Following the season-opening spectacle that is Daytona 500, NASCAR's 'true' season begins now. Auto Club Speedway kicks off a three-week stretch on the west coast in what is going to be the final race on the two-mile oval before it is reconfigured into a short track.
Unfortunately, rain will be a challenge during the weekend, and all on-track activity was cancelled Saturday.
Looking back on last week, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. snapped a 199-race winless streak with his Daytona 500 victory, and returned JTG Daugherty Racing to the winner's circle for the first time since Watkins Glen in August, 2014.
Joey Logano, who finished second in the 500, enters Fontana as the championship leader.
Kyle Larson is the defending winner of this race, passing Daniel Suarez late and then fending off Austin Dillon on the final lap.
What is the NASCAR at Auto Club Speedway schedule?
(Schedule is tentative and subject to change)
A major storm is currently slamming the west coast, brining with it heavy rain, cold temperatures, and even snow in some places. NASCAR has been forced to cancel practice and qualifying for both the Cup and Xfinity Series. This will put Christopher Bell (Cup) and Austin Hill (Xfinity) on pole for both races.
The sanctioning body also tried, but failed to get the Xfinity race in. That too was postponed until Sunday after the Cup race. Drivers Tyler Reddick, Austin Dillon, and Ross Chastain will be pulling double duty and running both events.
Saturday, February 25
12:00 p.m. ET – NASCAR Xfinity Series practice - RAINED OUT
12:30 p.m. ET – NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying - RAINED OUT
2:00 p.m. ET – NASCAR Cup Series practice - RAINED OUT
2:45 p.m. ET - NASCAR Cup Series qualifying - RAINED OUT
5:00 p.m. ET - NASCAR Xfinity Series race (150 laps) - POSTPONED
Sunday, February 26
3:30 p.m. ET – NASCAR Cup Series Pala Casino 400 race (200 laps) – FOX
8:00 p.m. ET - NASCAR Xfinity Series race (150 laps) - FS2
How can I watch?
- Date: Sunday, February 26th
- TV show start time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- Stages/Laps: 65/65/70 (200 laps, 400 miles)
- TV channel: FOX | TSN 3/5 (Canada)
- Live stream: FOX Sports streaming; fuboTV
- Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Who is racing at Auto Club Speedway?
36 cars have entered the race, all with charters. No one will go home. J.J. Yeley is back behind the wheel of the No. 15 RWR entry, which earned a tenth-place finish in the Daytona 500 with rookie Riley Herbst.
Starting Lineup at Auto Club Speedway
| Pos. | Car No. | Driver | Team | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 2 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | JTG-Daugherty Racing | Chevrolet |
| 3 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Ford |
| 4 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 5 | 17 | Chris Buescher | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 6 | 16 | AJ Allmendinger | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 7 | 99 | Daniel Suarez | Trackhouse Racing team | Chevrolet |
| 8 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing team | Chevrolet |
| 9 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Ford |
| 10 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 11 | 51 | Cody Ware | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 12 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 13 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 14 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 15 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 16 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | RFK Racing | Ford |
| 17 | 10 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 18 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 19 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Ford |
| 20 | 42 | Noah Gragson | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet |
| 21 | 8 | Kyle Busch | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 22 | 15 | JJ Yeley | Rick Ware Racing | Ford |
| 23 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota |
| 24 | 21 | Harrison Burton | Wood Brothers Racing | Ford |
| 25 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 26 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports | Ford |
| 27 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 28 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 29 | 31 | Justin Haley | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet |
| 30 | 78 | BJ McLeod | Live Fast Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 31 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Stewart-Haas Racing | Ford |
| 32 | 24 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 33 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet |
| 34 | 43 | Erik Jones | Legacy Motor Club | Chevrolet |
| 35 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Toyota |
| 36 | 77 | Ty Dillon | Spire Motorsports | Chevrolet |
