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2020 Auto Club 400

{{short description|NASCAR Cup Series race}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox NASCAR race report

| Type = CUST

| Description = Race 3 of 36 in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series

| Race Name = Auto Club 400

| Details ref = {{cite web |title=2020 schedule |url=https://www.jayski.com/nascar-cup-series/2020-nascar-cup-series-schedule/ |website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site |accessdate=February 9, 2020|date=January 17, 2020}}{{cite web|title=Auto Club Speedway|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/auto-club-speedway.html|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|accessdate=February 9, 2020|date=January 3, 2013|archive-date=April 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428183453/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/auto-club-speedway.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Entry List|url=https://www.mrn.com/2020/02/25/2020-auto-club-400-entry-list-auto-club-speedway/|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|accessdate=February 25, 2020|date=February 25, 2020}}{{cite web|title=First Practice Results|url=https://www.mrn.com/2020/02/28/2020-auto-club-400-first-practice-speeds-auto-club-speedway/|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|accessdate=February 28, 2020|date=February 28, 2020}}{{cite web|title=Final Practice Results|url=https://www.mrn.com/2020/02/28/auto-club-400-final-practice-speeds-2020/|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|accessdate=February 28, 2020|date=February 28, 2020}}{{cite web|title=Starting Lineup|url=https://www.mrn.com/2020/02/29/auto-club-400-starting-lineup-2020-auto-club-speedway/|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|accessdate=February 29, 2020|date=February 29, 2020}}{{cite web|title=Auto Club 400 Results|url=https://www.mrn.com/2020/03/01/2020-auto-club-400-results-auto-club-speedway/|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|accessdate=March 1, 2020|date=March 1, 2020}}{{cite web|title=Points standings|url=https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/03/02/2020-03cup-points.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|accessdate=March 1, 2020|date=March 1, 2020}}

| Fulldate = {{Start date|2020|03|01}}

| Year = 2020

| Image =2020_Auto_Club_400_program_cover.png

| Caption =2020 Auto Club 400 program cover featuring a tribute to Jimmie Johnson, who retired at the end of this season.

| Location = Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California

| Course_mi = 2

| Course_km = 3.22

| Distance_laps = 200

| Distance_mi = 400

| Distance_km = 640

| Weather =

| Avg = {{convert|152.753|mph|km/h}}

| Pole_Driver = Clint Bowyer

| Pole_Team = Stewart-Haas Racing

| Pole_Time = 40.086

| Most_Driver = Alex Bowman

| Most_Team = Hendrick Motorsports

| Most_laps = 110

| Car = 88

| First_Driver = Alex Bowman

| First_Team = Hendrick Motorsports

| Network = Fox

| Announcers = Mike Joy and Jeff Gordon

| Ratings = 4.789 million{{cite web|title=Auto Club 400 ratings|url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/skedball-weekly-sports-tv-ratings-2-24-3-1-2020.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303150751/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/skedball-weekly-sports-tv-ratings-2-24-3-1-2020.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 March 2020|website=ShowBuzzDaily|publisher=Mitch Metcalf|accessdate=3 March 2020}}

| Radio = MRN

| Booth_Ann = Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle, and Rusty Wallace

| Turn_Ann = Dan Hubbard (1 & 2) and Kurt Becker (3 & 4)

}}

The 2020 Auto Club 400 was a NASCAR Cup Series race held on March 1, 2020, at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Contested over 200 laps on the {{convert|2|mi|km|adj=on|spell=in}} D-shaped oval, it was the third race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Report

=Background=

File:Auto Club Speedway Cloudy Sunset 2023.jpg

Auto Club Speedway (previously California Speedway) was a {{convert|2|mi|km|adj=on|spell=in}}, low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California which hosted NASCAR racing annually from 1997 to 2023. It was also used for open wheel racing events. The racetrack was located near the former locations of Ontario Motor Speedway and Riverside International Raceway. The track was owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation and was the only track owned by ISC to have its naming rights sold. The speedway was served by the nearby Interstate 10 and Interstate 15 freeways as well as a Metrolink station located behind the backstretch.

==Entry list==

  • (R) denotes rookie driver.
  • (i) denotes driver who are ineligible for series driver points.

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
{{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

00Quin Houff (R)StarCom RacingChevrolet
1Kurt BuschChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
2Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord
6Ross Chastain (i)Roush Fenway RacingFord
8Tyler Reddick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet
9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
10Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord
13Ty DillonGermain RacingChevrolet
14Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord
15Brennan Poole (R)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet
17Chris BuescherRoush Fenway RacingFord
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
19Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Matt DiBenedettoWood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
24William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
32Corey LaJoieGo Fas RacingFord
34Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord
37Ryan PreeceJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
38John Hunter Nemechek (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord
41Cole Custer (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFord
42Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet
43Bubba WallaceRichard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet
47Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
48Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
51Garrett SmithleyPetty Ware RacingChevrolet
52J. J. Yeley (i)Rick Ware RacingFord
53Joey Gase (i)Rick Ware RacingFord
66Timmy Hill (i)MBM MotorsportsToyota
77Reed SorensonSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
88Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
95Christopher Bell (R)Leavine Family RacingToyota
96Daniel SuárezGaunt Brothers RacingToyota
colspan="4"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/02/28/2020-03cup-entry.pdf Official entry list]

Practice

=First practice=

Alex Bowman was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 40.125 seconds and a speed of {{Convert|179.439|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=Bowman leads first Cup practice at Fontana as Chevys dominate|url=https://us.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/bowman-leads-cup-practice-fontana/4701339/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|accessdate=February 28, 2020|location=Fontana, California|date=February 28, 2020}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Time

! {{Tooltip|Speed|MPH}}

1

| 88 || Alex Bowman || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 40.125 || 179.439

2

| 42 || Kyle Larson || Chip Ganassi Racing || Chevrolet || 40.517 || 177.703

3

| 8 || Tyler Reddick (R) || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet || 40.539 || 177.607

colspan="7"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/02/28/2020-03cup-practice1.pdf Official first practice results]

=Final practice=

Alex Bowman was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 40.764 seconds and a speed of {{Convert|176.626|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=Alex Bowman tops final Cup practice; Kyle Busch tags wall|url=https://us.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/bowman-tops-final-practice-fontana/4701536/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|accessdate=February 28, 2020|location=Fontana, California|date=February 28, 2020}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Time

! {{Tooltip|Speed|MPH}}

1

| 88 || Alex Bowman || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 40.764 || 176.626

2

| 12 || Ryan Blaney || Team Penske || Ford || 40.866 || 176.186

3

| 43 || Bubba Wallace || Richard Petty Motorsports || Chevrolet || 40.868 || 176.177

colspan="7"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/02/28/2020-03cup-practice2.pdf Official final practice results]

Qualifying

File:Clint Bowyer Driver Introductions Sonoma 2019.jpg scored the pole position.]]

Clint Bowyer scored the pole for the race with a time of 40.086 and a speed of {{Convert|179.614|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=Bowyer narrowly beats out Johnson for Fontana pole|url=https://us.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/bowyer-johnson-fontana-pole/4704401/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|accessdate=February 29, 2020|location=Fontana, California|date=February 29, 2020}}

=Qualifying results=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%"
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Time

1

|14 ||Clint Bowyer ||Stewart-Haas Racing ||Ford ||40.086

2

|48 ||Jimmie Johnson ||Hendrick Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||40.093

3

|88 ||Alex Bowman ||Hendrick Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||40.143

4

|1 ||Kurt Busch ||Chip Ganassi Racing ||Chevrolet ||40.233

5

|4 ||Kevin Harvick ||Stewart-Haas Racing ||Ford ||40.250

6

|10 ||Aric Almirola ||Stewart-Haas Racing ||Ford ||40.280

7

|22 ||Joey Logano ||Team Penske ||Ford ||40.284

8

|34 ||Michael McDowell ||Front Row Motorsports ||Ford ||40.304

9

|42 ||Kyle Larson ||Chip Ganassi Racing ||Chevrolet ||40.341

10

|47 ||Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ||JTG Daugherty Racing ||Chevrolet ||40.351

11

|17 ||Chris Buescher ||Roush Fenway Racing ||Ford ||40.367

12

|21 ||Matt DiBenedetto ||Wood Brothers Racing ||Ford ||40.428

13

|9 ||Chase Elliott ||Hendrick Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||40.485

14

|43 ||Bubba Wallace ||Richard Petty Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||40.487

15

|2 ||Brad Keselowski ||Team Penske ||Ford ||40.491

16

|12 ||Ryan Blaney ||Team Penske ||Ford ||40.503

17

|18 ||Kyle Busch ||Joe Gibbs Racing ||Toyota ||40.516

18

|41 ||Cole Custer (R) ||Stewart-Haas Racing ||Ford ||40.519

19

|8 ||Tyler Reddick (R) ||Richard Childress Racing ||Chevrolet ||40.583

20

|37 ||Ryan Preece ||JTG Daugherty Racing ||Chevrolet ||40.587

21

|24 ||William Byron ||Hendrick Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||40.610

22

|95 ||Christopher Bell (R) ||Leavine Family Racing ||Toyota ||40.698

23

|38 ||John Hunter Nemechek (R) ||Front Row Motorsports ||Ford ||40.699

24

|13 ||Ty Dillon ||Germain Racing ||Chevrolet ||40.738

25

|3 ||Austin Dillon ||Richard Childress Racing ||Chevrolet ||40.750

26

|32 ||Corey LaJoie ||Go Fas Racing ||Ford ||40.761

27

|6 ||Ross Chastain (i) ||Roush Fenway Racing |||Ford ||40.783

28

|11 ||Denny Hamlin ||Joe Gibbs Racing ||Toyota ||40.790

29

|20 ||Erik Jones ||Joe Gibbs Racing ||Toyota ||40.955

30

|52 ||J. J. Yeley (i) ||Rick Ware Racing ||Ford ||41.484

31

|96 ||Daniel Suárez ||Gaunt Brothers Racing ||Toyota ||41.511

32

|15 ||Brennan Poole (R) ||Premium Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||41.819

33

|77 ||Reed Sorenson ||Spire Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||41.975

34

|53 ||Joey Gase (i) ||Rick Ware Racing ||Ford ||42.375

35

|00 ||Quin Houff (R) ||StarCom Racing ||Chevrolet ||42.657

36

|51 ||Garrett Smithley ||Rick Ware Racing ||Chevrolet ||42.842

37

|66 ||Timmy Hill (i) ||MBM Motorsports ||Toyota ||43.729

38

|19 ||Martin Truex Jr. ||Joe Gibbs Racing ||Toyota ||0.000

colspan="6"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/02/29/2020-03cup-qualresults.pdf Official qualifying results]

Race

File:Alex bowman (32588274707).jpg won the race.]]

=Stage Results=

Stage One

Laps: 60

class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%"
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Points

188Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet10
212Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord9
348Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet8
410Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord7
51Kurt BuschChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet6
62Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord5
722Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord4
821Matt DiBenedettoWood Brothers RacingFord3
99Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2
1018Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1
colspan="6"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/03/01/2020-03cup-results.pdf Official stage one results]

Stage Two

Laps: 60

class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%"
Pos

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Points

112Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord10
288Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet9
348Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet8
42Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord7
519Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota6
69Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet5
718Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota4
811Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota3
920Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota2
104Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord1
colspan="6"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/03/01/2020-03cup-results.pdf Official stage two results]

=Final Stage Results=

Stage Three

Laps: 80

class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%"
Pos

! Grid

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Laps

! Points

1388Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20059
21718Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota20040
341Kurt BuschChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet20040
4139Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20040
5152Brad KeselowskiTeam PenskeFord20044
62811Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota20034
7248Jimmie JohnsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20046
8610Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord20036
954Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord20029
102920Erik JonesJoe Gibbs RacingToyota20029
11198Tyler Reddick (R)Richard Childress RacingChevrolet20026
12722Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord20029
131221Matt DiBenedettoWood Brothers RacingFord20027
143819Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota20029
152124William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20022
161117Chris BuescherRoush Fenway RacingFord20021
17276Ross Chastain (i)Roush Fenway RacingFord2000
181841Cole Custer (R)Stewart-Haas RacingFord19919
191612Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord19937
201047Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet19917
21942Kyle LarsonChip Ganassi RacingChevrolet19916
22834Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord19915
23114Clint BowyerStewart-Haas RacingFord19914
24253Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet19913
252338John Hunter Nemechek (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord19912
262413Ty DillonGermain RacingChevrolet19911
271443Bubba WallaceRichard Petty MotorsportsChevrolet19810
283196Daniel SuárezGaunt Brothers RacingToyota1989
292632Corey LaJoieGo Fas RacingFord1978
302037Ryan PreeceJTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet1977
313052J. J. Yeley (i)Rick Ware RacingFord1970
323215Brennan Poole (R)Premium MotorsportsChevrolet1955
333453Joey Gase (i)Rick Ware RacingFord1930
343651Garrett SmithleyPetty Ware RacingChevrolet1933
353500Quin Houff (R)StarCom RacingChevrolet1922
363377Reed SorensonSpire MotorsportsChevrolet1911
373766Timmy Hill (i)MBM MotorsportsToyota1840
382295Christopher Bell (R)Leavine Family RacingToyota801
colspan="8"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/03/01/2020-03cup-results.pdf Official race results]

=Race statistics=

  • Lead changes: 16 among 8 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 3 for 13
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 2 hours, 37 minutes and 7 seconds
  • Average speed: {{convert|152.753|mph|km/h}}

Media

=Television=

The race was the 20th race Fox Sports covered at the Auto Club Speedway. Mike Joy and three-time Auto Club winner Jeff Gordon called the race in the booth for Fox. Jamie Little, Regan Smith, Vince Welch and Matt Yocum handled the pit road duties for the television side. Larry McReynolds and Jamie McMurray provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
colspan="3"|Fox
Booth announcersPit reportersIn-race analysts
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Jeff Gordon		Jamie Little
Regan Smith
Vince Welch
Matt Yocum		Larry McReynolds
Jamie McMurray

=Radio=

MRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle and 2001 race winner Rusty Wallace called the race from the booth when the field raced their way down the front stretch. Dan Hubbard called the race from a billboard outside turn 2 when the field raced their way through turns 1 and 2 & Kyle Rickey called the race from a billboard outside turn 3 when the field raced their way through turns 3 and 4. Kim Coon, Steve Post and Dillon Welch had the pit road duties for MRN.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
colspan="3"|MRN
Booth announcersTurn announcersPit reporters
Lead announcer: Alex Hayden
Announcer: Jeff Striegle
Announcer: Rusty Wallace		Turns 1 & 2: Dan Hubbard
Turns 3 & 4: Kyle Rickey		Kim Coon
Steve Post
Dillon Welch

Standings after the race

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

;Drivers' Championship standings

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
! Pos

! Driver

! Points

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

| Ryan Blaney

| style="text-align:center;"| 122

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 2

| Joey Logano

| style="text-align:center;"| 111 (–11)

align="left"| 10px 11

| style="text-align:center;"| 3

| Alex Bowman

| style="text-align:center;"| 110 (–12)

align="left"| 10px 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 4

| Kevin Harvick

| style="text-align:center;"| 110 (–12)

align="left"| 10px 6

| style="text-align:center;"| 5

| Jimmie Johnson

| style="text-align:center;"| 106 (–16)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 6

| Chase Elliott

| style="text-align:center;"| 105 (–17)

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 7

| Denny Hamlin

| style="text-align:center;"| 94 (–28)

align="left"| 10px 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 8

| Matt DiBenedetto

| style="text-align:center;"| 87 (–35)

align="left"| 10px 5

| style="text-align:center;"| 9

| Kyle Larson

| style="text-align:center;"| 86 (–36)

align="left"| 10px 7

| style="text-align:center;"| 10

| Aric Almirola

| style="text-align:center;"| 84 (–38)

align="left"| 10px 3

| style="text-align:center;"| 11

| Chris Buescher

| style="text-align:center;"| 82 (–40)

align="left"| 10px 7

| style="text-align:center;"| 12

| Brad Keselowski

| style="text-align:center;"| 82 (–40)

align="left"| 10px 3

| style="text-align:center;"| 13

| Martin Truex Jr.

| style="text-align:center;"| 79 (–43)

align="left"| 10px 7

| style="text-align:center;"| 14

| Austin Dillon

| style="text-align:center;"| 76 (–46)

align="left"| 10px 10

| style="text-align:center;"| 15

| Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

| style="text-align:center;"| 73 (–49)

align="left"| 10px 3

| style="text-align:center;"| 16

| Clint Bowyer

| style="text-align:center;"| 70 (–52)

class="sortbottom"

!colspan="9"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2020/03/02/2020-03cup-points.pdf Official driver's standings]

{{col-2}}

;Manufacturers' Championship standings

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
! Pos

! Manufacturer

! Points

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

| Ford

| style="text-align:center;"| 107

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 2

| Chevrolet

| style="text-align:center;"| 104 (–3)

align="left"| 10px

| style="text-align:center;"| 3

| Toyota

| style="text-align:center;"| 97 (–10)

class="sortbottom"

  • Note: Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings.

{{col-end}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{NASCAR next race

| Series = NASCAR Cup Series

| Monsteryear = 2020

| Previous_race = 2020 Pennzoil 400

| Next_race = 2020 FanShield 500

}}

{{2020 NASCAR Cup}}

Auto Club 400

Auto Club 400

Auto Club 400

Category:NASCAR races at Auto Club Speedway