CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY

TRACK FACTS

Opened: 1997

Location: Fontana, Calif.

First NASCAR Cup Series Race: June 22, 1997 (Jeff Gordon, winner)

Qualifying Record: Kyle Busch, Chevrolet; 188.245 mph (38.248 seconds), February 26, 2005

Race Record: Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet; 155.012 mph (3.13:32), June 22, 1997

Distance: 2 miles

Front Stretch: 3,100 feet

Back Stretch: 2,500 feet

Banking in Turns 1-4: 14 degrees

Banking on Front Stretch: 11 degrees

Banking on Back Stretch: 3 degrees

Miles/Laps: 500 miles/250 laps

Grandstand Seats: 92,000

Tickets: 800-944-7223

Website: www.californiaspeedway.com

Did You Know: There are 298 palm trees on California Speedway's property, including 61 down the back stretch.

Track Report: California is a race driver's racetrack.  It's a lot like the track at Michigan.  There's plenty of room to race, it's smooth, and there's a lot of space in the corners.  If the driver's car isn't handling great, they can search around for a new groove, and try to find someplace where it will handle better.

Hot Spots:  This track is big and wide, so side-by-side racing is prominent.  This race goes green for a long time and it usually takes tire wear causing the car to get loose for there to be trouble.  It usually happens on the back stretch, but some drivers can loose control just about anywhere.

Last Year: Greg Biffle served notice that the #16 team was going to pick up right where it left off in '04 as he held off Jimme Johnson's late efforts to win the Auto Club 500 on February 27.  It was win #1 for Biffle in '05.  Kyle Busch became the youngest winner in Cup history at the age of 20 years and four months.  He led 95 laps en route to the win at the Sony HD 500 on September 4 in his 31st start. 

First Race This Year: Greg Biffle would have remained the man to beat should it not have been for engine trouble, but never the less, his Roush team-mate Matt Kenseth won the Auto Club 500 on February 26 and completed the Roush weekend rout as Mark Martin won the Racetickets.com 200 Truck Series event and Greg Biffle cruising to win the Stater Bros. 300. 

Who To Watch:  Tony Stewart along with Biffle had the dominant cars at Fontana, but before Biffle's engine trouble on Lap 229, Smoke had a blown engine himself on Lap 214.  Look for both to be contenders Sunday.  Along with the drivers in bold above, ALL Roush drivers deserve your attention.  Other drivers not in the Top 10 (below) to watch are Evernham team-mates Elliott Sadler & Scott Riggs, Hendrick drivers Brian Vickers, & Kyle Busch, as well as Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton, and Casey Mears. 

TRACKING THE TOP 10 (NOTE: This does not include this year's race)

Best active drivers at California based on average finish (minimum of four starts)

Driver                 Races   Avg Fin   Wins   Top 5s   Top 10s   DNF   Avg Start   Poles

Jamie McMurray     5          7.2         0          3           4           0         23.0          0

Jimmie Johnson      6          8.5         1          3           3           0         12.0          0

Kurt Busch             7          9.3         1          3           3           0         14.0          0

Jeff Gordon            11        12.3         3          5           5           2         12.8          1

Matt Kenseth          8         13.5         0          2           4           0         21.6         0

Mark Martin           11        14.3         1          3           5           3         12.5          0

Bobby Labonte       11        15.0         0          4           5           1         20.9         1

Kasey Kahne           4        15.2         0          1           2           1           7.5         1

Ryan Newman         6         15.2         0          2           3           1         10.5         1

Tony Stewart           9         16.0         0          3           4           1         15.7          0

Okay folks, there it is.  Hope you all find this information to be helpful as well as informative.  Good luck to ALL my fellow Thread Headed Strangers...May your teams be "Bad Fast" & "Stay Outta Trouble".  Peace As Always..."Da Nut"