Fantasy NASCAR Scouting Report – Auto Club

[themify_box]NOTE: This post is a recap of what happened in 2017 at Auto Club Speedway[/themify_box]

Auto Club Top Ten Starters

1. Kyle Larson
2. Denny Hamlin
3. Brad Keselowski
4. Martin Truex Jr.
5. Ryan Newman
6. Matt Kenseth
7. Kevin Harvick
8. Jamie McMurray
9. Kyle Busch
10. Daniel Suarez

Auto Club Full Starting Lineup

Auto Club Pre-race Notes

Paul Menard started in the rear of the field because of an unapproved tire change.

David Ragan started in the rear of the field in a backup car.

In qualifying many drivers failed to make a lap and as a result they started near the rear of the field. Some notables were Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano and Trevor Bayne.

Stage #1 Top Ten (Lap 60): 42,78,24,1,18,14,22,77,21,11

Stage #2 Top Ten (Lap 120): 78,42,24,14,77,1,18,22,11,2

[themify_box]Want to be a better fantasy racer? Get the ifantasyrace advantage and read all of our full exclusive content. Join Now![/themify_box]

Auto Club Race Notes

Kyle Larson who started on the pole selected the high-line and he led the opening 5 laps.

Notable Moment: Right when the race started Denny Hamlin didn’t get up to speed and some drivers damaged their cars right at the start. Brad Keselowski who started in 3rd got some notable damage and started falling back in the running order. By lap 2 Keselowski was back to 17th. Also during this incident Kevin Harvick and Ryan Newman got a notable amount of damage.

Big Moment: On lap 4, Keselowski spun and brought out the caution. He was in 18th at the time. Johnson got some front nose damage after contact with the #2.

During the first caution everyone pitted except Paul Menard and David Ragan. Tires are extremely important here. Drivers with long pit stops during the first caution were Keselowski, Harvick, Johnson and Newman.

During the restart for the first caution Kyle Larson quickly retook and lead and led the next 25 laps.

On lap 9, Joey Logano who started near the rear of the field was in 12th.

Running order on lap 10: 42,78,24,20,1,21,27,5,19,18 … 77,22,11,17,13,14,3,6,41,47 … 88,43,37,95,48,10,4,31,38,34 … 83,23,32,72,15,33,2,51,55

Running order on lap 25: 42,78,24,1,21,77,18,14,22,5 … 11,17,3,13,6,88,19,48,43,47 … 20,31,95,37,10,2,41,17,34,4

Notable Moment: On lap 25 Harvick had a flat right rear tire under green. He was in 23rd prior to his problem. This dropped him down a lap.

Running order on lap 30: 42,78,24,1,21,77,18,14,22,5 … 11,17,3,88,13

Around lap 30 green flag pit stops for the field begun.

During green flag pit stops on lap 32 Martin Truex Jr. told his team that he had the best car he’s ever had at Auto Club Speedway. Truex Jr. pitted before Larson and had a quicker stop and as a result when the pit cycle was over he was now the leader.

Running order on lap 42: 78,42,24,1,18,21,14,77,5,22 … 11,17,3,13,6,19,88,20,43,48 … 2,47,31 (last driver on the lead lap),27,10,95,4,37,41 … 32,34

On lap 45 Kyle Larson closed in on Truex Jr. for the lead.

On lap 48 Kyle Larson passed Truex Jr. for the lead.

On lap 52 Jimmie Johnson was now a lap down.

On lap 53 it was mentioned that Kurt Busch’s car was extremely loose. He was off the lead lap in 26th at the time.

On lap 54, Jamie McMurray who was in 4th said he thinks him and Kyle Larson have the best cars over long runs.

Running order on lap 54: 42,78,24,1,18,14,7722,21,11 … 5,17,3,6,13,19,88,20,2,48 … 43,31,47,95,10,41,27,37,4,34 … 32

Stage #1 Top Ten (Lap 60): 42,78,24,1,18,14,22,77,21,11

During the Stage caution it was said that Chase Elliott was really pleased with his car.

Running order on lap 71: 78,42,24,1,14,22,18,77,11,17 … 6,5,88,13,19,20,2,21,3,31 … 47,43,41,48,37,27,10,4,95,83 ….. 34

Notable Moment: On lap 72, Michael McDowell had a flat tire under green and made an unexpected pit stop.

On lap 73 it was mentioned that Truex and Larson who were running in 1st and 2nd were trading lap times.

On lap 74 Erik Jones was running in the top ten and said his car has been good all weekend.

Running order on lap 82: 78,42,24,14,1,22,77,18,5,11 … 6,17,88,20,13,2,21,3,19,31 … 47,43,48,41,4,27,37,10,34,32

On lap 91, Martin Truex Jr. had a 3 second lead over second place Chase Elliott.

Running order on lap 89: 78,24,42,14,17,1,18,22,11,5 … 6,17,88,2,20,13,21,3,19

On lap 90 while running in 10th Kasey Kahne got slightly into the wall.

Around lap 90 a green flag pit cycle began.

Running order on lap 103: 78,42,14,24,77,22,1,18,11,6 … 2,88,5,20,17,3,13,21,19 (last driver on the lead lap),43 … 48,31,47,4,41,10,37,27,32,34

On lap 112 Martin Truex Jr. had nearly an 8 second lead over Larson.

Stage #2 Top Ten (Lap 120): 78,42,24,14,77,1,18,22,11,2