2017 Auto Club 400

{{Infobox NASCAR race report | Type = NASME | Description =  | Race Name = Auto Club 400 | Details ref = <ref>{{cite web|title=2017 schedule|url=http://www.jayski.com/news/pages/story/_/page/2017-NASCAR-Cup-Schedule|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=March 16, 2017|date=May 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204004251/http://www.jayski.com/news/pages/story/_/page/2017-NASCAR-Cup-Schedule|archive-date=February 4, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Auto Club Speedway|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/auto-club-speedway.html|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|access-date=March 16, 2017|date=January 3, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Entry List|url=http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/Statistics/Season-Stats/Statistics.aspx?SubSeriesID=1&YearID=46&RaceID=7580&StatType=Entry+List|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|access-date=March 20, 2017|date=March 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321082312/http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/Statistics/Season-Stats/Statistics.aspx?SubSeriesID=1&YearID=46&RaceID=7580&StatType=Entry+List|archive-date=March 21, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=First Practice Results|url=http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/Statistics/Additional-Statistics/2017/03/Auto-Club-400-1st-Practice-Speeds.aspx|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|access-date=March 24, 2017|date=March 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325113106/http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/Statistics/Additional-Statistics/2017/03/Auto-Club-400-1st-Practice-Speeds.aspx|archive-date=March 25, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Qualifying Results|url=http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/Statistics/Additional-Statistics/2017/03/Auto-Club-400-Qualifying-Results.aspx|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|access-date=March 24, 2017|date=March 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325113124/http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/Statistics/Additional-Statistics/2017/03/Auto-Club-400-Qualifying-Results.aspx|archive-date=March 25, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Second Practice Results|url=http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/Statistics/Additional-Statistics/2017/03/Auto-Club-400-2nd-Practice-Speeds.aspx|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|access-date=March 25, 2017|date=March 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326051637/http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/Statistics/Additional-Statistics/2017/03/Auto-Club-400-2nd-Practice-Speeds.aspx|archive-date=March 26, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Final Practice Results|url=http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/Statistics/Additional-Statistics/2017/03/Auto-Club-400-Final-Practice-Speeds.aspx|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|access-date=March 25, 2017|date=March 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326231436/http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/Statistics/Additional-Statistics/2017/03/Auto-Club-400-Final-Practice-Speeds.aspx|archive-date=March 26, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Auto Club 400 Results|url=http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/Statistics/Season-Stats/Statistics.aspx?SubSeriesID=1&YearID=46&RaceID=7580&StatType=Race+Results|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|access-date=March 26, 2017|date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327165555/http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/Statistics/Season-Stats/Statistics.aspx?SubSeriesID=1&YearID=46&RaceID=7580&StatType=Race+Results|archive-date=March 27, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Points standings|url=http://www.jayski.com/stats/2017/pdfs/05acs2017racereport.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=March 27, 2017|date=March 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129090856/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2017/pdfs/05acs2017racereport.pdf|archive-date=January 29, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Manufacturer standings|url=http://www.jayski.com/stats/2017/pdfs/05acs2017racereport.pdf|website=Jayski.com|publisher=Jayski's Silly Season Site|access-date=March 27, 2017|date=March 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129090856/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2017/pdfs/05acs2017racereport.pdf|archive-date=January 29, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> | Fulldate = {{Start date|2017|03|26}} | Year = 2017 | Race_No = 5 | Season_No = 36 | Image = Auto Club Speedway (formerly California Speedway) - Speedway.svg | Caption = Track map of the speedway at Auto Club Speedway AKA California Speedway | Location = Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California | Course_mi = 2 | Course_km = 3.219 | Distance_laps = 202 | Distance_mi = 404 | Distance_km = 650.175 | Scheduled_laps = 200 | Scheduled_mi = 400 | Scheduled_km = 643.738 | Weather = | Avg = {{convert|136.359|mph|km/h}} | Pole_Driver = Kyle Larson | Pole_Team = Chip Ganassi Racing | Pole_Time = 38.493 | Most_Driver = Kyle Larson | Most_Team = Chip Ganassi Racing | Most_laps = 110 | Car = 42 | First_Driver = Kyle Larson | First_Team = Chip Ganassi Racing | Network = Fox | Announcers = Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip | Ratings = 2.9/6 (Overnight)<ref>{{cite web|last=Paulsen|title=Overnights Down Yet Again For NASCAR, This Time at Fontana|url=http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2017/03/nascar-ratings-down-fontana-overnights-fox/|website=SportsMediaWatch.com|publisher=Sports Media Watch|access-date=March 28, 2017|date=March 27, 2017}}</ref> 3.2/6 (Final)<ref name="NASCAR Fontana Ratings Lowest Since At Least 1998" >{{cite web|last=Paulsen|title=NASCAR Fontana Ratings Lowest Since At Least 1998|url=http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2017/03/nascar-ratings-down-fox-fontana-lowest-years/|website=SportsMediaWatch.com|publisher=Sports Media Watch|access-date=March 29, 2017|date=March 28, 2017}}</ref> 5.2 million viewers<ref name="NASCAR Fontana Ratings Lowest Since At Least 1998" /> | Radio = MRN | Booth_Ann = Joe Moore, Jeff Striegle and Rusty Wallace | Turn_Ann = Dan Hubbard (1 & 2) and Kurt Becker (3 & 4) }}

The '''2017 Auto Club 400''' was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race that was held on March 26, 2017, at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Contested over 202 laps, extended from 200 laps due to overtime, on the {{convert|2|mi|km|adj=on|abbr=off}} D-shaped oval, it was the fifth race of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. The race was won by Kyle Larson of Chip Ganassi Racing for his second Cup Series victory, leading the most laps from pole position.

== Practice ==

=== First practice === Kyle Larson was the fastest in the first practice session with a time of 38.081 seconds and a speed of {{Convert|189.071|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|last=Spencer|first=Lee|title=Larson tops lone Friday practice session, Johnson wrecks|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/larson-tops-lone-friday-practice-session-johnson-wrecks-885755/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=March 24, 2017|location=Fontana, California|date=March 24, 2017}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" |- ! Pos ! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer ! Time ! {{Tooltip|Speed|MPH}} |- ! 1 | 42 || Kyle Larson || Chip Ganassi Racing || Chevrolet || 38.081 || 189.071 |- ! 2 | 11 || Denny Hamlin || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 38.204 || 188.462 |- ! 3 | 4 || Kevin Harvick || Stewart–Haas Racing || Ford || 38.228 || 188.344 |- !colspan="7"|[https://web.archive.org/web/20170326050307/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2017/pdfs/05acs2017prac1.pdf Official first practice results] |}

=== Second practice === Erik Jones was the fastest in the second practice session with a time of 38.451 seconds and a speed of {{Convert|187.251|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|last=DeGroot|first=Nick|title=Erik Jones leads second practice as Harvick finds the wall|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/erik-jones-leads-second-practice-as-harvick-finds-the-wall-886300/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=March 25, 2017|location=Fontana, California|date=March 25, 2017}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !Pos !{{Tooltip|No.|Car number}} !Driver !Team !Manufacturer !Time !{{Tooltip|Speed|MPH}} |- !1 |77 |Erik Jones '''(R)''' |Furniture Row Racing |Toyota |38.451 |187.251 |- !2 |24 |Chase Elliott |Hendrick Motorsports |Chevrolet |38.535 |186.843 |- !3 |31 |Ryan Newman |Richard Childress Racing |Chevrolet |38.558 |186.732 |- ! colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20170326051128/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2017/pdfs/05acs2017prac2.pdf Official second practice results] |}

=== Final practice === Chase Elliott was the fastest in the final practice session with a time of 38.404 seconds and a speed of {{Convert|187.480|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|last=Spencer|first=Lee|title=Chase Elliott tops action-packed final practice|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/chase-elliott-tops-action-packed-final-practice-886360/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=March 25, 2017|location=Fontana, California|date=March 25, 2017}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" !Pos !{{Tooltip|No.|Car number}} !Driver !Team !Manufacturer !Time !{{Tooltip|Speed|MPH}} |- !1 |24 |Chase Elliott |Hendrick Motorsports |Chevrolet |38.404 |187.480 |- !2 |78 |Martin Truex Jr. |Furniture Row Racing |Toyota |38.425 |187.378 |- !3 |21 |Ryan Blaney |Wood Brothers Racing |Ford |38.489 |187.066 |- ! colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20170326051338/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2017/pdfs/05acs2017prac3.pdf Official final practice results] |}

==Qualifying== Kyle Larson scored the pole for the race with a time of 38.493 and a speed of {{Convert|187.047|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite news|last=Beacham|first=Greg|title=Kyle Larson claims pole at Fontana, edging Denny Hamlin|url=http://racing.ap.org/article/kyle-larson-claims-pole-fontana-edging-denny-hamlin|access-date=March 24, 2017|work=Associated Press|agency=Associated Press|publisher=AP Sports|date=March 24, 2017|location=Fontana, California|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325113046/http://racing.ap.org/article/kyle-larson-claims-pole-fontana-edging-denny-hamlin|archive-date=March 25, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> “It was an interesting qualifying for us,” Larson said. “I ran the bottom in Turns 3 and 4. I knew everybody was running the top in 3 and 4 and my plan was to go up there in the second round, but thought I maybe got through 1 and 2 okay enough to run the bottom. I knew the third round I was going to have to move up. Our Target Chevy was really good, really balanced up there. I was surprised."<ref>{{cite web|last=Mayes|first=Robbie|title=Larson Scores Second Career Pole|url=http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/News/Articles/2017/03/Kyle-Larson-Scores-Second-Career-Pole.aspx|website=MRN.com|publisher=Motor Racing Network|access-date=March 25, 2017|location=Fontana, California|date=March 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326051626/http://www.mrn.com/Race-Series/NASCAR-Sprint-Cup/News/Articles/2017/03/Kyle-Larson-Scores-Second-Career-Pole.aspx|archive-date=March 26, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Qualifying results=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%" |- ! Pos ! {{Tooltip|No.|Car number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer ! {{Tooltip|R1|Best time in Round 1}} ! {{Tooltip|R2|Best time in Round 2}} ! {{Tooltip|R3|Best time in Round 3}} |- ! 1 |42 ||Kyle Larson ||Chip Ganassi Racing ||Chevrolet ||38.551 ||38.679 ||'''38.493''' |- ! 2 |11 ||Denny Hamlin ||Joe Gibbs Racing ||Toyota ||38.552 ||'''38.519''' ||38.507 |- ! 3 |2 ||Brad Keselowski ||Team Penske ||Ford ||38.454 ||38.847 ||38.606 |- ! 4 |78 ||Martin Truex Jr. ||Furniture Row Racing ||Toyota ||38.775 ||38.818 ||38.630 |- ! 5 |31 ||Ryan Newman ||Richard Childress Racing ||Chevrolet ||38.735 ||38.948 ||38.684 |- ! 6 |20 ||Matt Kenseth ||Joe Gibbs Racing ||Toyota ||38.646 ||38.570 ||38.702 |- ! 7 |4 ||Kevin Harvick ||Stewart–Haas Racing ||Ford ||'''38.245''' ||38.549 ||38.710 |- ! 8 |1 ||Jamie McMurray ||Chip Ganassi Racing ||Chevrolet ||38.818 ||38.628 ||38.768 |- ! 9 |18 ||Kyle Busch ||Joe Gibbs Racing ||Toyota ||38.487 ||38.668 ||38.835 |- ! 10 |19 ||Daniel Suárez '''(R)''' ||Joe Gibbs Racing ||Toyota ||38.890 ||38.799 ||38.958 |- ! 11 |3 ||Austin Dillon ||Richard Childress Racing ||Chevrolet ||38.937 ||38.860 ||38.980 |- ! 12 |5 ||Kasey Kahne ||Hendrick Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||38.805 ||38.910 ||39.139 |- ! 13 |24 ||Chase Elliott ||Hendrick Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||39.923 ||38.954 || — |- ! 14 |77 ||Erik Jones '''(R)''' ||Furniture Row Racing ||Toyota ||39.311 ||38.973 || — |- ! 15 |41 ||Kurt Busch ||Stewart–Haas Racing ||Ford ||38.878 ||39.005 || — |- ! 16 |17 ||Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ||Roush Fenway Racing ||Ford ||38.923 ||39.050 || — |- ! 17 |14 ||Clint Bowyer ||Stewart–Haas Racing ||Ford ||38.855 ||39.152 || — |- ! 18 |88 ||Dale Earnhardt Jr. ||Hendrick Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||38.829 ||39.180 || — |- ! 19 |21 ||Ryan Blaney ||Wood Brothers Racing ||Ford ||39.141 ||39.207 || — |- ! 20 |37 ||Chris Buescher ||JTG Daugherty Racing ||Chevrolet ||39.130 ||39.286 || — |- ! 21 |13 ||Ty Dillon '''(R)''' ||Germain Racing ||Chevrolet ||38.935 ||39.322 || — |- ! 22 |10 ||Danica Patrick ||Stewart–Haas Racing ||Ford ||38.901 ||39.341 || — |- ! 23 |27 ||Paul Menard ||Richard Childress Racing ||Chevrolet ||39.217 ||0.000 || — |- ! 24 |47 ||A. J. Allmendinger ||JTG Daugherty Racing ||Chevrolet ||39.240 ||0.000 || — |- ! 25 |95 ||Michael McDowell ||Leavine Family Racing ||Chevrolet ||39.408 || — || — |- ! 26 |34 ||Landon Cassill ||Front Row Motorsports ||Ford ||39.409 || — || — |- ! 27 |38 ||David Ragan ||Front Row Motorsports ||Ford ||39.640 || — || — |- ! 28 |72 ||Cole Whitt ||TriStar Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||39.708 || — || — |- ! 29 |15 ||Reed Sorenson ||Premium Motorsports ||Toyota ||40.028 || — || — |- ! 30 |83 ||Corey LaJoie '''(R)''' ||BK Racing ||Toyota ||40.039 || — || — |- ! 31 |43 ||Aric Almirola ||Richard Petty Motorsports ||Ford ||40.948 || — || — |- ! 32 |33 ||Jeffrey Earnhardt ||Circle Sport – The Motorsports Group ||Chevrolet ||41.128 || — || — |- ! 33 |55 ||Derrike Cope ||Premium Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||41.455 || — || — |- ! 34 |51 ||Timmy Hill '''(i)''' ||Rick Ware Racing ||Chevrolet ||41.783 || — || — |- ! 35 |22 ||Joey Logano ||Team Penske ||Ford ||0.000 || — || — |- ! 36 |6 ||Trevor Bayne ||Roush Fenway Racing ||Ford ||0.000 || — || — |- ! 37 |48 ||Jimmie Johnson ||Hendrick Motorsports ||Chevrolet ||0.000 || — || — |- ! 38 |32 ||Matt DiBenedetto ||Go Fas Racing ||Ford ||0.000 || — || — |- ! 39 |23 ||Gray Gaulding '''(R)''' ||BK Racing ||Toyota ||0.000 || — || — |- !colspan="8"|[https://web.archive.org/web/20170326050305/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2017/pdfs/05acs2017qualresults.pdf Official qualifying results] |}

==Race== ===First stage=== Kyle Larson led the field to the green flag at 3:50 p.m. On the initial start, Denny Hamlin spun his tires and forced Brad Keselowski to check up.<ref>{{cite web|last=White|first=Tucker|title=Keselowski rallies from spin to finish runner-up|url=http://www.speedwaymedia.com/?p=121012|website=SpeedwayMedia.com|publisher=Speedway Media|access-date=March 29, 2017|date=March 27, 2017}}</ref> He backed into Ryan Newman – and Kevin Harvick, who was lined up behind Newman – and was turned up the track, damaging the left-rear quarter panel in the process.<ref>{{cite web|last=Spencer|first=Lee|title=Keselowski rebounds from early wreck to nearly win in California|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/keselowski-rebounds-from-early-wreck-to-nearly-win-in-california-886918/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=March 29, 2017|location=Fontana, California|date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> Keselowski kept going, but got loose exiting Turn 4, with help from Jimmie Johnson, and spun through the frontstretch grass, bringing out the first caution of the race on the third lap.<ref>{{cite web|last=Crandall|first=Kelly|title=Keselowski's good breaks outweigh bad luck|url=https://www.racer.com/nascar/item/139125-keselowski-s-good-breaks-outweigh-bad-luck|website=Racer.com|publisher=Racer Media & Marketing, Inc.|access-date=March 29, 2017|location=Fontana, California|date=March 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330011719/https://www.racer.com/nascar/item/139125-keselowski-s-good-breaks-outweigh-bad-luck|archive-date=March 30, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The race restarted on the eighth lap. Harvick made an unscheduled stop for damage on lap 23. A cycle of green flag stops started on lap 30 and resulted in Martin Truex Jr. cycling to the lead. Larson took it back exiting Turn 4 on lap 49, won the first stage and the second caution flew for the completion of the stage on lap 60. Truex exited pit road first. Ryan Blaney (removing equipment from the pit box) and Austin Dillon (speeding) restarted the race from the tail end of the field for pit road infractions.<ref name="The NASCAR Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway as it happened" >{{cite web|last=Engle|first=Greg|title=The NASCAR Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway as it happened|url=http://cupscene.com/nascar-auto-club-400-auto-club-speedway-happened/|website=CupScene.com|publisher=Cup Scene|access-date=March 29, 2017|date=March 26, 2017}}</ref>

===Second stage=== The race restarted on lap 68. The second stage was only broken up by green flag stops on lap 91, which resulted in Truex retaining the lead. It ended with him winning the stage and the third caution flew on lap 120 for its completion.<ref name="The NASCAR Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway as it happened" />

===Final stage=== [[File:Kyle Larson Auto Club 2017.jpg|thumb|Kyle Larson won the race from the pole position.]] The race restarted with 73 laps to go. Larson powered by Truex on the bottom in Turn 1 to retake the lead on the restart. For most of the stage, it was a repeat of the second stage. It was broken up with 49 to go when cars started pitting under green, Larson and Truex pitted together with 45 to go and Larson regained it with 37 to go. During the cycle, Kyle Busch led for a few laps, followed by Ty Dillon and Johnson was turned by Truex on pit road.<ref>{{cite news|last=Peltz|first=James|title=Jimmie Johnson can't quite pull off another comeback|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/more/la-sp-auto-club-400-notes-20170326-story.html|access-date=March 29, 2017|work=Los Angeles Times|publisher=Tronc|date=March 26, 2017|location=Fontana, California}}</ref> Gray Gaulding suffered a right-front tire blowout and slammed the wall in Turn 1, bringing out the fourth caution with 20 to go. Truex, who entered pit road under the caution second, left seventh after he "stopped too deep in the box."<ref>{{cite news|last=James|first=Brant|title=Kyle Larson breaks through, wins Auto Club 400 in Fontana|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2017/03/26/kyle-larson-wins-auto-club-400-cup-series-fontana/99668526/|access-date=March 29, 2017|work=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Company|date=March 26, 2017|location=Fontana, California}}</ref>

The race restarted with 16 to go. Exiting Turn 2 on the restart, Truex hooked the left-rear corner of Matt Kenseth, then sent him spinning down the track and into the inside retaining wall, bringing out the fifth caution.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brewster|first=Louis|title=NASCAR to study Auto Club Speedway retaining wall placement after Matt Kenseth crash|url=http://www.dailybulletin.com/sports/20170327/nascar-to-study-auto-club-speedway-retaining-wall-placement-after-matt-kenseth-crash|access-date=March 29, 2017|work=Inland Valley Daily Bulletin|publisher=Digital First Media|date=March 27, 2017|location=Fontana, California}}</ref>

The race restarted with 11 to go. Two laps later, Corey LaJoie spun out in Turn 2, bringing out the sixth caution. Hamlin, taking the lead as a result, Truex and Jamie McMurray elected to stay out under the caution, while everyone else hit pit road.<ref name="The NASCAR Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway as it happened" />

The race restarted with five to go. Larson quickly took second from Truex on the backstretch and had a run on Hamlin, but found himself boxed in by Truex to his left and the outside wall to his right. He made the pass for the lead exiting Turn 2 with three to go seconds before the seventh caution flew for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. spinning out in Turn 2.<ref name="The NASCAR Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway as it happened" />

====Overtime==== The race restarted in overtime with two to go and Larson drove on to score the victory.<ref>{{cite news|last=Beacham|first=Greg|title=Second to none: Kyle Larson hangs on to win at Fontana|url=http://racing.ap.org/article/second-none-kyle-larson-hangs-win-fontana|access-date=March 26, 2017|work=Associated Press|agency=Associated Press|publisher=AP Sports|date=March 26, 2017|location=Fontana, California|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330011727/http://racing.ap.org/article/second-none-kyle-larson-hangs-win-fontana|archive-date=March 30, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Post-race ==

=== Driver comments === In victory lane, Larson said of the final two restarts that he was "staying as calm as [he] could," but he was "frustrated" as well. "It seems like every time I get to the lead at the end of one of these things, the caution comes out and I've got to fight people off on restarts," he added. "Our Target Chevy was amazing all day. We were able to lead a lot of laps today. Truex was better than us that second stage by quite a bit. We were able to get the jump on him the following restart and led pretty much the rest of the distance. I had to fight them off there after the green flag stops (before the final caution), and that was a lot of fun. This is just amazing. We've been so good all year long, three seconds in a row. I've been watching all the TV like 'He doesn't know how to win,' but we knew how to win today, so that was good."<ref>{{cite web|last=Spencer|first=Reid|title=Larson breaks runner-up streak with win at Auto Club|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2017/3/26/who-won-auto-club-400-kyle-larson-monster-energy-nascar-cup-series.html|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Wire Service|access-date=March 29, 2017|location=Fontana, California|date=March 26, 2017}}</ref>

"Great perseverance from this team," Keselowski said on pit road after rallying from a Lap 3 spin to finish runner-up. "I got out of the car and looked at the damage. It's torn to pieces. I feel lucky to finish second and curious what we could have done if we weren't torn up. Great day for us to persevere, despite adversity. You'll have that in a 36-race season, so proud of team for that."<ref>{{cite web|last=Cain|first=Holly|title=Keselowski, No. 2 team persevere to second-place finish|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2017/3/26/brad-keselowski-team-penske-rally-second-place-auto-club-speedway.html|website=NASCAR.com|publisher=NASCAR Media Group, LLC.|access-date=March 29, 2017|location=Fontana, California|date=March 26, 2017}}</ref>

Clint Bowyer, who earned his first top-five finish since the 2015 Irwin Tools Night Race with a third-place finish, said his team is "getting closer. This is a good track for me. I wanted to win that damn thing, but to come home with a wild finish and everything that it was, we’ll take it.”<ref>{{cite web|last=Haverlin|first=John|title=BOWYER: "We’re Getting Closer"|url=http://www.popularspeed.com/bowyer-posts-first-top-five-since-2015/|website=PopularSpeed.com|publisher=POPULAR SPEED|access-date=March 29, 2017|location=Fontana, California|date=March 26, 2017}}</ref>

Truex, who finished fourth after electing not to pit under the penultimate caution, said it was "not the situation we wanted to be in, but we thought more guys would stay out there. I think we only ran a few laps. It was definitely a disadvantage at the end and just really tight. Holding on for fourth was good for points.”<ref>{{cite web|last=Spencer|first=Lee|title=Truex falls short of victory with late-race gamble|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/truex-falls-short-of-victory-with-late-race-gamble-886919/|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=March 29, 2017|location=Fontana, California|date=March 26, 2017}}</ref>

== Race results ==

=== Stage results ===

'''Stage 1''' ''Laps:'' 60

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%" |- ! Pos ! {{Tooltip|No|Car number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer ! Points |- |1 || 42 || Kyle Larson || Chip Ganassi Racing || Chevrolet || 10 |- |2 || 78 || Martin Truex Jr. || Furniture Row Racing || Toyota || 9 |- |3 || 24 || Chase Elliott || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 8 |- |4 || 1 || Jamie McMurray || Chip Ganassi Racing || Chevrolet || 7 |- |5 || 18 || Kyle Busch || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 6 |- |6 || 14 || Clint Bowyer || Stewart–Haas Racing || Ford || 5 |- |7 || 22 || Joey Logano || Team Penske || Ford || 4 |- |8 || 77 || Erik Jones '''(R)''' || Furniture Row Racing || Toyota || 3 |- |9 || 21 || Ryan Blaney || Wood Brothers Racing || Ford || 2 |- |10 || 11 || Denny Hamlin || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 1 |- !colspan="6"|[https://web.archive.org/web/20190129090856/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2017/pdfs/05acs2017racereport.pdf Official stage one results] |}

'''Stage 2''' ''Laps:'' 60

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%" |- ! Pos ! {{Tooltip|No|Car number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer ! Points |- |1 || 78 || Martin Truex Jr. || Furniture Row Racing || Toyota || 10 |- |2 || 42 || Kyle Larson || Chip Ganassi Racing || Chevrolet || 9 |- |3 || 24 || Chase Elliott || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 8 |- |4 || 14 || Clint Bowyer || Stewart–Haas Racing || Ford || 7 |- |5 || 77 || Erik Jones '''(R)''' || Furniture Row Racing || Toyota || 6 |- |6 || 1 || Jamie McMurray || Chip Ganassi Racing || Chevrolet || 5 |- |7 || 18 || Kyle Busch || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 4 |- |8 || 22 || Joey Logano || Team Penske || Ford || 3 |- |9 || 11 || Denny Hamlin || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 2 |- |10 || 2 || Brad Keselowski || Team Penske || Ford || 1 |- !colspan="6"|[https://web.archive.org/web/20190129090856/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2017/pdfs/05acs2017racereport.pdf Official stage two results] |}

===Final stage results===

'''Stage 3''' ''Laps:'' 82

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:98%" |- ! Pos ! {{Tooltip|No|Car number}} ! Driver ! Team ! Manufacturer ! Laps ! Points |- |1 || 42 || Kyle Larson || Chip Ganassi Racing || Chevrolet || 202 || 59 |- |2 || 2 || Brad Keselowski || Team Penske || Ford || 202 || 36 |- |3 || 14 || Clint Bowyer || Stewart–Haas Racing || Ford || 202 || 46 |- |4 || 78 || Martin Truex Jr. || Furniture Row Racing || Toyota || 202 || 52 |- |5 || 22 || Joey Logano || Team Penske || Ford || 202 || 39 |- |6 || 1 || Jamie McMurray || Chip Ganassi Racing || Chevrolet || 202 || 43 |- |7 || 19 || Daniel Suárez '''(R)''' || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 202 || 30 |- |8 || 18 || Kyle Busch || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 202 || 39 |- |9 || 21 || Ryan Blaney || Wood Brothers Racing || Ford || 202 || 30 |- |10 || 24 || Chase Elliott || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 202 || 43 |- |11 || 3 || Austin Dillon || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet || 202 || 26 |- |12 || 77 || Erik Jones '''(R)''' || Furniture Row Racing || Toyota || 202 || 34 |- |13 || 4 || Kevin Harvick || Stewart–Haas Racing || Ford || 202 || 24 |- |14 || 11 || Denny Hamlin || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 202 || 26 |- |15 || 31 || Ryan Newman || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet || 202 || 22 |- |16 || 88 || Dale Earnhardt Jr. || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 202 || 21 |- |17 || 47 || A. J. Allmendinger || JTG Daugherty Racing || Chevrolet || 202 || 20 |- |18 || 13 || Ty Dillon '''(R)''' || Germain Racing || Chevrolet || 202 || 19 |- |19 || 43 || Aric Almirola || Richard Petty Motorsports || Ford || 202 || 18 |- |20 || 5 || Kasey Kahne || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 202 || 17 |- |21 || 48 || Jimmie Johnson || Hendrick Motorsports || Chevrolet || 202 || 16 |- |22 || 17 || Ricky Stenhouse Jr. || Roush Fenway Racing || Ford || 202 || 15 |- |23 || 6 || Trevor Bayne || Roush Fenway Racing || Ford || 202 || 14 |- |24 || 41 || Kurt Busch || Stewart–Haas Racing || Ford || 201 || 13 |- |25 || 37 || Chris Buescher || JTG Daugherty Racing || Chevrolet || 201 || 12 |- |26 || 10 || Danica Patrick || Stewart–Haas Racing || Ford || 200 || 11 |- |27 || 34 || Landon Cassill || Front Row Motorsports || Ford || 200 || 10 |- |28 || 27 || Paul Menard || Richard Childress Racing || Chevrolet || 200 || 9 |- |29 || 32 || Matt DiBenedetto || Fas Lane Racing || Ford || 200 || 8 |- |30 || 83 || Corey LaJoie '''(R)''' || BK Racing || Toyota || 200 || 7 |- |31 || 38 || David Ragan || Front Row Motorsports || Ford || 199 || 6 |- |32 || 72 || Cole Whitt || TriStar Motorsports || Chevrolet || 199 || 5 |- |33 || 95 || Michael McDowell || Leavine Family Racing || Chevrolet || 198 || 4 |- |34 || 15 || Reed Sorenson || Premium Motorsports || Toyota || 197 || 3 |- |35 || 51 || Timmy Hill '''(i)''' || Rick Ware Racing || Chevrolet || 193 || 0 |- |36 || 20 || Matt Kenseth || Joe Gibbs Racing || Toyota || 184 || 1 |- |37 || 23 || Gray Gaulding '''(R)''' || BK Racing || Toyota || 173 || 1 |- |38 || 55 || Derrike Cope || Premium Motorsports || Chevrolet || 117 || 1 |- |39 || 33 || Jeffrey Earnhardt || Circle Sport – The Motorsports Group || Chevrolet || 99 || 1 |- ! colspan="7" |[https://web.archive.org/web/20190129090856/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2017/pdfs/05acs2017racereport.pdf Official race results] |}

===Race statistics=== * Lead changes: 17 among 8 different drivers * Cautions/Laps: 7 for 29 laps * Red flags: 0 * Time of race: 2 hours, 57 minutes and 46 seconds * Average speed: {{convert|136.359|mph|km/h}}

==Media==

===Television=== The race was the 17th race Fox Sports covered at Auto Club Speedway. Mike Joy, three-time Auto Club winner Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip called the race from the broadcast booth, while Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Matt Yocum handled pit road duties.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%" |- !colspan="2"|Fox |- !Booth announcers!!Pit reporters |- | '''Lap-by-lap:''' Mike Joy '''Color commentator:''' Jeff Gordon '''Color commentator:''' Darrell Waltrip || Jamie Little Vince Welch Matt Yocum |}

===Radio=== MRN had the radio call for the race which was also simulcasted on SiriusXM's NASCAR Radio channel. Joe Moore, Jeff Striegle and 2001 race winner Rusty Wallace called the race from the booth when the field was racing down the front stretch. Dan Hubbard called the race from a billboard outside turn 2 when the field was racing through turns 1 and 2. Kurt Becker called the race from a billboard outside turn 3 when the field was racing through turns 3 and 4. Alex Hayden, Winston Kelley and Steve Post worked pit road for MRN.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%" |- !colspan="3"|MRN |- !Booth announcers!!Turn announcers!!Pit reporters |- | '''Lead announcer:''' Joe Moore '''Announcer:''' Jeff Striegle '''Announcer:''' Rusty Wallace || '''Turns 1 & 2:''' Dan Hubbard '''Turns 3 & 4:''' Kurt Becker || Alex Hayden Winston Kelley Steve Post |}

==Standings after the race== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} ;Drivers' Championship standings {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%" |- ! ! Pos ! Driver ! Points |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | Kyle Larson | style="text-align:center;"| 243 |- |align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | Chase Elliott | style="text-align:center;"| 214 (–29) |- |align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | Martin Truex Jr. | style="text-align:center;"| 205 (–38) |- |align="left"| 10px 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 4 | Brad Keselowski | style="text-align:center;"| 179 (–64) |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 5 | Joey Logano | style="text-align:center;"| 174 (–69) |- |align="left"| 10px 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 6 | Jamie McMurray | style="text-align:center;"| 162 (–81) |- |align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 7 | Ryan Blaney | style="text-align:center;"| 157 (–86) |- |align="left"| 10px 7 | style="text-align:center;"| 8 | Clint Bowyer | style="text-align:center;"| 143 (–100) |- |align="left"| 10px 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 9 | Kevin Harvick | style="text-align:center;"| 137 (–106) |- |align="left"| 10px 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 10 | Kyle Busch | style="text-align:center;"| 136 (–107) |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 11 | Ryan Newman | style="text-align:center;"| 123 (–120) |- |align="left"| 10px 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 12 | Denny Hamlin | style="text-align:center;"| 123 (–120) |- |align="left"| 10px 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 13 | Kasey Kahne | style="text-align:center;"| 122 (–121) |- |align="left"| 10px 5 | style="text-align:center;"| 14 | Kurt Busch | style="text-align:center;"| 118 (–125) |- |align="left"| 10px 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 15 | Erik Jones | style="text-align:center;"| 116 (–127) |- |align="left"| 10px 4 | style="text-align:center;"| 16 | Trevor Bayne | style="text-align:center;"| 114 (–129) |- class="sortbottom" !colspan="4"|[https://web.archive.org/web/20190129090856/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2017/pdfs/05acs2017racereport.pdf Official driver's standings] |} {{col-2}}

;Manufacturers' Championship standings {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%" |- ! ! Pos ! Manufacturer ! Points |- |align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | Chevrolet | style="text-align:center;"| 184 |- |align="left"| 10px 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | Ford | style="text-align:center;"| 181 (–3) |- |align="left"| 10px | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | Toyota | style="text-align:center;"| 170 (–14) |- class="sortbottom" !colspan="4"|[https://web.archive.org/web/20190129090856/http://www.jayski.com/stats/2017/pdfs/05acs2017racereport.pdf Official manufacturers' standings] |}

*'''Note''': Only the first 16 positions are included for the driver standings. {{col-end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{NASCAR next race | Series = Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series | Monsteryear = 2017 | Previous_race = 2017 Camping World 500 | Next_race = 2017 STP 500 }}

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