Rescue workers tend to the wreckage of the No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota driven by Denny Hamlin after he collided with Joey Logano on the final lap of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race in Fontana, Calif. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
 ————————

The action was fast and furious at Fontana this past weekend, but it did not come without casualties.

Denny Hamlin hit the wall hard after wrecking on the last lap with rival Joey Logano, and the result was a fracture of his L1 vertebra.
The upshot is that surgery may be necessary and Hamlin might not be in the car for a while, a tough break for Denny -- who has been very fast this year.

What do we learn from this?

1. SAFER barriers are needed on all walls, even those on the inside of the track. Drivers wreck pretty much everywhere, and if tracks can’t comply with this, more drivers will get hurt. Denny would likely not have been injured as seriously if he had hit a wall with a SAFER barrier, so hopefully this is a wakeup call at Fontana and other tracks.

2. Hard racing can often lead to unexpected consequences. Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano were obviously hot to beat each other after last week’s exchange. But considering how this ended up, I wonder if Denny wishes he hadn’t taken the battle so far. His chance to run for the Cup is likely over, and if he had been a little less aggressive, maybe he’d be OK right now. This is of course a case of hindsight being 20/20, and drivers will always want to race hard for the win, but seeing how this accident has affected Denny might make some drivers think twice this year about battling too hard for one individual spot if it means that a wreck of this nature might be likely as a result.

3. Those who say Joey Logano is to blame for Denny’s injury are missing the point. This was good hard racing, the kind of thing people want to see, and it just took a wrong turn. Fans want rivalries, and rival drivers to race each other hard. Joey didn’t mean to cause a wreck, much less hurt Hamlin in the process. He was just racing for the win, just like Denny. Any call for other drivers to retaliate against Joey for this is misguided and dangerous.

More takes:


Click here to read about my take on the Logano-Stewart “fight” that happened after the Fontana race.

Click here to read about the future and what it may hold for Stewart-Haas racing, which has struggled so far in 2013.

DEARBORN — One lucky winner will drive away with a 2014 Ford Mustang GT and $5,000 in Ford Racing Performance Parts and Ford Custom Accessories in Motorcraft’s fifth-annual 5.0 Fever Sweepstakes.

Contestants 18 years or older can enter online for a chance to win at www.Mustang50Fever.com now through 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 10, 2013, or at Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing’s midway display at select NHRA Mello Yello Series events. Entries at www.Mustang50Fever.com are limited to one per person. For the first time ever, participants can get one additional entry each by registering at www.FordParts.com.

In 2012, nearly 130,000 entered the contest. Mark Whitmer, of Plain City, Ohio, was the lucky winner.

“There’s nothing like a Mustang, and with $5,000 of Ford performance parts and accessories, there’s plenty of room to make it your own,” said Mary Lou Quesnell, director of marketing for Ford Customer Service Division. “The Mustang has been a cornerstone for Ford Motor Company for almost 50 years now. We’re excited to offer one as a grand prize.”

Fans can enter at the Motorcraft/Quick Lane display in the midway of the following NHRA Mello Yello Series events in 2013 (list subject to change):

April 19-21: zMAX Dragway, Charlotte, N.C.
May 31-June 2: Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Englishtown, N.J
June 14-16: Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tenn.
June 21-23: New England Dragway and Motorsports Park, Epping, N.H.
June 28-30: Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, Ill.
July 5-7: Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, Norwalk, Ohio
July 19-21: Bandimere Speedway, Denver, Co.
August 29-September 2: Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Ind.
September 20-22: Texas Motorplex, Dallas, Texas
October 25-27: The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nev.
November 7-10: Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Pomona, Calif.

For official rules for the Mustang 5.0 Fever Sweepstakes, visit www.Mustang50Fever.com.

For live updates from Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing, follow the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang team on Twitter (MQL_Racing) and Facebook (click on the “Twitter” icon). Follow driver Bob Tasca III on Twitter at @Tasca3 and Facebook.

Race fans can now begin casting ballots for their favorite Sprint Fan Vote eligible driver in the hopes of seeing him or her in the prestigious NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on Saturday, May 18 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Voting begins today and ends at 5 p.m. ET on the day of the race.

Fans can vote an unlimited number of times between March 20 and May 18 by downloading the NASCAR Mobile ’13 application or visiting NASCAR.com/SprintFanVote. Votes cast on NASCAR Mobile ’13 will count twice towards a driver’s total. The driver receiving the highest number of votes will earn a spot in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, which airs live on SPEED at 7:30 p.m. ET. Radio coverage on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio begins at 6:30 p.m. ET.

In 2008, Kasey Kahne became the first and only driver to win the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race after being voted into the event via the Sprint Fan Vote. Other winners of the Sprint Fan Vote include: Ken Schrader (2004), Martin Truex Jr. (2005), Kyle Petty (2006), Kenny Wallace (2007), Joey Logano (2009), Carl Edwards (2010), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2011) and Bobby Labonte (2012).

To date, 26 drivers are eligible for the 2013 Sprint Fan Vote including Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidates Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. To be eligible for the Sprint Fan Vote, drivers must have finished in the top 55 of the final 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver points standings or attempted to qualify for the 2013 Daytona 500. Any eligible Sprint Fan Vote candidate who wins a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race during the 2013 season will automatically gain entry into the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Subsequently, the driver’s name will be removed from the Sprint Fan Vote ballot and their accumulated votes will be voided.

In addition to accumulating the most votes, a Sprint Fan Vote-eligible driver must also finish the Sprint Showdown qualifying race on the lead lap with a car in “raceable” condition (as determined by NASCAR Competition) to earn a spot in the race field.

Tickets for the entire NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race weekend are on sale now. Packages start at just $99 for all weekend events including scanner rental. To purchase tickets, call 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

Fans are encouraged to follow @NASCAR, @MissSprintCup and @CLTMotorSpdwy on Twitter to engage in the #NASCAR #SprintAllStar Race conversation throughout the Sprint Fan Vote window.

Drivers eligible for the Sprint Fan Vote include:

A.J. Allmendinger
Aric Almirola
Dave Blaney
Mike Bliss
Jeff Burton
Landon Cassill
Bill Elliott
David Gilliland
Travis Kvapil
Bobby Labonte
Terry Labonte
Michael McDowell
Jamie McMurray
Casey Mears
Paul Menard
Juan Pablo Montoya
Danica Patrick
David Ragan
David Reutimann
Scott Speed
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
David Stremme
Martin Truex Jr.
Michael Waltrip
Josh Wise
JJ Yeley

History

·         Groundbreaking for California Speedway, as Auto Club Speedway was originally known, took place in November 1995.

·         The first race at Auto Club Speedway was a NASCAR K&N Pro Series, West race won by Ken Schrader on June 21, 1997.

·         The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on June 22, 1997 and won by Jeff Gordon.

·         September 2004 was the first night race at Auto Club Speedway and that also was the first year both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series ran two races in a season there.

·         The track name was changed to Auto Club Speedway (ACS) in February 2008.

Notebook

·         There have been 23 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Auto Club Speedway, the track hosted one NSCS 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.

·         125 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club; 105 in more than one.

·         Three drivers have participated in all 23 races: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon and Bobby Labonte.

·         Joe Nemechek won the inaugural pole with a speed of 183.015 mph (39.341 secs.)

·         15 drivers have poles at ACS, led by Kurt Busch with three.

·         Kurt Busch (2006) and Jamie McMurray (2010) are the only two drivers to win consecutive poles at Auto Club Speedway.

·         Youngest ACS pole winner: Kyle Busch (2/27/2005 – 19 years, 9 months, 25 days).

·         Oldest ACS pole winner: Mike Skinner (4/30/2000 – 42 years, 10 months, 2 days).

·         14 different drivers have won at ACS, led by Jimmie Johnson (five). Three other drivers have multiple wins at Auto Club Speedway: Jeff Gordon and 2012 Daytona 500 champion Matt Kenseth each have three wins, Tony Stewart has two.

·         Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Auto Club Speedway with nine, followed by Roush Fenway Racing with seven.

·         California-native Jimmie Johnson became the first and only driver to win from the pole at Auto Club Speedway in 2008.

·         Only two ACS races have been won from the front row both by five-time series champion Jimmie Johnson,  fall of 2008 (pole); and the fall of 2007 (second-place).

·         12 of the 23 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Auto Club Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.

·         Seven of the 23 races have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.

·         The deepest in the field that a race winner has started was 31st, by Matt Kenseth in the spring of 2006.

·         Youngest ACS winner: Kyle Busch (09/04/2005 – 20 years, 4 months, 2 days).

·         Oldest ACS winner: Rusty Wallace (04/29/2001 – 44 years, 8 months, 15 days).

·         Jimmie Johnson leads the series in runner-up finishes at Auto Club Speedway with five; followed by his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon with four. 

·         Jimmie Johnson lead the series in top-five finishes at Auto club Speedway with 12; followed by Jeff Gordon (10) and Matt Kenseth (eight).

·         Jimmie Johnson leads the series in top-10 finishes with 14; followed by Matt Kenseth (13), Carl Edwards (12) and Tony Stewart (12).

·         Jimmie Johnson leads the series in average finish at ACS with a 5.389;

·         Jimmie Johnson (5.3) and Carl Edwards (8.7) are the only two active drivers with an average finish in the top 10 at Auto Club Speedway.

·         There have been two green-white-checkered finishes at Auto Club Speedway: 2005 (250/254) and 2006 (250/251).

·         Kyle Busch won his first pole (2/27/05) and first series win (9/4/05) at Auto Club Speedway. Jimmie Johnson also posted his first series career win at ACS in (4/28/02).

·         Greg Biffle (4/28/02) and J.J. Yeley (9/5/04) made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts at Auto Club Speedway.

·         Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to win consecutive races at Auto Club Speedway (fall of 2009 – spring of 2010).

·         12 of the 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers who have won at Auto Club Speedway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Jeff Gordon (1997 – inaugural event) and Jimmie Johnson (2002) are the only drivers to win at ACS in their first appearance.

·         Tony Stewart competed at Auto Club Speedway 18 times before winning in the fall of 2010; the longest span of any the 14 winners. Only Stewart (18) and Kevin Harvick (17) have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Auto Club Speedway.

·         Jeff Burton and Bobby Labonte lead the series with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Auto Club Speedway without visiting Victory Lane at 23.

·         Since the advent of electronic scoring, the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Auto Club Speedway was the March 27, 2011 race won by Kevin Harvick with an MOV of 0.144 second.

·         Three reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions have gone on to win at Auto Club Speedway the following season: Jeff Gordon (1999), Jimmie Johnson, who is the only one to do it multiple times, (2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010) and Tony Stewart (2012).

·         Two drivers have won at Auto Club Speedway and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in the same season: Jeff Gordon (1997) and Jimmie Johnson (2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010).

·         This weekend will be Danica Patrick’s first attempt at Auto Club Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Shawna Robinson is the only female driver to have made a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Auto Club Speedway to date. She did so on April 28, 2002 starting 43rd and finishing 42nd.

·         Only three car numbers have produced three or more Auto Club Speedway NSCS wins:

Car Number – Drivers – (Years)

o    No. 48  – Jimmie Johnson (2002, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010)

o    No. 17 – Matt Kenseth (2006, 2007 and 2009)

o    No. 24 – Jeff Gordon (1997, 1999 and 2004)

 

Auto Club Speedway Data

Season Race #: 5 of 36 (03-24-13)

Track Size: 2-miles

Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 14 degrees

Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 14 degrees

Banking/Frontstretch: 11 degrees

Banking/Backstretch: 3 degrees

Frontstretch Length:  3,100 feet

Backstretch Length:  2,500 feet

Race Length: 200 laps / 400 miles

 

Top 12 Driver Rating at Auto Club

Jimmie Johnson........................ 122.4

Kyle Busch............................... 106.4

Matt Kenseth............................. 105.2

Tony Stewart............................. 102.4

Mark Martin................................. 99.7

Carl Edwards.............................. 98.5

Jeff Gordon................................ 97.7

Greg Biffle.................................. 95.9

Kevin Harvick.............................. 94.5

Kasey Kahne.............................. 92.6

Clint Bowyer............................... 91.7

Denny Hamlin............................. 89.8

Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2012 races (14 total) among active drivers at Auto Club Speedway

 

Qualifying/Race Data

2012 pole winner: Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 186.403 mph, 38.626 secs. 03-23-12

 

2012 race winner: Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 160.166 mph, (1:36:39), 03-25-12

 

Track qualifying record: Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 188.245 mph, 38.248 secs. 02-25-05

 

Track race record: Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 160.166 mph, (1:36:39; rain shortened), 03-25-12

 

NASCAR in California

·         There have been 133 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in California.

Track Name	City	NSCS
Riverside International Raceway	Riverside	48
Sonoma Raceway	Sonoma	24
Auto Club Speedway	Fontana	23
Ontario Motor Speedway	Ontario	9
California State Fairgrounds	Sacramento	6
Carrell Speedway	Gardena	4
Ascot Stadium	Los Angeles	3
Bay Meadows Race Track	San Mateo	3
Marchbanks Speedway	Hanford	3
Oakland Stadium	Oakland	3
Redwood Speedway	Eureka	2
Willow Springs Speedway	Lancaster	2
Capitol Speedway	Sacramento	1
Merced Fairgrounds	Merced	1
Santa Clara Fairgrounds	San Jose	1

 

NASCAR in California Cont.:

·         424 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as California.

·         34 drivers from California have won at least one race in NASCAR’s three national series. 24 of the 34 California native NASCAR winners have won in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Driver	NSCS	NNS	NCWTS
Jeff Gordon	87	5	0
Jimmie Johnson	61	1	0
Kevin Harvick	19	39	14
Marvin Panch	17	0	0
Ernie Irvan	15	3	0
Dick Rathmann	13	0	0
Dan Gurney	5	0	0
Eddie Gray	4	0	0
Parnelli Jones	4	0	0
Eddie Pagan	4	0	0
Robby Gordon	3	1	0
Ray Elder	2	0	0
Danny Letner	2	0	0
Marvin Porter	2	0	0
Dick Brooks	1	0	0
Marvin Burke	1	0	0
Jim Cook	1	0	0
Lou Figaro	1	0	0
Danny Graves	1	0	0
Johnny Mantz	1	0	0
Casey Mears	1	1	0
Bill Norton	1	0	0
John Soares	1	0	0
Danny Weinberg	1	0	0
Ron Hornaday Jr	0	4	51
Jason Leffler	0	2	1
David Gilliland	0	1	0
Joe Ruttman	0	1	13
Boris Said	0	1	1
Mike Skinner	0	1	28
Matt Crafton	0	0	2
Justin Lofton	0	0	1
Scott Speed	0	0	1
Brandon Whitt	0	0	1

 

 

AUTO CLUB-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

 

Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Window Film Ford)

·         One win, four top fives, six top 10s

·         Average finish of 17.2

·         Average Running Position of 12.7, ninth-best

·         Driver Rating of 95.9, eighth-best

·         215 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

·         1,024 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 171.400 mph, seventh-fastest

·         2,269 Laps in the Top 15 (69.1%), eighth-most

·         583 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), 11th-most

 

Clint Bowyer (No. 15 5-Hour Energy Toyota)

·         Two top fives, seven top 10s

·         Average finish of 10.8

·         Average Running Position of 13.2, 10th-best

·         Driver Rating of 91.7, 11th-best

·         1,003 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most

 

Kurt Busch (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing-Serta Chevrolet)

·         One win, four top fives, nine top 10s; three poles

·         Average finish of 12.7

·         Average Running Position of 14.7, 13th-best

·         Driver Rating of 89.2, 13th-best

·         90 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most

·         1,141 Green Flag Passes, third-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 170.930 mph, 12th-fastest

·         2,127 Laps in the Top 15 (64.8%), 10th-most

·         631 Quality Passes, ninth-most

 

Kyle Busch (No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota)

·         One win, six top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 11.3

·         Average Running Position of 9.6, third-best

·         Driver Rating of 106.4, second-best

·         195 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 171.427 mph, fifth-fastest

·         2,603 Laps in the Top 15 (79.3%), third-most

·         701 Quality Passes, third-most

 

Carl Edwards (No. 99 Subway Ford)

·         One win, seven top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 8.7

·         Average Running Position of 12.3, seventh-best

·         Driver Rating of 98.5, sixth-best

·         153 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 171.437 mph, third-fastest

·         2,472 Laps in the Top 15 (75.3%), sixth-most

·         640 Quality Passes, seventh-most

 

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet)

·         Three wins, 10 top fives, 11 top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 11.8

·         Average Running Position of 9.8, fourth-best

·         Driver Rating of 97.7, seventh-best

·         200 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

·         1,123 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 171.397 mph, eighth-fastest

·         2,502 Laps in the Top 15 (76.2%), fourth-most

·         Series-high 715 Quality Passes

 

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota)

·         One top five, four top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 18.5

·         Average Running Position of 14.6, 12th-best

·         Driver Rating of 89.8, 12th-best

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 171.018 mph, 10th-fastest

·         1,738 Laps in the Top 15 (62.5%), 13th-most

 

Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet)

·         One win, four top fives, nine top 10s

·         Average finish of 15.5

·         Average Running Position of 12.3, eighth-best

·         Driver Rating of 94.5, ninth-best

·         1,097 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 171.138 mph, ninth-fastest

·         2,381 Laps in the Top 15 (72.5%), seventh-most

·         632 Quality Passes, eighth-most

 

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's/Jimmie Johnson Foundation Chevrolet)

·         Five wins, 12 top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 5.4

·         Series-best Average Running Position of 5.4

·         Series-best Driver Rating of 122.4

·         Series-high 456 Fastest Laps Run

·         Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 172.113 mph

·         Series-high 3,142 Laps in the Top 15 (95.7%)

·         708 Quality Passes, second-most

 

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet)

·         One win, four top fives, nine top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 14.9

·         Average Running Position of 14.6, 11th-best

·         Driver Rating of 92.6, 10th-best

·         107 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most

·         1,072 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 170.924 mph, 13th-fastest

·         2,072 Laps in the Top 15 (63.1%), 11th-most

·         627 Quality Passes, 10th-most

 

Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Dollar General Toyota)

·         Three wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s

·         Average finish of 10.3

·         Average Running Position of 9.5, second-best

·         Driver Rating of 105.2, third-best

·         128 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

·         1,044 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 171.459 mph, second-fastest

·         2,689 Laps in the Top 15 (81.9%), second-most

·         646 Quality Passes, sixth-most

 

Mark Martin (No. 55 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota)

·         One win, six top fives, 10 top 10s

·         Average finish of 13.6

·         Average Running Position of 9.9, fifth-best

·         Driver Rating of 99.7, fifth-best

·         146 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 171.430 mph, fourth-fastest

·         2,207 Laps in the Top 15 (79.3%), ninth-most

 

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil 1 Chevrolet)

·         Two wins, six top fives, 12 top 10s

·         Average finish of 13.5

·         Average Running Position of 10.1, sixth-best

·         Driver Rating of 102.4, fourth-best

·         216 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 171.426 mph, sixth-fastest

·         2,502 Laps in the Top 15 (76.2%), fourth-most

·         655 Quality Passes, fifth-most

 

 

Chase Contenders

 

The Top 12

 

Following Race 4 of 36

 

                                                                                Rank        Season

                                                                                Last          Driver

Driver                             Points   Wins      Poles        Week        Rating

1. Brad Keselowski        166       0           0              2           110.0

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.     157       0           0              3           101.7

3. Jimmie Johnson       151       1           0              1           117.4

4. Clint Bowyer              128       0           0               9             88.9

5. Greg Biffle                  126       0           0               8             89.9

6. Denny Hamlin            125       0           0               4             99.0

7. Kasey Kahne              124       1           0             14           105.2

8. Carl Edwards             124       1           0              5             87.7

9. Paul Menard               118       0           0             12             81.7

10. Kyle Busch                 115       0           1             17             95.2

11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.  115       0           0             11             76.9

12. Joey Logano             104       0           0             15             84.5

    ___________________________________________________________

 

ADDITIONAL DRIVERS

13. Matt Kenseth                  103         30. Dave Blaney                66

14. Jamie McMurray             100         31. AJ Allmendinger           64

15. Marcos Ambrose             99           32. David Reutimann         63

16. Kurt Busch                     98           33. David Ragan               53

17. Kevin Harvick                 98           34. David Stremme            50

18. Martin Truex Jr.               96           35. David Gilliland              49

19. Mark Martin                    95           36. Travis Kvapil                46

20. Aric Almirola                   95           37. Michael McDowell        38

21. Jeff Gordon                    90           38. Terry Labonte              37

22. Casey Mears.                 89           39. Scott Speed                32

23. Ryan Newman                87           40. Landon Cassill             25

24. Tony Stewart                  85           41. Michael Waltrip            23

25. Jeff Burton                     78           42. Ken Schrader               17

26. Juan Pablo Montoya        77           43. Scott Riggs                   1

27. J.J. Yeley                       75          

28. Danica Patrick                69          

29. Bobby Labonte                66

 

Note: The first 26 races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season determine which 12 drivers qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, contested over the final 10 races of the season. After race No. 26, the top 10 earn a berth in the Chase. Spots 11 and 12 – the Wild Cards – will go to those drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, provided they are in the top 20.

 

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2012 Top 12 at Auto Club Speedway

	Driver	Races	Poles	Wins	Top Fives	Top 10s	DNFs	Average Finish	Driver Rating
1	Brad Keselowski	4	0	0	0	0	0	22.8	64.5
2	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	20	0	0	4	5	5	20.8	75.8
3	Jimmie Johnson	18	1	5	12	14	0	5.4	122.4
4	Clint Bowyer	12	0	0	2	7	0	10.8	91.7
5	Greg Biffle	18	0	1	4	6	3	17.2	95.9
6	Denny Hamlin	12	2	0	1	4	2	18.5	89.8
7	Kasey Kahne	16	1	1	4	9	3	14.9	92.6
8	Carl Edwards	15	1	1	7	12	0	8.7	98.5
9	Paul Menard	10	0	0	0	0	0	24.7	57.8
10	Kyle Busch	15	1	1	6	10	1	11.3	106.4
11	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	0	0	0	0	0	0	-	-
12	Joey Logano	6	0	0	1	1	0	17.5	70.9

* – Based on last 14 races at Auto Club Speedway.