And just like that, we’re now headed to the third race of the still-young 2020 NASCAR Cup Series. Ryan Blaney leads all drivers in points thus far despite being winless so far, but again, it’s still too early to write anything conclusive about this season. Up next is the race in Fontana for the 2020 running of the Auto Club 400, which Kyle Busch won a year ago. Will Busch defend his title there and secure his first win of the season at the same time?
Things have not gone too well for the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series champion in the early goings of the 2020 season. Busch has not had a top 10 finish in the last two races, having placed 34th at the Daytona 500 and 15th in Las Vegas last week. Having said all of that, do you really feel like it’s time to cont Busch out? Busch is going to be among those primed for a strong bounce-back this coming weekend in California. For one, Busch is the defending champion of the Auto Club 400. Plus, he’s won at the Auto Club Speedway four times since 2004. He has 10 top 5s and 15 top 10s in 21 races there over the past 16 years along with an average finish of 9.95.
Jimmie Johnson (25/1 Vegas Odds)
Speaking of racers you shouldn’t be counting out, here’s another: Jimmie Johnson. The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is coming off juts his first top 5 finish since last July in Daytona, placing fifth in Las Vegas’ Pennzoil 400 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Johnson is seemingly getting more comfortable driving the new Camaro that’s just been introduced this 2020, saying “We’re trying to just understand this new Camaro body and the setup that needs to go with it,” following the Las Vegas race. Johnson is the all-time leader in wins at the Auto Club Speedway with six, including the 2016 edition of the Auto Club 400 race.
SLEEPERS
Erik Jones (40/1 Vegas Odds)
Jones is still finding his form. After winning the exhibition race The Clash at Daytona earlier this month, Jones has finished 18th at the Daytona 500 and 23rd at the Pennzoil 400. If anything, those forgettable performances only shift more betting attention away from the Joe Gibbs Racing — which you shouldn’t be doing. Jones demands attention still, heading into the third race of the season. In three career races in Fontana, the 23-year-old Jones has three top 20 finishes and a top 10, finishing seventh during the 2018 Auto Club 400.
Austin Dillon (100/1 Vegas Odds)
Dillon has never won a race in Fontana, but last year, he started at the pole position and finished 10th overall in the 2019 Auto Club 400. Dillon has four top 11s in six career races at the Auto Club Speedway and is coming off a strong fourth-place finish in Las Vegas.
LONG SHOT
Bubba Wallace (500/1 Vegas Odds)
Wallace could build off on his solid performance in Las Vegas last week when he finished sixth at the Pennzoil 400. He was also 15th at the 2020 Daytona 500, a respectable finish for the Richard Petty Motorsports driver, who finished just 30th and 20th in the 2019 and 2018 editions of the Auto Club 400, respectively.
Writer’s Prediction
Jimmie Johnson relives old glory and wins the 2020 Auto Club 400.
