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NASCAR: Five Predictions For The Auto Club 400 At Fontana

By Michael Guadalupe

Mar 20, 2016; Fontana, CA, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Austin Dillon (3) races during the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2016; Fontana, CA, USA; Sprint Cup Series driver Austin Dillon (3) races during the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kyle Larson has been one of the best drivers this season. It’s time for him to finish first instead of runner-up. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Larson has been one of the best drivers this season. It’s time for him to finish first instead of runner-up. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

Kyle Larson Goes From Second to First

Kyle Larson has played runner-up in every race this season so far besides Daytona. He’s seen race wins slip away from him during the final laps and heading into Fontana on Sunday Larson had to be at least a little worried that it would happen again.

He’s in a good spot for Sunday’s race, starting from the pole, and will get to control the race when it starts.

With his starting position he also has first choice when it comes to pit road, so Larson and the 42 team are in the best place they could want to be in for the Auto Club 400.

Larson’s first win in NASCAR’s premiere series came during the 2016 season at Michigan, which also happens to be very similar to the track he will be competing at on Sunday. In fact these tracks are basically mirror images, with both being two miles and the only real difference being in the banking, which Michigan has slightly more of.

With how well he’s run this season and now sitting on the pole for Sunday’s race, it’s easy to see how Larson should finish this race in first, instead of runner-up. But as any NASCAR fan knows, this sport can be much more about how well a driver can do on a track. The pit crew also plays a vital role in a team’s success and for Kyle Larson the pit crew of the 42 team has been spot on.

They set him up at Atlanta to run out in front of Brad Keselowski and almost win the race. They did the same thing last week at Phoenix and put Larson out first in front of all the other drivers who choose to go in for tires during the last stop.

The 42 team is performing at a top level right now and Kyle Larson is having his best run since starting in NASCAR.

With his speed and his pole position on Sunday, expect to see Larson in Victory Lane for the Auto Club 400.

Must Read: Auto Club Starting Grid

What do you think will happen this Sunday? Make sure to check out BeyondTheFlag.com for all your NASCAR news and follow me on Twitter @Mike_Guad to talk about what’s going on live during the race.

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