NASCAR returns to Fontana and Auto Club Speedway after two years of being away from the track.
The Xfinity Series takes to the track for a short practice session before making a one lap qualifying run for the Production Alliance Group 300.
Nearly a third of the field have never driven a car at Auto Club. And to compound the issue, winds are an issue with gusts over 30 miles an hour.
Forty-one teams have brought cars to fill 38 spots in the race.
Brennan Poole is the first driver on the track to make a qualifying run.
After being out of a car since 2014, Trevor Bayne returns to the track and makes a qualifying run of 40.093 seconds around the two mile track.
After a harrowing crash last week at Daytona, Myatt Snider puts down a lap of 41.704 seconds. Snider’s car went airborne in a crash that left car parts including the engine scattered all over the track and infield. Snider walked away from the crash with only a slight injury to his left leg that he describes as “some discomfort”.
AJ Allmendinger put down a lap of 40.038 seconds to put his number 16 car on the pole.
Jeremy Clements is making his 400th career start in today’s race.
The starting lineup for the Production Alliance Group 300:
AJ Allmendinger
Cole Custer
Brandon Jones
Trevor Bayne
Daniel Hemric
Noah Gragson
Landon Cassill
Austin Hill
Sheldon Creed
Jeremy Clements
Josh Berry
Ty Gibbs
Sam Mayer
Ryan Sieg
Jade Buford
Riley Herbst
Brett Moffitt
Joe Graf Jr
Alex Labbe
Justin Allgaier
Jeb Burton
Kyle Weatherman
Stefan Parsons
JJ Yeley
Matt Mills
Bayley Currey
Tommy Joe Martins
Anthony Alfredo
Kaz Grala
Brandon Brown
Myatt Snider
Ryan Vargas
Mason Massey
Josh Williams
Jesse Iwuji
Joey Gase
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Kyle Sieg
Stages one and two of the race are 35 laps each with stage three lasting 80 laps for a total of 150 laps around the two mile track.
Team Penske drivers Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano joins Adam Alexander in the broadcast booth for today’s race.
Jeffrey Earnhardt, Jeb Burton, Jesse Iwuji, Joey Gase, Tommy Joe Martns, and Josh Williams were all moved to the back of the field after the crews made some unapproved adjustments to their cars. Ky Sieg had to move to the back of the field after an engine change and Joe Graf Jr was moved to the rear of the field after a driver change.
AJ Allmendinger brings the field down for the green flag start of the race from the outside lane with Cole Custer alongside on the insdie. Allmendinger gets out in front initially, but Custer keeps it close.
AJ Allmendinger leads lap one.
The top five are AJ Allmendinger, Cole Custer, Trevor Bayne, Noah Gragson, and Brandon Jones.
Austin Hill is off the pace after getting into the wall. The car is still running but there is a lot of smoke in the cockpit.
Lap four, Austin Hill makes his way to pit road. Cole Custer challenges AJ Allmendinger for the lead.
Lap five, leader AJ Allmendinger and Cole Custer continue to battle for the lead.
Sheldon Creed also gets into the wall but the track stays green.
The first caution flag of the race comes out on lap seven for Landon Cassill’s flaming car. He gets out of the car safely. Both front tires were in flames with more flames under the car.
Daytona winner Austin Hill is on pit road getting repairs; he is four laps down.
Jeremy Clements made a trip down pit road for a flat tire. The teams are given only four sets of tires for the race.
Jesse Iwuji has to have his car pushed down pit road with ignition issues.
The choose rule returns, AJ Allmendinger brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane on lap 14 and goes nose to nose with Trevor Bayne for the lead. Trevor Bayne is the new leader.
Lap 16, Trevor Bayne leads in the number 18 Joe Gibbs Racing car with Cole Custler in second; AJ Allmendinger, Noah Gragson, and Ryan Sieg round out the top five. There are 35 cars on the lead lap.
Austin Hill returns to the track three laps down.
Lap 18, Trevor Bayne holds on to the lead as drivers get three wide across the track.
The caution flag comes out on lap 19 for a flat tire on Mason Massey’s car.
Trevor Bayne brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 25 from the outside lane with Noah Gragson on the inside.
Trevor Bayne takes the lead with Cole Custer in second; Noah Gragson, AJ Allmendinger, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.
After two cautions and two “lucky dogs”, Austin Hill is only two laps down in 36th place. Landon Cassill and Jesse Iwuji are off the track.
Lap 27, Mason Massey is one lap down in the “lucky dog” position.
Lap 27, Trevor Bayne has a lead of nearlyhalf a second on Cole Custer; Noah Gragson, Ty Gibbs, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five. Josh Berry in ninth and Sam Mayer in tenth put all four of the JR Motorsports cars in the top 10.
Lap 30, Trevor Bayne holds on to the lead iwht Cole Custer in second; Noah Gragson, Ty Gibbs, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five.
Five laps remain in stage one; Trevor Bayne and Cole Custer battle for the lead with Bayne holding on to the lead; Noah Gragson, Justin Allgaier, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.
Three laps to go in stage one, drivers are three wide for position; while Trevor Bayne and Cole Custer continue to battle.
Trevor Bayne wins stage one.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Trevor Bayne
Cole Custer
Justin Allgaier
Noah Gragson
Ty Gibbs
AJ Allmendinger
Josh Berry
Ryan Sieg
Daniel Hemric
Sam Mayer
Drivers come down pit road for service with Ryan Sieg winning the race off of pit road after missing his pit box. Daniel Hemric is the first driver off of pit road.
Daniel Hemric brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two from the outside lane with Ty Gibbs alongside on lap 43. Ty Gibbs gets out in front but Daniel Hemric makes a run to battle for the lead. Ty Gibbs brings out the caution flag when he spins out and makes a run through the grass. Daniel Hemric takes the lead. Gibbs reports that he was trying to side draft when he spun out.
Daniel Hemric brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane with Noah Gragson on the inside on lap 49. Justin Allgaier makes it a three wide battle with Daniel Hemric getting out in front for the lead.
Lap 50, the top five are Cole Custer, Daniel Hemric, Noah Gragson, Brandon Jones, and Jusitn Allgiaer.
Bayley Currey is having some temperature issues. He gets his number four car to pit road and the track stays green.
Lap 53, Cole Custer has pulled out to a lead of nearly a second on Noah Gragson; Daniel Hemric, Justin Allgaier, and Brandon Jones round out the top five.
Lap 54, there are 32 cars on the lead lap. Jesse Iwuji has returned to the track, 20 laps down.
Jeffrey Earnhardt may have some water temperature issues, he is spewing water. He has some debris on his front grille.
Lap 56, the drivers have gotten spread out through the track with Cole Custer over a second out in front.
Lap 57, Brandon Jones brings out the fifth caution flag of the day when he spins out.
Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane with 10 laps remaining in stage two. Custer takes the lead with Noah Gragson and Justin Allgaier battleing it out for second.
Lap 61, the top five are Cole Custer, Justin Allgaier, AJ Allmendinger, Noah Gragson, and Daneil Hemric.
After bringing out the caution flag, Brandon Jones has already moved inside the top 10.
Lap 65, Cole Custer has pulled away from the field with a lead of over a second and a half; Justin Allgaier, Noah Gragson, AJ Allmendinger, and Daniel Hemric rounds out the top five.
Lap 68, Brandon Jones passes Noah Gragson for third and sets his sights on Justin Allgaier. Cole Custer has a near three second lead on the rest of the field.
Cole Custer wins stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Cole Custer
Brandon Jones
Justin Allgaier
Noah Gragson
Ty Gibbs
Daniel Hemric
AJ Allmendinger
Josh Berry
Sam Mayer
Riley Herbst
Drivers come down pit road for service with Brandon Jones winning the race off of pit road.
Brandon Jones brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three on lap 77 and edges out Noah Gragson for the lead. Cole Custer and Trevor Bayne had slow pit stops and restarted back in the field.
Lap 78, Cole Custer has come from eighth place to take the lead.
NASCAR reviewed the restart and determiend that it was good.
Lap 80, Cole Custer has pulled out to a one second lead on Noah Gragson; Brandon Jones, Justin Allgaier, and AJ Allmendinger round out the top five.
Lap 82, AJ Allmendinger makes an unscheduled pit stop saying that he has a vibration in his car. Allmendinger was in the top five when he made the stop.
Lap 83, the top five are Cole Custer, Noah Gragson, Brandon Jones, Justin Allgaier, and Ty Gibbs.
With 65 laps to go, Cole Custer has increased his lead to two seconds over Noah Gragson; Brandon Jones, Justin Allgaier, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five. After a slow pit stop at the end of stage two, Trevor Bayne is now in th etop 10 in seventh place.
Lap 90, Cole Custer has a lead of over two seconds on Noah Gragson; Justin Allgaier, Brandon Jones, and Ty Gibbs round out the top five.
With 57 laps to go, AJ Allmendinger is the first car one lap down in 32nd place after having to make a pit stop for a vibration.
Lap 94, Daniel Hemric and Ty Gibbs battle for fifth place.
Lap 97, Cole Custer has encountered slower traffic but maintains a near two second lead on Noah Gragson; Justin Allgaier, Brandon Jones, and Daniel Hemric round out the top five.
In 32nd place, one lap down, AJ Allmendinger has caught up to seventh place drivers Josh Berry.
Lap 100, Kaz Grala has to make an unscheduled trip down pit road with a flat tire.
Lap 102, Brandon Brown brings out the caution flag after he spins out and has a flat tire.
Drivers come down pit road for service with Justin Allgaier winning the race off of pit road. Cole Custer lost six spots on pit road with another slow pit stop.
AJ Allmendinger took the wave around and is back on the lead lap.
Justin Allgaier brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 108 and gets out in front for the lead from the outside lane with team mate Noah Gragson in second.
Lap 109, Noah Gragson takes the lead with Josh Berry passing Justin Allgaier for second; Cole Custer and Brand on Jones round out the top five.
Lap 110, Cole Custer passes Josh Berry for third.
Lap 111, Cole Custer passes for second, but Josh Berry comes back to take second with Justin Allgaier in third. Cole Custer drops to fourth. Sam Mayer in fifth makes it all four JR Motorspors drivers in the top five..
Lap 113, Noah Gragson has increased his lead to over a second on team mater Josh Berry; Justin Allgaier, Cole Custer, and Sam Mayer round out the top five. Cole Custer is the only non JR Motorsports driver in the top five.
Thirty five laps remain in the race, Noah Gragson has a lead of over two seconds on Josh Berry. Since getting back on the lead lap, AJ Allmendinger has moved up to 28th place.Thirty to go, Noah Gragson now has a lead of over two and a half seconds on Josh Berry; Justin Allgaier and Cole Custer battle for third with Sam Mayer in fifth place.
There are 27 cars on the lead lap.
Lap 123, Noah Gragson continues to lead but his lead is down to under a second and a half.
Jade Buford brings out the caution flag after he spins out on lap 125.
Drivers come down pit road for that one last set of fresh tires. Justin Allgaier wins the race off of pit road but not all of the drivers made a pit stop. Leader Noah Gragson overshot his pit stall and had to back up before he could get service; as a result, he came back out on the track in the middle of the pack.
Ty Gibbs brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane with 22 laps remaining in the race. Justin Allgaier gets out in front for the lead with Travor Bayne in second; Josh Berry, Noah Gragson, and Brett Moffitt round out the top five.
Trevor Bayne comes up to battle with Justin Allgaier for the lead but Allgaier holds on to the lead.
Twenty to go, Noah Gragson retakes the lead with Justin Allgaier in second.
Myatt Snider has a smoking car and gets it on the apron for the track staying green.
Lap 131, Noah Gragson leads the race with Cole Custer in second; Josh Berry, Trevor Bayne, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five.
With 18 laps to go, Noah Gragson has a lead of just two tenths of a second on Cole Custer; Josh Berry, Trevor Bayne, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five.
Lap 134, Cole Custer is challenging Noah Gragson for the lead.
Cole Custer takes the lead and begins to pull away.
Lap 136, Cole Custer has increased his lead to over half a second on Noah Gragson.
Ten to go, Cole Custer has a lead of over a second on Noah Gragson; Josh Berry, Trevor Bayne, and Justin Allgaier round out the top five.
The ninth caution flag comes out with just nine laps remaining in the race for debris on the track.
A few drivers come down pit road for service including Jeffrey Earnhardt, Ty Gibbs, AJ Allmendinger, and Anthony Alfredo. Alfredo had one last set of sticker tires.
Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag restart with just six laps remaining in the race with Noah Gragson on the inside. Anthony Alfredo restarts the race in 24th place. Noah Gragson narrowly misses getting out in front for the lead.
Cole Custer is the leader with Trevor Bayne in second.
Five to go, Anthony Alfredo jumped eight spots in a single lap.
The caution flag comes out for a flat tire in Brett Moffit’s car. Anthony Alfredo moved up to 14th at the time the caution flag came out.
The race goes into overtime for the second week in a row.
Cole Custer brings the field down for the overtime two lap shootout with Trevor Bayne on the inside lane. Anthony Alfredo restarts in ninth place. Cole Custer gets out in front but Brandon Jones brings out the caution flag after he gets spun out by Daniel Hemric.
The race goes into a second overtime shootout for the finish.
Anthony Alfredo will restart the race in fifth place.
Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag shootout once again. Cole Custer gets a push from Noah Gragson and edges out Trevor Bayne for the lead. Anthony Alfredo is working the bottom lane. The caution flag comes out once again for Brandon Jones. Sheldon Creed and Stefan Parson were also involved in the wreck. The barrels of sand at the entrance of pit road are destroyed thowing sand everywhere. Brandon Jones is out of the car and walking to the ambulance.
Brothers-in-law Stefan Parsons and Sheldon Creed made contact and Brandon Jones gets caught up and is sent down the track sideways. He hits the barrels with the right rear quarter of his car.
NASCAR has red flagged the race in order to get everything cleaned up and put back together.
Brandon Jones has been checked and released from the infield care center.
Trevor Bayne reports that there is some fluid in turn one.
NASCAR has finally gotten everything cleaned up and replaced after a 23 minute red flag condition. The cars are moving once again as they prepare to make a third overtime start with Cole Custer in the lead.
The sun is setting but the lights are on and the race will go on.
With a third overtime finish looming, there is some question as to whether all of the drivers have enough fuel.
Cole Custer brings the field down for the green flag with Anthony Alfredo on the inside lane. Justin Allgaier gives Anthony Alfredo a push but Cole Custer comes on strong from the outside lane to take the lead.
Cole Custer finally takes the white flag.
In the third overtime shootout, Cole Custer takes the checkered flag to win the race. Trevor Bayne and Anthony Alfredo both have top five finishes. All of the JR Motorsports drivers finished in the top 10.
The unofficial results of the Production Alliance Group 300:
Cole Custer
Noah Gragson
Trevor Bayne
Josh Berry
Anthony Alfredo
Sam Mayer
AJ Allmendinger
Justin Allgaier
Riley Herbst
Ryan Sieg
Brandon Brown
Daniel Hemric
Ty Gibbs
Jeb Burton
Joe Graf Jr
Kyle Weatherman
Jeremy Clements
Kyle Sieg
Brett Moffitt
Joey Gase
Josh Williams
JJ Yeley
Matt Mills
Alex Labbe
Kaz Grala
Myatt Snider
Austin Hill
Mason Massey
Jeffrey Earnhardt
Stefan Parsons
Tommy Joe Martins
Sheldon Creed
Brandon Jones
Bayley Currey
Ryan Vargas
Jesse Iwuji
Jade Buford
Landon Cassill