NASCAR O'Reilly Series

After weeks of falling races, NASCAR actually had a steady, even slightly up rating for a race on television. But, it wasn’t the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway; it was the NASCAR XFINITY Series race on Saturday.

NASCAR announced today new car specifications, which implement engine restrictor plates, for the NASCAR XFINITY Series race Saturday, July 22 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The early-season Xfinity Series Western Swing will end with Saturday’s NXS 300 at Auto Club Speedway, following races at Las Vegas and Phoenix.

Garrett Smithley will race at Auto Club Speedway for the second time in Saturday’s NXS 300 Xfinity Series race. Smithley debuted at the tough two-mile track in his rookie season last year, finishing 23rd.

Ross Chastain will make his third run at Auto Club Speedway in Saturday’s NXS 300 Xfinity Series race. In the past two seasons, Chastain has finished 17th and 19th at the fast two-mile track.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the XFINITY Series head to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana California for the final stop of “NASCAR Goes West.”

Rookies in the Spotlight… Toyota drivers Daniel Suárez and Erik Jones earned their career-best Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) finishes of seventh and eighth, respectively, at Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday.

Kyle Larson has ascended to the top of the points standings following his third consecutive runner-up showing last Sunday at Phoenix. It’s the latest in the season a Chip Ganassi Racing car has led the standings since Sterling Marlin’s Coors Light Silver Bullet led the field in 2002.

Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed heads to his home track of Auto Club Speedway (ACS) in Fontana, Calif. this weekend. Reed is originally from Bakersfield, Calif. and still has many family and friends in the area. Heading to Fontana this weekend holds a special place in his heart.

In 83 overall Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Auto Club Speedway, RCR Chevrolet teams have earned one win (Kevin Harvick - 2011), one pole award (Mike Skinner - April 2000), 12 top-five and 28 top-10 finishes. RCR has a 19.9 average starting position and a 16.4 average finishing position at the moderately-banked D-shaped race track.