Autostock
Jeff Gordon's most recent California win was the Auto Club 500 in 2004, the first year the track was awarded two dates.Cup By the Numbers: California Speedway
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OK, so just where is it that Jeff Gordon is from? The 2007 Nextel Cup Media Guide lists Gordon's hometown as being Vallejo, Calif. Yet, NASCAR's official Entry List for this week's Auto Club 500 has Pittsboro, Ind., in the hometown column next to his name.
Gordon spent the better portion of his childhood in Indiana, but he was born in California. His racing roots can be traced to California. And he's the most successful native at California Speedway.
Gordon won the inaugural race at the Fontana track in 1997, the first of three victories at NASCAR's largest venue in terms of market. He's the only multiple winner there. In addition, Gordon has the most top-fives (six) and has led the most laps (455) in California Speedway history.
Speaking of the first race at California Speedway:
Interesting Fact
4 Cautions at the inaugural race in 1997, the record for fewest yellows at the track. Oddly enough, that race is tied for fewest cars finishing on the lead lap (nine).
Fun Fact
55 Speed limit on pit road at California Speedway. It's also the speed limit rocker Sammy Hagar rebelled against in his 1984 anthem I Can't Drive 55. Hagar, a California native, will be the pre-race featured performer.
All the Facts
0 Races won from the pole. California is one of only four current tracks with such a distinction: Chicagoland, Las Vegas, Phoenix.
1 Driver to run at the finish in all 13 California races: Jeff Burton.
1 Driver to win at California in all three series: Mark Martin (Cup, 1998; Busch, 2005; Trucks, 2006).
2 Drivers to win their first Cup race at California: Jimmie Johnson (2002); Kyle Busch (2005).
4.4 Average finish for Carl Edwards in five California races. He has never finished worse than sixth.
6 Drivers who finished in the top 10 in last year's Auto Club 500 and made the 2006 Chase: Matt Kenseth, 1; Jimmie Johnson, 2; Kasey Kahne, 4; Jeff Burton, 5; Mark Martin, 9; Kyle Busch, 10. The only Chase driver to finish lower than 13th in that race was Kevin Harvick, 29.
6 Most career top-10s at California, shared by five drivers: Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace.
7 Wins by Ford at California, most of any manufacturer. Four - Mark Martin (1998), Jeremy Mayfield (2000), Kurt Busch (2003), Elliott Sadler (2004) - now drive for other manufacturers.
7.518 Average running position of Matt Kenseth in the past four California races, best of any driver.
8 Drivers who are 0-for-California in 13 starts: Jeff Burton, Dale Jarrett, Bobby Labonte, Sterling Marlin, Joe Nemechek, Kyle Petty, Ken Schrader, Michael Waltrip.
10 Most lead-lap finishes at California: Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett.
12.871 Margin of victory, in seconds, by Jeff Gordon in the 2004 Auto Club 500, the largest in track history.
14 Average track position lost from start (8.8) to finish (22.8) for Scott Riggs, most of any driver with multiple starts.
17.8 Average finish of Tony Stewart at California, worst of all the current tracks he has raced.
32 Place of finish for Riverside native David Gilliland in his first California start, just the fourth of his Cup career.
40 Place of finish for Hollywood stuntman Stanton Barrett in each of his two California starts.
42 Place of finish for Greg Biffle in last year's Auto Club 500, despite leading a race-high 168 laps, most of any non-winner.
3,202 Most laps completed at California without having ever led: Sterling Marlin.
California Speedway
Race Results
| Year | Pole | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Joe Nemechek | Jeff Gordon |
| 1998 | Jeff Gordon | Mark Martin |
| 1999 | Jeff Burton | Jeff Gordon |
| 2000 | Mike Skinner | Jeremy Mayfield |
| 2001 | Bobby Labonte | Rusty Wallace |
| 2002 | Ryan Newman | Jimmie Johnson |
| 2003 | Steve Park | Kurt Busch |
| 2004 | Kasey Kahne | Jeff Gordon |
| Brian Vickers | Elliott Sadler | |
| 2005 | Kyle Busch | Greg Biffle |
| Carl Edwards | Kyle Busch | |
| 2006 | Kurt Busch | Matt Kenseth |
| Kurt Busch | Kasey Kahne |
Cup Series News
- Keselowski proud to carry on No. 2 tradition
- Section of I-85 dedicated in honor of Gordon
- Numbers: Late-race excitement on tap in Charlotte
- Patrick leaves Indianapolis 500 behind -- for now
- Almirola puts No. 43 back on pole in Charlotte
- Engine experimentation ends as 600 nears
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© 2001-2012 NASCAR | Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved. NASCAR.COM is part of Turner Sports Digital, part of the Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network.
