AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY RACE PREVIEW
Michael Annett• No. 43 Pilot Flying J Ford Mustang
Annett has five career starts in the Nationwide Series at Auto Club Speedway
Annett enters Fontana in eighth-place in the Nationwide Series driver point standings
Annett’s best finish (sixth) came in 2009 at the two-mile speedway
Michael Annett on racing at Auto Club Speedway: “I’m looking forward to going back to the west coast. The whole Pilot Flying J crew has learned a lot in just a few races this season, and I know we can apply that knowledge this weekend in California. My Crew Chief Philippe Lopez has made some great calls this year and we’ve got three top-15 finishes in just four races as a brand new team. I’m excited to get in my No. 43 Ford Mustang this weekend to see what we’ve got for Saturday’s 300-mile race.”
Crew Chief Philippe Lopez’s Thoughts on Racing in Fontana: “The biggest challenge Auto Club Speedway poses is it’s so incredibly bumpy on the backstretch. Drivers will actually complain more about the car’s handling on the backstretch than in the corners. It feels like being on a tricycle going over speed bumps. The bumps are very hard on the race car and literally grind the bottom of the car off. It’s the only race track on the circuit where most of the indicators that help us to figure out how the Pilot flying J car is handling are ruined on the backstretch going over those bumps. Another challenge at California is that it has the potential to be a fuel mileage race. It may come down to seeing how much fuel the driver can save and what your car’s fuel mileage is like to start with. Fuel mileage races dictate a whole different way to call pit stops. If fuel mileage becomes a factor will we get the opportunity to see how good Michel is at saving fuel this weekend.”
Chassis History: The No. 43 RPM NASCAR Nationwide Series team has prepared chassis No. 635 for the 150-lap race at Auto Club Speedway. This Pilot Flying J Ford Mustang is brand new to Richard Petty Motorsports this season.
Notes: Annett has five NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at Auto Club Speedway. His best finish (sixth) came in 2009 and his best start (20th) at the two-mile track came in 2011. Annett heads to Fontana in the eighth position in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver point standings. His average finish at California is 15.4.
Looking for a Pilot or Flying J store near Fontana? There are 8 Pilot or Flying J stores within 100 miles of Auto Club Speedway. The nearest store is 29 miles away from the race track. (Pilot Travel Center (I-15 & US 395) 8701 Hwy 395, Hesperia, CA 92345 ) There are 16 stores within 250 miles of the track. Go tohttp://www.pilotflyingj.com/locationsfind the nearest locations.
Last weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, Michael Annett scored his third top-15 finish in just four races while driving the No. 43 Pilot Flying J Ford Mustang for Richard Petty Motorsports.
Can’t get enough of Annett? Michael will be making an appearance at the Mid America Truck Show in Louisville, Ky., for a two-hour autograph session with Richard Petty starting at 12 p.m. ET.
Race Information
Track: Auto Club Speedway
Laps: 150 Laps/300Miles
Track Size: Two-Mile
TV Information: 5 p.m. ET on ESPN
Radio Information: 5 p.m. ET on MRN
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