NASCAR: Five Drivers Most Likely To Win At Auto Club
By Cole Mentzel
Contender No. 1: Carl Edwards
Stats at Auto Club:
- Wins: 1
- Top-5’s: 8
- Top-10’s: 14
- Laps Led: 122
Just one win and only 122 total laps led does not fully describe how good Carl Edwards has been at Auto Club throughout his career. He began his Cup Series career there with five straight finishes in sixth or above and eventually went on to win his first race there in 2008. Edwards has finished outside of 13th place just two times in his 18 starts in Fontana.
His solid success at the track is not the only reason to pick him this weekend though. The rise of Joe Gibbs Racing has been instrumental in helping him return to championship-level racing.
Edwards on lower downforce + good Fontana track: "You get to work here. You get to actually use the skills you have as a race car driver."
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) March 18, 2016
Through the first four races of the season, Edwards finished eighteenth, on a hiccup in Las Vegas, along with two fifth-place finishes and one second-place finish that easily could’ve been a win had he slid past Kevin Harvick in overtime at Phoenix.
Edwards had a great run in the Chase last season and nearly made it to Homestead before falling just short. His success has carried over into 2016 and he looks to be on his way to another great year. With an average finish of 8.8 at Auto Club, he is sure to have a fast car.
Next: No Championship Hangover