AUTO CLUB RACE REVIEW

Date: 2-27-2022.
Name of the race: Wise Power 400.
Track: Auto Club Speedway.
Laps: 200.
Pole winner: Austin Cindric.
Outside pole: Erik Jones.
Stage 1 winner: Tyler Reddick.
Stage 2 winner: Tyler Reddick.
Stage 3 winner (won the race): Kyle Larson.
Top 5: Kyle Larson, Austin Dillon, Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez, and Joey Logano. 
FYI: Auto Club marked a true test for teams on how this new car was going to handle on ovals. Compared to the Clash race at the Coliseum, this was a whole other beast. Big names like Brad Keselowski and Chase Elliott were plagued with issues like line issues, spinning out on their own, tire problems, etc. This new car is showing that even the biggest names can struggle just as much as the little teams are. What is different from last year's car is that names that you do not hear much about, are now towards the front, leading laps, and are in contention to win races. The biggest headline of the race besides many drivers having issues is the feud between Hendrick teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott. Towards the end of the race, Elliott made contact with Larson in a three battle with him and Logano which forced him to drop like a rock. A little while later Elliott spun out and showed his displeasure with Larson over the radio and forced him down to the apron when being lapped by the #5 car. In the end, Larson walked away with the victory and earned not only his first win of the 2022 season and in this car but also his third win in his home state and his second victory at the two-mile oval. 
Next race: Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday (3-6-2022).