| Venue | Auto Club Speedway |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Automobile Club of Southern California |
| First race | 1997 |
| Distance | 400 miles (643.737 km) |
| Laps | 200 |
| Previous names | California 500 Presented by NAPA (1997–1999) NAPA Auto Parts 500 (2000–2002) Auto Club 500 (2003–2010) |
The Auto Club 400 is a 400 miles (643.7 km) long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Prior to 2005, the race was held in late April or early May, and until 2010, the race was run at a length of 500 miles. When the NASCAR Realignment of 2005 was made, the race was moved to February.[1] The February date stayed until the 2011 season when the date changed to March. After being pleased with the results of the reduction of the track's former fall race date, the Pepsi Max 400, from 500 to 400 miles Auto Club Speedway decided to do the same thing to its spring race.[2]
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After nearly a decade, NASCAR came back to Southern California on June 22, 1997 with the inaugural California 500. The race featured 21 lead changes among a dozen different drivers. Jeff Gordon passed Mark Martin with 11 laps remaining and sped to victory. Terry Labonte took second, giving Hendrick Motorsports another 1-2 finish.
| Year | Date | Driver | Team | Manufacturer | Race Distance | Race Time | Average Speed (mph) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laps | Miles (km) | |||||||
| 1997 | June 22 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 500 (804.672) | 3:13:32 | 155.012 |
| 1998 | May 3 | Mark Martin | Roush Racing | Ford | 250 | 500 (804.672) | 3:33:57 | 140.22 |
| 1999 | May 2 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 500 (804.672) | 3:19:38 | 150.276 |
| 2000 | April 30 | Jeremy Mayfield | Penske Racing | Ford | 250 | 500 (804.672) | 3:20:50 | 149.378 |
| 2001 | April 29 | Rusty Wallace | Penske Racing | Ford | 250 | 500 (804.672) | 3:29:37 | 143.118 |
| 2002 | April 28 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 500 (804.672) | 3:19:53 | 150.088 |
| 2003 | April 27 | Kurt Busch | Roush Racing | Ford | 250 | 500 (804.672) | 3:34:07 | 140.111 |
| 2004 | May 2 | Jeff Gordon | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 500 (804.672) | 3:38:33 | 137.268 |
| 2005 | February 27 | Greg Biffle | Roush Racing | Ford | 250 | 500 (804.672) | 3:34:45 | 139.697 |
| 2006 | February 26 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Racing | Ford | 251* | 502 (807.89) | 3:23:43 | 147.852 |
| 2007 | February 25 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 250 | 500 (804.672) | 3:36:41 | 138.451 |
| 2008 | February 24/25* | Carl Edwards | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 250 | 500 (804.672) | 3:46:04 | 132.704 |
| 2009 | February 22 | Matt Kenseth | Roush Fenway Racing | Ford | 250 | 500 (804.672) | 3:40:51 | 135.839 |
| 2010 | February 21 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 250 | 500 (804.672) | 3:31:24 | 141.911 |
| 2011* | March 27 | Kevin Harvick | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 200 | 400 (643.737) | 2:39:06 | 150.849 |
| Rank | Manufacturer | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford | 9 |
| 2 | Chevrolet | 6 |
| Year | Network | Lap-by-lap | Color commentators |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOX | |||
| 2011 | Fox | Mike Joy | Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds |
| 2010 | Fox | Mike Joy | Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds |
| 2009 | Fox | Mike Joy | Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds |
| 2008 | Fox | Mike Joy | Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds |
| 2007 | Fox | Mike Joy | Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds |
| 2006 | Fox | Mike Joy | Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds |
| 2005 | Fox | Mike Joy | Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds |
| 2004 | Fox | Mike Joy | Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds |
| 2003 | Fox | Mike Joy | Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds |
| 2002 | Fox | Mike Joy | Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds |
| 2001 | Fox | Mike Joy | Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds |
| ABC | |||
| 2000 | ABC | Bob Jenkins | Benny Parsons and Ray Evernham |
| 1999 | ABC | Bob Jenkins | Benny Parsons |
| ESPN | |||
| 1998 | ESPN | Bob Jenkins | Benny Parsons and Ned Jarrett |
| ABC | |||
| 1997 | ABC | Bob Jenkins | Benny Parsons |
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