Sprint Cup 2013: Race 5: Auto Club 500

Mark Martin dominated “Happy Hour” practice as Toyotas look strong in final practice for tomorrow’s Auto Club 500 at Fontana, California. Qualifying showed a blend of Toyotas and Fords which Chevrolet surprisingly missing from the top 10 qualifiers until Tony Stewart shows up in 8^th starting position then Kurt Busch in 10^th. One conclusion that is starting to seem valid going into the 5^th race of the season, no manufacturer or team seems to have a distinct advantage or is failing miserably adjusting to the “Gen 6” car unlike the “Car of Tomorrow” where Hendricks dominated early as Roush struggled.

Looking at tomorrow’s line-up, while Ford would be encouraged having the 2^nd and 3^rd best qualifiers, that enthusiasm in hampered by both starters, Greg Biffle and Brad Keselowski being forced to start at the rear of the field running replacement engines. The next Ford in the fight is Joey Logano in 6^th position. Clearly the story is about Toyota’s success with half the starting top ten but even better, Joe Gibbs three cars all starting in the top five.

Dale Earnhardt tops the Hendrix fleet in 15^th, followed by Kasey Kahne in 16^th, Jimmie Johnson in 18^th and Jeff Gordon in 19^th. After winning the Daytona pole, qualifying continues difficult for rookie, Danica Patrick, starting in the provisional grouping in a miserable 40^th position while fellow rookie, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. checks in posting a 31^st starting spot.

Weather should be ideal tomorrow afternoon in Fontana, California, sunny with high temperatures in the mid 70’s.

STARTING LINE UP:

POS		CAR #		DRIVER		MFG		SPEED
1		11		Denny Hamlin		Toyota		187.451
2		16		Greg Biffle		Ford		187.217
3		2		Brad Keselowski (PC1)		Ford		187.149
4		18		Kyle Busch		Toyota		187.130
5		20		Matt Kenseth (PC5)		Toyota		186.688
6		22		Joey Logano		Ford		186.514
7		56		Martin Truex, Jr.		Toyota		186.273
8		14		Tony Stewart (PC2)		Chevrolet		185.864
9		55		Mark Martin		Toyota		185.792
10		78		Kurt Busch (PC4)		Chevrolet		185.677
11		13		Casey Mears		Ford		185.157
12		42		Juan Pablo Montoya		Chevrolet		185.085
13		15		Clint Bowyer		Toyota		184.876
14		29		Kevin Harvick		Chevrolet		184.715
15		88		Dale Earnhardt, Jr.		Chevrolet		184.625
16		5		Kasey Kahne		Chevrolet		184.374
17		1		Jamie McMurray		Chevrolet		184.233
18		48		Jimmie Johnson (PC3)		Chevrolet		184.044
19		24		Jeff Gordon (PC6)		Chevrolet		184.011
20		39		Ryan Newman		Chevrolet		183.988
21		9		Marcos Ambrose		Ford		183.852
22		31		Jeff Burton		Chevrolet		183.702
23		43		Aric Almirola		Ford		183.697
24		99		Carl Edwards		Ford		183.570
25		47		Bobby Labonte (PC7)		Toyota		183.248
26		51		A.J. Allmendinger		Chevrolet		183.113
27		27		Paul Menard		Chevrolet		183.020
28		83		David Reutimann		Toyota		182.825
29		7		Dave Blaney		Chevrolet		182.658
30		35		Josh Wise		Ford		182.639
31		17		Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. #		Ford		182.519
32		30		David Stremme		Toyota		182.473
33		93		Travis Kvapil		Toyota		182.440
34		38		David Gilliland		Ford		181.493
35		98		Michael McDowell		Ford		181.087
36		33		Landon Cassill		Chevrolet		181.087
				Provisional Starters determined by Owner's Points
37		36		JJ Yeley		Chevrolet		180.203
38		44		Scott Riggs(i)		Ford		179.829
39		32		Timmy Hill #		Ford		179.471
40		10		Danica Patrick #		Chevrolet		179.305
41		19		Mike Bliss(i)		Toyota		178.355
42		34		David Ragan		Ford		177.813
43		87		Joe Nemechek(i)		Toyota		177.144