Pit Road Week 5: Auto Club

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Week 5

By Richard Tix

Last week at Bristol it was rain, this week at Auto Club Speedway it was tires that took the headline. Figuring out how to run the car and how long runs could be on the Good Years at Auto Club was the key in Sundays race. Cup drivers had a lot of problems figuring out a balance on Sunday and many drivers had tires go down which effected there day. Some drivers didn't even have a tire go down (and actually slowed down to conserve tires) and still was affected by them.

That driver was Jeff Gordon and the situation I am talking about was while he was leading with only laps to go. He had a big enough lead that he slowed his pace to make sure he didn't push the tires too far, but then all heck broke loose behind him. Driver after driver went down with tire issues, but NASCAR stayed green. Then Clint Bowyer's tire went down when he was on the high side of the track and he spun down to the apron.  

This caution brought us one last pit stop and a green white checker finish. Landon Cassill Stayed out and gave NASCAR fans a bit of drama in the front of the field. When we got back to racing Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch got out front and battled for a lap and then came Kyle Busch.  Kyle took the lead and kept it, but not before Kyle Larson made a run at him coming around turns 3 and 4 but it wasn't enough and Kyle Busch went to Victory Lane at Auto Club Speedway for the second straight year.

Full race results here

Pit Road: Power Rankings Week 5 (Week 4 Power Rankings)

1. Carl Edwards (LW-4)- This is a toss up spot this week, as you can make a case for a lot of drivers. I am going with consistency for my top spot. Last weeks winner (Bristol), Carl only has one race where he didn't finish top 10 (Daytona). Now Carl becomes our newest points leader heading into Martinsville.
2. Matt Kenseth (LW-5)- Kenseth led some laps on Sunday but overall he was quite, yet he finished 4th. With all the tired problems with tires driver were having I think Matt will take it. 
3. Jeff Gordon (LW-2)- He moves down, but just because of bad luck. I thought about not moving him, but I have been moving every driver down even when its bad luck. Gordon had the win wrapped up with a bow on top until a very late caution came out and ruined his day.
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-3)- What a day for Jr Nation. Up, down, and sideways, Jr brought home a banged up car and still finished 12th. He worked his way back up front after finding himself in back when he smacked the wall.
5. Jimmie Johnson (LW-6)- This could have been the week JJ moved up to a top spot again, but after leading the most laps in the race he had a tire go down and put a road block in his run. JJ came across 24th and will be tough to handle at Martinsville.
6. Brad Keselowski (LW-1)- Another car that had tire issues at the end of the race. BK ran well early, then they gambled and didn't take tires (fell from the front to the back in 9 laps), and then made it back up front. BK had a flat tire on the last few laps that brought him in at a 26th place finish, but this team still looked good most of the day.
7. Kyle Busch (LW-NR)- One more week and he will jump up this rankings, but for now the fact remains he hasn't been consistent. Great win for Rowdy, but it wouldn't have come without a late caution. He only lead 5 laps, but he lead the one that matters most. Kyle is now all but locked up for the Chase, so watch out he could go on a hot streak now.
8. Tony Stewart (LW-NR)- After a slow start and people asking "should he be in the car yet?" Smoke has turned it sround with back to back top 5's. Martinsville, like Bristol, will be fun to see how Smokes leg reacts.
9. Jamie McMurray (LW-NR)- Five races in and McMurray is still in position to make last years Chase (12th in points). He finished 6th on Sunday and his only bad finish was after a quality run at Bristol was brought up short by a wreck (38th). 
10. Austin Dillon (LW-NR)- Have you checked out who is 9th in points through 5 races? Most weeks you completely forget that Dillon and the #3 are out there, but then you look at the results and he is 11th. Running most of these tracks for the first time in Cup (he did run some last year) he is just getting adjusted.
11. Kyle Larson (LW-NR)- Check out his week bye week finish position. Yeah, each week he has finished better. Larson finished 2nd at Auto Club so you know what that means? Unfortunately a win at Martinsville for a rookie is a lot to ask, but either way this kid is showing he is the real deal.
12. Ryan Newman (LW-10)- Newman hangs onto the last spot after seeing so many people come and go. Again, Newman showed glimpses of having a good car and front running and then ran into trouble. He still finished 20th and is 8th in points.

Dropped Out: Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne, Joey Logano, Greg Biffle, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr

Just Missed: Brian Vickers and Paul Menard

Honorable Mention: AJ Allmendinger (8th place finish), Danica Partick (14th), Cole Whitt (18th), and Michael Annett (19th).

As always, NASCAR Behind the Wall's Winning Tweets (Fans who Tweeted me before the race who they thought would win, and picked the correct winner). This week we just have one:

Congrats Deborah on the right call!

Well that's it for Fontana. NASCAR heads out of CA and head to Martinsville to see which driver will win a Grandfather clock. Will it be there first? Or will they have to add another room to there house just to hold another clock (JJ, Gordon, etc)?