NASCAR qualifying results from Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California
Today, the NASCAR Cup Series has a single session in Fontana, California. NASCAR qualifying is next at Auto Club Speedway.
View the full 2020 Auto Club starting lineup below.
2020 Auto Club Menu: NCS
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We had a few NASCAR inspection issues ahead of qualifying. Martin Truex Jr has been handed the biggest penalty. After failing inspection three times, Truex Jr will not be allowed to qualify.
Related: NASCAR inspection issues at Auto Club Speedway
Auto Club
Qualifying – Report
Laps: 1
Group A consists of everyone outside of the top 20 in points. Their order in this group of 18 has been set by random draw.
Michael McDowell is quickest as group A comes to a close.
California Qualifying Times – Group A: 1. Michael McDowell (40.304); 2. Ricky Stenhouse Jr (40.351); 3. Chris Buescher (40.367); 4. Bubba Wallace (40.487); 5. Tyler Reddick (40.583); 6. Christopher Bell (40.698); 7. John Hunter Nemechek (40.699); 8. Ty Dillon (40.738); 9. Austin Dillon (40.750); 10. Corey LaJoie (40.761);
Group B
All teams are running close to wide open. The polesitter will in fact have to run it wide open around the 2-mile oval.
Alex Bowman is the car to beat today in NASCAR qualifying. He was quickest in race pace and single lap pace in yesterday’s practice runs. Bowman is looking for a continued sweep of the weekend.
Drivers are running right against the outside wall as they exit the pit lane. They’re building up RPM on the warmup lap.
Teams are then dropping to the bottom groove when the green drops. Almost everyone is clipping the apron in turns three and four.
However, Kyle Busch was unable to clip the apron in turn three on his run. Joey Logano was already there and using the apron to coast to the pit lane after shutting off the engine at the start/finish line. That’s happened to several drivers.
Clint Bowyer sits at the top of the board with 10 cars left to qualify. Bowman is on track but Bowyer has him gapped by a tenth out of turn two. Bowman to 2nd.
Jimmie Johnson is the last car to qualify. He was trending in the green by lost it in the race to the line down the front stretch, by less than a tenth.
Clint Bowyer will start from the pole position at Auto Club Speedway!
View full NASCAR Cup Series qualifying results below.
Auto Club Speedway
Starting Lineup
March 1, 2020
Pos | Driver | Time
1. Clint Bowyer
40.086
2. Jimmie Johnson
40.093
3. Alex Bowman
40.143
4. Kurt Busch
40.233
5. Kevin Harvick
40.250
6. Aric Almirola
40.280
7. Joey Logano
40.284
8. Michael McDowell
40.304
9. Kyle Larson
40.341
10. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
40.351
11. Chris Buescher
40.367
12. Matt DiBenedetto
40.428
13. Chase Elliott
40.485
14. Bubba Wallace
40.487
15. Brad Keselowski
40.491
16. Ryan Blaney
40.503
17. Kyle Busch
40.516
18. Cole Custer
40.519
19. Tyler Reddick
40.583
20. Ryan Preece
40.587
21. William Byron
40.610
22. Christopher Bell
40.698
23. John Hunter Nemechek
40.699
24. Ty Dillon
40.738
25. Austin Dillon
40.750
26. Corey LaJoie
40.761
27. Ross Chastain
40.783
28. Denny Hamlin
40.790
29. Erik Jones
40.955
30. JJ Yeley
41.484
31. Daniel Suarez
41.511
32. Brennan Poole
41.819
33. Reed Sorenson
41.975
34. Joey Gase
42.375
35. Quin Houff
42.657
36. Garrett Smithley
42.842
37. Timmy Hill
43.729
38. Martin Truex Jr
-Not allowed to qualify-
More
NASCAR inspection issues at Auto Club Speedway
