Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was running in the top 20 when his Ford Ecoboost Ford suffered two blown tires in the final 15 laps, forcing the two-time Nationwide champion to settle for a 34th-place finish in Sunday’s Auto Club 400.
Greg Biffle worked his way from his 24th-place qualifying effort all the way into the top 10 before a blown left rear sent him to pit road under green at California. While trying to get back on the lead lap the No. 16 3M Aerospace Ford got debris on the grille, causing the engine to overheat.
"Every time we felt the momentum swing our way this weekend, we seemed to take a punch in the gut,” stated Martin Truex Jr. after battling to an adversity-filled 23rd-place finish in Sunday’s Auto Club 400.
DALE EARNHARDT JR., NO. 88 NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET SS – FINISHED 12TH: ON THE TIRE SITUATION - “To be honest with you, the back straightaway is very rough and I think the tire can’t handle the load that it goes through on that back straightaway."
Camry driver Kyle Busch won his second consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) race at California’s Auto Club Speedway -- located in Toyota’s backyard. Busch also won the 2013 race. The win could solidify Busch a spot in this year’s Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.
ARIC ALMIROLA, No. 43 Farmland Ford Fusion – ON ACCIDENT WITH 33 CAR (BRIAN SCOTT) - “That’s the first chance I got to see the replay. It's pretty obvious what happened. The 33 was obviously a dart without feathers and coming across the race track. He ran right into me. It's a shame for our Farmland team, our Ford Fusion was getting a lot better. We didn't start off the race like we had wanted to but got it a lot better. "
J.D. GIBBS, president, No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - “We have an issue with Denny Hamlin, I’m sure most of you all know, but he has a sinus infection and it’s affecting his vision, so he won’t be able to start the race today. "
Chris Buescher headed to Auto Club Speedway for the first time this weekend with new partner Roush Performance Parts on board. The Rookie of the Year contender began the day in the 19th position, where he started off with a good race car that allowed him to remain in the top-20 for the entirety of the TREATMYCLOT.COM 300.
In his track debut at Auto Club Speedway, Dylan Kwasniewski drove the No. 31 Rockstar Energy Chevrolet to an 11th place finish in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Saturday afternoon.
Making his second-career start at Auto Club Speedway, Kyle Larson didn't back down until the checkered flag waved during Saturday afternoon's NASCAR Nationwide Series race.
