The Stater Brothers 300
is the second race on the NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. It is held in February at Auto Club Speedway, usually the day before the Cup series race in February, although in 2008 it was held after the Cup series race due to a rain delay. It was previously ran in October and late April/early May.
|
AUTO CLUB 300 TICKETS
|
2009
Carl Edwards started on the pole. Kyle Busch took the lead from Edwards before the completion of the first lap. Within six laps, Derrick Cope (#41), Dennis Setzer (#96), and Justin Ashburn (#05), and Casey Atwood (#85) drove their cars to the garage. Lap 39, the first round of green flag pit stops ensued; Michael Waltrip was spun around by Brandon Whitt (#61) on pit road, facing the opposite direction. Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski led a lap and two laps respectively while Busch was in the pits. First caution on lap 51 when Michael McDowell's racecar caught on fire between turns one and two; McDownell was not injuried. Mike Bliss moved up seven positions during the second round of pitstops from ninth to second behind Busch. The field restarted on lap 61.
A tire blew on Bliss' car in turn 1 on lap 65; he continued to race from the 24th position, two laps down after changing tires. Busch cliched the majority of laps led (76) on lap 79. Second caution on lap 90; Brian Vickers, running in fifth, lost control racing behind by Greg Biffle. Third round of pitstops: Ragan gained two positions (6th to 4th) while Harvick lost two positions (5th to 7th). Field restarted on lap 95. Between turn 3 and 4, Biffle made contact with Keselowsk, spinning Keselowski's car; Jason Leffler then hit Keselowski's car. The yellow flag was waved for the third time on lap 96. Keselowski's crew made repairs to the damaged car. Restart on lap 101. Keselowski restarts three laps down in the 29th position.
Greg Biffle, running in 14th, lost control out of turn 2 on lap 127. The yellow flag waves for the fourth time. Second place Edwards beat Busch leaving pit road for the lead by less than a car length during the fourth pitstop round. Scott Lagasse, Jr. (#11) gained three positions (13th to 10th). Field restarted on lap 134. Busch, Harvick, Logano, and Burton passed Edwards on the backstretch after the restart; Busch continued to led laps until the finish.
Kyle Busch won the race and led all but 7 laps. Harvick and Logano finished 2nd and 3rd place. Polesitter Carl Edwards led five laps and finished in 4th place ahead of teammate David Ragan. Mike Bliss, after the tire problem, finished in 13th. Brad Keselowski finished 27th and led two laps.
Past winners
Stater Brothers 300
- 2009 - Kyle Busch
- 2008 - Tony Stewart*
- 2007 - Matt Kenseth
- 2006 - Greg Biffle
- 2005 - Mark Martin
Stater Brothers 300 Presented by Gatorade
1-800-Pitshop.com 300
Auto Club 300
- 2002 - Scott Riggs
- 2001 - Hank Parker Jr.
- 2000 - Matt Kenseth
- 1999 - Matt Kenseth
Kenwood Home & Car Audio 300
- 1998 - Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- 1997 - Todd Bodine
*Race postponed to Monday due to rain.