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2022 WISE Power 400

{{Short description|Second race of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series}}

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

{{Infobox NASCAR race report

| Type = CUST

| Description = Race 2 of 36 in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series

| Race Name = WISE Power 400

| Details ref = {{cite web |title=2022 schedule |url=https://www.jayski.com/nascar-cup-series/2022-nascar-cup-series-schedule/ |website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site |accessdate=January 19, 2022}}{{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.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2022/2/26/12202_ENTNUM.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=February 21, 2022|date=February 21, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Practice Results|url=https://www.nascar.com/results/racecenter/2022/nascar-cup-series/wise-power-400/stn/practice1/|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR|access-date=February 26, 2022|date=February 26, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Qualifying Results|url=https://www.nascar.com/results/racecenter/2022/nascar-cup-series/wise-power-400/stn/qualifying/|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR|access-date=February 26, 2022|date=February 26, 2022}}{{cite web|title=WISE Power 400 Results|url=https://www.nascar.com/results/racecenter/2022/nascar-cup-series/wise-power-400/stn/results/|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR|access-date=February 27, 2022|date=February 27, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Points standings|url=https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2022/2/27/12202_UNOFFDRIVPTS.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=February 27, 2022|date=February 27, 2022}}

| Fulldate = {{Start date|2022|02|27}}

| Year = 2022

| Image = 2022 WISE Power 400 program cover.jpg

| Caption =The 2022 WISE Power 400 program cover.

| 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|114.222|mph|km/h}}

| Pole_Driver = Austin Cindric

| Pole_Team = Team Penske

| Pole_Time = 41.226

| Most_Driver = Tyler Reddick

| Most_Team = Richard Childress Racing

| Most_laps = 90

| Car = 5

| First_Driver = Kyle Larson

| First_Team = Hendrick Motorsports

| Network = Fox

| Announcers = Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer, and Matt Kenseth

| Ratings = 2.61, 4.570 Million Viewers

| Radio = MRN

| Booth_Ann = Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle, and Todd Gordon

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

}}

The 2022 WISE Power 400 was the second stock car race of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series and the 25th running of the event. The race was held on Sunday, in Fontana, California, at Auto Club Speedway, a {{Convert|2|mi|km}} permanent D-shaped oval racetrack. The race took the scheduled 200 laps to complete. At race's end, Kyle Larson, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, would win a drama-filled race after a controversial block on teammate Chase Elliott within the closing laps of the race had put Elliott in the wall. Larson would defend the field on the final restart to win his 17th career NASCAR Cup Series race and his first of the season.{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Luca |date=2022-02-28 |title=Kyle Larson holds on for victory in wild NASCAR Cup finish at Fontana |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2022-02-27/kyle-larson-wins-wise-power-400-nascar-cup-fontana |url-status=live |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220228003602/https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2022-02-27/kyle-larson-wins-wise-power-400-nascar-cup-fontana |archive-date=2022-02-28 }} To fill out the top 3, Austin Dillon of Richard Childress Racing and Erik Jones of Petty GMS Motorsports would finish second and third, respectively.

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 is ineligible for series driver points.

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

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

1Ross ChastainTrackhouse Racing TeamChevrolet
2Austin Cindric (R)Team PenskeFord
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord
5Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
6Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord
7Corey LaJoieSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
8Tyler ReddickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
10Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord
14Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord
15Garrett SmithleyRick Ware RacingFord
16Daniel Hemric (i)Kaulig RacingChevrolet
17Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord
18Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
19Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Harrison Burton (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota
24William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
31Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet
34Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord
38Todd Gilliland (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord
41Cole CusterStewart-Haas RacingFord
42Ty DillonPetty GMS MotorsportsChevrolet
43Erik JonesPetty GMS MotorsportsChevrolet
45Kurt Busch23XI RacingToyota
47Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet
48Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
51Cody WareRick Ware RacingFord
77Josh Bilicki (i)Spire MotorsportsChevrolet
78B. J. McLeodLive Fast MotorsportsFord
99Daniel SuárezTrackhouse Racing TeamChevrolet
colspan="4"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2022/2/26/12202_ENTNUM.pdf Official entry list]

Practice

Denny Hamlin was the fastest in the practice session with a time of 41.519 seconds and a speed of {{Convert|173.415|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=Wrecks and spins mar NASCAR Cup series practice at Fontana. |url=https://us.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/wrecks-and-spins-nascar-cup-practice-fontana/8526465/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=February 26, 2022|location=Fontana, California|date=February 26, 2022}}

=Practice results=

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

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

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Time

! {{Tooltip|Speed|MPH}}

1

| 11 || Denny Hamlin || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 41.519 || 173.415

2

| 18 || Kyle Busch || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 41.580 || 173.160

3

| 8 || Tyler Reddick || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet || 41.746 || 172.472

colspan="7"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2022/2/26/12202_PRACFINAL.pdf Official practice results]

Qualifying

Austin Cindric scored the pole for the race with a time of 41.226 and a speed of {{Convert|174.647|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|last=Utter|first=Jim|title=Daytona 500 champ Austin Cindric wins pole at Fontana.|url=https://us.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/daytona-500-champ-austin-cindric-fontana-pole/8528240/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=February 26, 2022|location=Fontana, California|date=February 26, 2022}}

=Qualifying results=

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

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

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! {{Tooltip|R1|Best time in Round 1}}

! {{Tooltip|R2|Best time in Round 2}}

1

| 2 || Austin Cindric (R) || Team Penske || Ford || 41.310 || 41.226

2

| 43 || Erik Jones || Petty GMS Motorsports || Chevrolet || 41.316 || 41.342

3

| 18 || Kyle Busch || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 41.628 || 41.437

4

| 11 || Denny Hamlin || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 41.566 || 41.529

5

| 16 || Daniel Hemric (i) || Kaulig Racing || Chevrolet || 41.405 || 41.585

6

| 12 || Ryan Blaney || Team Penske || Ford || 41.271 || 41.588

7

| 22 || Joey Logano || Team Penske || Ford || 41.358 || 42.197

8

| 9 || Chase Elliott || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 41.177 || 0.000

9

| 6 || Brad Keselowski || RFK Racing || Ford || 41.403 || 0.000

10

| 24 || William Byron || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 41.478 || 0.000

11

| 8 || Tyler Reddick || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet || 41.516 || —

12

| 19 || Martin Truex Jr. || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 41.517 || —

13

| 5 || Kyle Larson || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 41.594 || —

14

| 48 || Alex Bowman || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 41.634 || —

15

| 99 || Daniel Suárez || Trackhouse Racing Team || Chevrolet || 41.636 || —

16

| 3 || Austin Dillon || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet || 41.678 || —

17

| 47 || Ricky Stenhouse Jr. || JTG Daugherty Racing || Chevrolet || 41.688 || —

18

| 42 || Ty Dillon || Petty GMS Motorsports || Chevrolet || 41.777 || —

19

| 20 || Christopher Bell || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 41.888 || —

20

| 17 || Chris Buescher || RFK Racing || Ford || 41.888 || —

21

| 41 || Cole Custer || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford || 41.940 || —

22

| 21 || Harrison Burton (R) || Wood Brothers Racing || Ford || 41.989 || —

23

| 34 || Michael McDowell || Front Row Motorsports || Ford || 42.056 || —

24

| 14 || Chase Briscoe || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford || 42.140 || —

25

| 7 || Corey LaJoie || Spire Motorsports || Chevrolet || 42.188 || —

26

| 38 || Todd Gilliland (R) || Front Row Motorsports || Ford || 42.505 || —

27

| 51 || Cody Ware || Rick Ware Racing || Ford || 42.634 || —

28

| 77 || Josh Bilicki (i) || Spire Motorsports || Chevrolet || 42.957 || —

29

| 15 || Garrett Smithley || Rick Ware Racing || Ford || 43.953 || —

30

| 78 || B. J. McLeod || Live Fast Motorsports || Ford || 44.103 || —

31

| 10 || Aric Almirola || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford || 0.000 || —

32

| 4 || Kevin Harvick || Stewart-Haas Racing || Ford || 0.000 || —

33

| 1 || Ross Chastain || Trackhouse Racing Team || Chevrolet || 0.000 || —

34

| 23 || Bubba Wallace || 23XI Racing || Toyota || 0.000 || —

35

| 31 || Justin Haley || Kaulig Racing || Chevrolet || 0.000 || —

36

| 45 || Kurt Busch || 23XI Racing || Toyota || 0.000 || —

colspan="7"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2022/2/26/12202_QUALRES.pdf Official qualifying results]

Race

=Stage Results=

Stage One

Laps: 65

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

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Points

18Tyler ReddickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet10
243Erik JonesPetty GMS MotorsportsChevrolet9
324William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet8
414Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord7
55Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet6
648Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet5
722Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord4
812Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord3
92Austin Cindric (R)Team PenskeFord2
1047Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet1
colspan="6"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2022/2/27/12202_UNOFFRES.pdf Official stage one results]

Stage Two

Laps: 65

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

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Points

18Tyler ReddickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet10
243Erik JonesPetty GMS MotorsportsChevrolet9
322Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord8
412Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord7
55Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet6
641Cole CusterStewart-Haas RacingFord5
72Austin Cindric (R)Team PenskeFord4
810Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord3
924William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet2
1011Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota1
colspan="6"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2022/2/27/12202_UNOFFRES.pdf Official stage two results]

=Final Stage Results=

Stage Three

Laps: 70

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

! Grid

! {{Tooltip|No|Car Number}}

! Driver

! Team

! Manufacturer

! Laps

! Points

1135Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet20052
2163Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet20035
3243Erik JonesPetty GMS MotorsportsChevrolet20052
41599Daniel SuárezTrackhouse Racing TeamChevrolet20033
5722Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord20044
63110Aric AlmirolaStewart-Haas RacingFord20034
7324Kevin HarvickStewart-Haas RacingFord20030
83645Kurt Busch23XI RacingToyota20029
9516Daniel Hemric (i)Kaulig RacingChevrolet2000
101747Ricky Stenhouse Jr.JTG Daugherty RacingChevrolet20028
112141Cole CusterStewart-Haas RacingFord20031
1212Austin Cindric (R)Team PenskeFord20031
131219Martin Truex Jr.Joe Gibbs RacingToyota20024
14318Kyle BuschJoe Gibbs RacingToyota20023
15411Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota20023
162414Chase BriscoeStewart-Haas RacingFord20028
171842Ty DillonPetty GMS MotorsportsChevrolet20020
18612Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord20029
193423Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota20018
202638Todd Gilliland (R)Front Row MotorsportsFord20017
212915Garrett SmithleyRick Ware RacingFord20016
223078B. J. McLeodLive Fast MotorsportsFord20015
233531Justin HaleyKaulig RacingChevrolet20014
24118Tyler ReddickRichard Childress RacingChevrolet19933
251448Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet19917
2689Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet19811
2796Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord19810
28257Corey LaJoieSpire MotorsportsChevrolet1989
29331Ross ChastainTrackhouse Racing TeamChevrolet1988
302877Josh Bilicki (i)Spire MotorsportsChevrolet1987
312334Michael McDowellFront Row MotorsportsFord1936
322751Cody WareRick Ware RacingFord1875
332221Harrison Burton (R)Wood Brothers RacingFord1574
341024William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet15113
352017Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord1112
361920Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota941
colspan="8"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2022/2/27/12202_UNOFFRES.pdf Official race results]

=Race statistics=

  • Lead changes: 32 among 9 different drivers
  • Cautions/Laps: 12 for 59 laps
  • Red flags: 0
  • Time of race: 3 hours, 3 minutes and 7 seconds
  • Average speed: {{convert|114.222|mph|km/h}}

Media

=Television=

The race was the 21st race Fox Sports covered at the Auto Club Speedway. Mike Joy, Clint Bowyer and three-time Auto Club winner Matt Kenseth called the race in the booth for Fox. Jamie Little and Regan Smith handled the pit road duties, and Larry McReynolds provided insight from the Fox Sports studio in Charlotte.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
colspan="3"|Fox
Booth announcersPit reportersIn-race analyst
Lap-by-lap: Mike Joy
Color-commentator: Clint Bowyer
Color-commentator: Matt Kenseth		Jamie Little
Regan Smith		Larry McReynolds

=Radio=

MRN had the radio call for the race, which was also simulcast on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Alex Hayden, Jeff Striegle, and 2018 NASCAR Cup Championship crew chief Todd Gordon 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, and Kurt Becker called the race from a billboard outside turn 3 when the field raced their way through turns 3 and 4. Steve Post and Jason Toy 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: Todd Gordon		Turns 1 & 2: Dan Hubbard
Turns 3 & 4: Kurt Becker		Steve Post
Jason Toy

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

| Austin Cindric

| style="text-align:center;"| 85

align="left"| 10px 9

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

| Joey Logano

| style="text-align:center;"| 77 (–8)

align="left"| 10px

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

| Martin Truex Jr.

| style="text-align:center;"| 73 (–12)

align="left"| 10px 2

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

| Ryan Blaney

| style="text-align:center;"| 70 (–15)

align="left"| 10px

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

| Chase Briscoe

| style="text-align:center;"| 69 (–16)

align="left"| 10px 16

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

| Erik Jones

| style="text-align:center;"| 68 (–17)

align="left"| 10px 5

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

| Aric Almirola

| style="text-align:center;"| 66 (–19)

align="left"| 10px 18

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

| Kyle Larson

| style="text-align:center;"| 65 (–20)

align="left"| 10px 5

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

| Bubba Wallace

| style="text-align:center;"| 65 (–20)

align="left"| 10px 8

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

| Brad Keselowski

| style="text-align:center;"| 64 (–21)

align="left"| 10px 3

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

| Kyle Busch

| style="text-align:center;"| 61 (–24)

align="left"| 10px 4

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

| Kurt Busch

| style="text-align:center;"| 53 (–32)

align="left"| 10px 2

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

| Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

| style="text-align:center;"| 53 (–32)

align="left"| 10px 7

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

| Austin Dillon

| style="text-align:center;"| 52 (–33)

align="left"| 10px 4

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

| Daniel Suárez

| style="text-align:center;"| 52 (–33)

align="left"| 10px 4

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

| Cole Custer

| style="text-align:center;"| 48 (–37)

class="sortbottom"

!colspan="9"|[https://www.jayski.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2022/2/27/12202_UNOFFDRIVPTS.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;"| 72

align="left"| 10px 1

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

| Chevrolet

| style="text-align:center;"| 67 (–5)

align="left"| 10px 1

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

| Toyota

| style="text-align:center;"| 64 (–8)

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 = 2022

| Previous_race = 2022 Daytona 500

| Next_race = 2022 Pennzoil 400

}}

{{2022 NASCAR Cup}}

WISE Power 400

WISE Power 400

WISE Power 400

Category:NASCAR races at Auto Club Speedway