hoping for a chance to be discovered. Her original song “Message From Your Heart” was chosen by fans as their favorite music entry and aired as a 60-second music video during the game’s commercial broadcast. As a result of winning the promotion, the 22-year-old singer/songwriter also signed a recording contract with Interscope Geffen A&M Records.
Sprint Cup Rookie News
Sam Hornish, Jr. was the Raybestos Rookie of the Race in the February 17 Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Hornish Jr. scored a 15th-place finish, his best effort in three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts.
Hornish Jr. leads Dario Franchitti by one point (11-10) in the Raybestos® Rookie standings entering the February 24 Auto Club 500 at California Speedway
Three organizations - Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Michael Waltrip Racing – will have Raybestos® Rookies behind the wheel for the second consecutive season.
David Ragan was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the 2007 Auto Club 500 at California Speedway, logging a 16th-place finish. Ragan scored the best finish by a freshman driver at California Speedway when he scored a 12th-place finish in the September event.
The best qualifying effort by a Raybestos® Rookie in 2007 was a ninth-place effort by Juan Pablo Montoya in last February’s Auto Club 500.
Kyle Busch won the pole for the 2005 Auto Club 500 at California Speedway. He became the youngest pole winner in NASCAR’s premier series (19 yrs., 9 mos. and 24 days). Busch captured 2005 Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors.
Jimmie Johnson is the only Raybestos® Rookie to win in 11 previous spring races at California Speedway. Johnson captured the 2002 event by .620 seconds over Kurt Busch. The only other first-year driver to score a top-five finish in the Auto Club 500 is Tony Stewart, who placed fourth in 1999.
Kasey Kahne holds the record for number of laps led by a Raybestos® Rookie in the Auto Club 500. Kahne led five times for 77 laps in the 2004 race. The most Raybestos® Rookies to lead at least one lap in the Auto Club 500 is THREE in 2004: Kahne, Brendan Gaughan (once for one lap), and Brian Vickers (once for one lap).
RAYBESTOS® ROOKIE CONTENDER POINT STANDINGS
DRIVER POINTS
Sam Hornish, Jr. 11
Dario Franchitti 10
Regan Smith 9
Patrick Carpentier 1
Jacques Villeneuve 1
Michael McDowell 0
(Insider Racing News)
