2012 Auto Club 400 Predictions
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is headed to Fontana, California for the 2012 Auto Club 400. This is usually the first of two stops at Auto Club Speedway, but because of a drop off in attendance the fall race was scratched prior to the start of the season. A lack of attendance has been a big concern for NASCAR.
While there aren’t as many fans attending races right now, it hasn’t taken away from the actual racing. Last week at Bristol, Brad Keselowski put together a dominating performance to bring home his first win of the season. It’s unlikely Keselowski will carry over his success to Fontana. In three starts at Auto Club Speedway Keselowski hasn’t finished better than 21st.
The defending champ at this event is Kevin Harvick, but the guy that really seems to race well at this early event is Matt Kenseth. In the last six stops at this event, Kenseth has won three times, including back-to-back checkered flags in 2006 and 2007. A lot of people confuse Auto Club Speedway with a high-horsepower track, but in order to have success at this venue you have to have a well balanced car that will allow you to get through the corners faster than everyone else.
If you are thinking about betting the race this weekend, here is a look at the three drivers who I feel have a great shot at winning.
Matt Kenseth – I’m not going to reach far for my favorite to win this week. Kenseth’s track record alone at Auto Club Speedway is enough reason to take the No. 17 car to bring home the trophy this week. Including his three wins at this event, Kenseth has eight top 5 finishes on this track. He hasn’t won here since 2009, which makes me like him a little more. Another reason to jump on board with Kenseth this weekend, is how well he has raced early in the season. He opened up the year with a win at the Daytona 500 and was runner-up last week at the Food City 500.
Greg Biffle – With the way Biffle has been racing of late, it’s only a matter of time before he finds himself in victory lane. Prior to his 13th place finish at Bristol last week, Biffle had put together a string of three straight third place finishes to start the season. Biffle hasn’t won at Auto Club Speedway since 2005, but that won’t stop me from placing a bet on the No. 16 car to win this week.
Jimmie Johnson – Johnson has quietly got things rolling after getting knocked out of the Daytona 500 early due to an accident. The No. 48 car rolls into Fontana off three straight top 10 finishes. This is another driver that you can count on winning a race in the near future. There’s a pretty good chance he takes care of business this week. Johnson is the all-time leader in wins at Auto Club Speedway with five. While most of those have come in the fall race previously held at this track, he has won the spring race twice in his career. If you are looking for a safe pick to be in contention late, I don’t know that there is a better option than Johnson.
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