Reality Show: Drivers look forward to California comfort

The Nationwide Series season began last Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. But to the drivers and teams, the Stater Bros. 300 at Auto Club Speedway is where the season starts. There are three restrictor-plate races on the Nationwide schedule, along with three road course events. But the bulk of the schedule -- the remaining 29 races, starting with the 2-mile oval at ACS -- is more representative of the series' racing venues.

"The real season starts at California because your performance there will be a pretty good indicator of where you stand in comparison with everyone else, and what areas you need to work on for the first part of the season," Jason Leffler said.

Moving past Daytona will be a good thing for Leffler. He was caught up in a 10-car incident midway through last Saturday's event and never recovered, finishing 33rd. He experienced similar disappointment last year. After a promising start in the 2009 season opener, he was hit with a five-lap aggressive driving penalty and finished 31st. However, he collected himself and finished fourth in the final standings, the second time in three seasons he's ranked among the top five.

Kyle Busch, the reigning Nationwide Series champion, may be looking ahead to next week when the series races in his hometown of Las Vegas. But he seems pretty comfortable at Auto Club Speedway. So does his Joe Gibbs Racing team. Come to think of it, so does Toyota. Busch, the defending race winner, made NASCAR history at Auto Club last season, becoming the first driver to win two national series races on the same day. After winning the Truck Series race, he also won the Nationwide Series event as part of a doubleheader.

With another win at Auto Club Speedway, Greg Biffle would tie Matt Kenseth, his Cup Series teammate with Roush Fenway Racing, for the most Nationwide Series wins at the track. Kenseth leads all drivers with four wins; Biffle has three. But Biffle, the 2002 champion, this year has switched Nationwide allegiances, driving a partial schedule for Baker Curb Racing. The team, formerly Brewco Motorsports, was home to Biffle for 27 races in 2005 (he finished 10th in the final standings with one win), and for select events throughout the 2006-07 seasons.

By the Numbers

Joe Gibbs racing drivers won the last four Nationwide Series races at Fontana with three different drivers: Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch and Joey Logano.

Number of races out of the past six won from the front-row (two from first and three from second).

Average starting position of Fontana Nationwide Series race winners.

Number of top-five finishes by Kevin Harvick at Fontana, the most of active drivers.

Number of wins at Fontana by Roush Fenway Racing (Cup -- 7, Nationwide -- 6, Truck -- 2), the most of all teams.

Fastest qualifying timein in piles per hour, for a Nationwide race at Auto Club Speedway, clocked by Tony Stewart in 2005.

Laps led at Fontana by Kyle Busch, the most of any driver.

Laps led by Joe Gibbs Racing drivers out of a possible 602 laps since 2008 (85 percent).

Year of first Nationwide race held at Auto Club Speedway. Starting from the 28th position on Oct. 19, Todd Bodine raced to the stripe and onto Victory Lane. Bodine's starting position was the lowest a California race winner has ever started.

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