BACK TO GALLERIES
Take 5: What we learned from Auto Club
By Holly Cain | Published: March 27, 2017 5
Getty Images
1 of 5
Getty Images
Solid progress:
Clint Bowyer didn't win Sunday's Auto Club 400 but his third-place finish in the No. 14 Ford equaled his best showing in nearly two years. The newest SHR driver clearly was encouraged -- his best finish of the season thus far, it also put him eighth standings.
Asked if he saw this quick start coming, Bowyer smiled and said, 'Hell, yeah! It better be coming. When you've got a team like this that's organized as good as they are, it better be.'
Clint Bowyer didn't win Sunday's Auto Club 400 but his third-place finish in the No. 14 Ford equaled his best showing in nearly two years. The newest SHR driver clearly was encouraged -- his best finish of the season thus far, it also put him eighth standings.
Asked if he saw this quick start coming, Bowyer smiled and said, 'Hell, yeah! It better be coming. When you've got a team like this that's organized as good as they are, it better be.'
2 of 5
Getty Images
Rookie recovery:
This year's highly touted rookie class has endured a steep learning curve to start the season, but Sunday made it consecutive races of good effort.Joe Gibbs Racing driver Daniel Suarez finished seventh, matching his Phoenix result, while Furniture Row Racing driver Erik Jones ran among the top 10 until an uncontrolled tire violation on a late-race pit stop forced him to play catch-up again. He finished 12th Sunday -- a week after an eighth-place result at Phoenix. Other rookie showings included: Ty Dillon (18th), Corey LaJoie (30th) and Gray Gaulding (37th).
This year's highly touted rookie class has endured a steep learning curve to start the season, but Sunday made it consecutive races of good effort.Joe Gibbs Racing driver Daniel Suarez finished seventh, matching his Phoenix result, while Furniture Row Racing driver Erik Jones ran among the top 10 until an uncontrolled tire violation on a late-race pit stop forced him to play catch-up again. He finished 12th Sunday -- a week after an eighth-place result at Phoenix. Other rookie showings included: Ty Dillon (18th), Corey LaJoie (30th) and Gray Gaulding (37th).
3 of 5
Getty Images
Slow start:
Reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson suffered through another rough race weekend, finishing 21st Sunday after starting 37th. He had to go to a backup car after a spin in opening practice and was unable to have the car ready to qualify. Making his way forward in the race, the No. 48 Chevrolet suffered damage in a Lap 5 incident with Brad Keselowski and really didn't contend on the afternoon. Johnson is ranked 17th in the standings heading to Martinsville next week -- where he boasts nine victories.
Reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson suffered through another rough race weekend, finishing 21st Sunday after starting 37th. He had to go to a backup car after a spin in opening practice and was unable to have the car ready to qualify. Making his way forward in the race, the No. 48 Chevrolet suffered damage in a Lap 5 incident with Brad Keselowski and really didn't contend on the afternoon. Johnson is ranked 17th in the standings heading to Martinsville next week -- where he boasts nine victories.
4 of 5
Getty Images
So close:
The only driver who led more laps than Martin Truex Jr.'s 73 on Sunday also raised a trophy. Truex stayed on track instead of pitting for tires on a late-race caution and was unable to challenge Larson for the win. He still finished fourth and ranks third in the standings.
'It's just tires and we had a big disadvantage at the end, playing defense more than offense,' Truex said. 'We played offense all day and I was able to run first or second most of the day ... but to come home with a fourth after all that, definitely a good day for us.'
The only driver who led more laps than Martin Truex Jr.'s 73 on Sunday also raised a trophy. Truex stayed on track instead of pitting for tires on a late-race caution and was unable to challenge Larson for the win. He still finished fourth and ranks third in the standings.
'It's just tires and we had a big disadvantage at the end, playing defense more than offense,' Truex said. 'We played offense all day and I was able to run first or second most of the day ... but to come home with a fourth after all that, definitely a good day for us.'
5 of 5
.jpg)
Getty Images
Still Chase-ing it:
Chase Elliott ran among the leaders most of the day, but the 21-year-old ended up 10th after a final-lap scramble. He had to race his way back through the field after falling victim to unfortunate pit stop timing when the No. 24 team opted to pit under green just before a caution came out.
'Yeah, we were just trying to do something different,' said Elliott. 'I thought that was going to give us the best chance of winning ... (crew chief Alan Gustafson) made the right call. And, you can't control when the caution comes out.'
Chase Elliott ran among the leaders most of the day, but the 21-year-old ended up 10th after a final-lap scramble. He had to race his way back through the field after falling victim to unfortunate pit stop timing when the No. 24 team opted to pit under green just before a caution came out.
'Yeah, we were just trying to do something different,' said Elliott. 'I thought that was going to give us the best chance of winning ... (crew chief Alan Gustafson) made the right call. And, you can't control when the caution comes out.'