2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series: Auto Club Speedway Part Two
26th February | 150 laps (Stage 1–2: 35 laps; Stage 3: 80 laps)
[Stage One Recap 1-35]
Lap 1 – The Duel Begins
- Ty Gibbs got the holeshot from pole, but Tommy Bedlam launched perfectly from the outside. The two ran side-by-side for the entire opening lap — neither lifting through Turns 3 and 4.
- Behind them, Cole Custer and Justin Allgaier formed a second-row battle pack, with Gragson watching from 5th.
Lap 3–10 – Sorting Out, but Not Slowing Down
- Bedlam took the lead officially on Lap 3, using the high groove to carry momentum past Gibbs.
- Kevin Magnussen, starting 6th, made quick work of Gragson and then dove under Custer into Turn 1 to grab 4th — showing serious confidence and control for a rookie.
- Juice Millar, starting 13th, ran the bottom line beautifully and climbed to P9 by Lap 10, drafting with teammate Matt DiBenedetto in the #28.
Lap 11 – Near Miss: Hocevar Gets Wild
- Carson Hocevar, trying to crack the top 10, made an overzealous dive into Turn 2 and nearly spun the car. He slid sideways, somehow saving it without touching the wall or anyone else.
- Arthur D’Tea wisely checked up behind him, keeping the incident from becoming a pile-up.
Lap 12–25 – Tire Wear Hits
- Lap times dropped off dramatically as tires began to fade. That’s when veterans like Allgaier and Hemric started climbing.
- Christian Eckes impressed everyone — staying calm in dirty air, managing his tires, and slicing past Gragson and Millar into P6.
- Tommy Bedlam maintained a half-second lead over Gibbs, his car stable through the bumps in Turn 3 where others began sliding.
Lap 27 – First Caution: Poole Spins
- Brennan Poole (#6) lost it off Turn 4 after light contact with Bayley Currey. The car snapped sideways but stayed off the wall. He got it refired, but the caution flew.
- Mid-pack cars like Ryan Sieg and Barry Clock-Tower rolled the dice with two-tire stops, while the leaders stayed out.
Lap 30 Restart – Bedlam Controls It
- Bedlam got a monster launch, clearing Gibbs by Turn 1.
- Magnussen used the second lane to leap past Allgaier into P3, again showing off his comfort with high-speed, tire-sensitive ovals.
- DiBenedetto made the boldest move of the restart — three-wide through the middle, gaining two spots and moving into 7th.
Stage One Finish – Lap 35
- Tommy Bedlam cruised to the green-and-white checkered flag, clean air and tire discipline giving him a controlled, authoritative Stage One win. Behind him, battles for points raged.
[Stage Two Recap 36-70]
Lap 36 – Pit Road Chaos Under Stage Break
Pit stops under caution shook up the field significantly:
- Kevin Magnussen leapfrogged Bedlam and Gibbs with a blistering fast stop from Kaulig Racing.
- Ty Gibbs maintained position, exiting second.
- Tommy Bedlam, despite quick service, lost two positions on pit road, coming out in third.
- Big mover: Matt DiBenedetto improved from 7th to 4th on pit road.
- Minor issue: Juice Millar lost spots, dropping from 8th to 12th due to slight trouble with rear tires.
Lap 40 Restart – Magnussen Leads the Field
- Kevin Magnussen expertly timed the restart, pulling clear entering Turn 1.
- Tommy Bedlam immediately attacked on fresh tires, overtaking Gibbs back into second by Lap 42.
- Justin Allgaier and Christian Eckes resumed their fierce battle for fifth place, swapping positions several times.
Lap 48 – Three-Wide Battles and Close Calls
- A wild pack mid-field involved Juice Millar, Carson Hocevar, and Daniel Hemric, battling fiercely three-wide. Millar ultimately emerged ahead, clawing his way back into the top 10.
- Arthur D'Tea impressed again, holding strong in the top 15, despite pressure from more experienced Xfinity drivers.
Lap 53 – Caution for Spin: Riley Herbst
- Riley Herbst (#98) spun exiting Turn 2, narrowly avoiding the inside wall. He rejoined without damage, but it triggered a caution.
Front runners chose varying strategies:
- Magnussen, Bedlam, Gibbs, and top contenders pitted for fresh tires.
- Barry Clock-Tower, Bayley Currey, and Rajah Caruth gambled on track position by staying out.
Lap 58 Restart – Clock-Tower Rolls Dice
- Barry Clock-Tower led the restart but faded quickly due to worn tires, with Magnussen, Bedlam, and Gibbs storming past him within one lap.
- Further back, Austin Hill and Anthony Alfredo used the restart chaos to crack the top 10 for the first time.
Lap 60–68 – Battle of the Stage: Bedlam vs. Magnussen
- Fans were treated to a breathtaking duel as Tommy Bedlam stalked leader Kevin Magnussen.
- Bedlam, methodical and patient, used multiple lines—high, low, middle—searching for grip.
- On Lap 67, Bedlam dove to the bottom in Turn 3, getting side-by-side with Magnussen, but Magnussen’s momentum off the high line kept him ahead.
Stage Two Finish – Lap 70
- In an intense sprint to the green-and-white checkered, Magnussen held firm, edging out Bedlam in a thrilling finish.
[Stage Three Recap 71-150]
Lap 71 Restart – The Duel Resumes
- Kevin Magnussen (R) led the field back to green with Tommy Bedlam on his outside. The two picked up right where they left off in Stage Two.
- Behind them, Ty Gibbs, DiBenedetto, and Allgaier locked into a fierce three-car battle for third — with Christian Eckes hanging just behind.
Laps 75–90 – The Long Green Run
The field spread out for the longest green-flag run of the race:
- Magnussen led early but began fading by Lap 83 as tire wear caught up with the Kaulig car.
- Bedlam patiently reeled him in and took the lead on Lap 88 with a slick crossover move exiting Turn 4.
- Juice Millar, rebounding from Stage 2, surged into the top 5 by Lap 90, passing Custer and Eckes on the outside.
Lap 97–104 – Green Flag Pit Stops Begin
The first green-flag pit cycle of the day begins:
- Bedlam, Gibbs, and Allgaier pit early (Lap 97–99) for fresh tires and a full tank to set up for the final 50 laps.
- Magnussen stayed out until Lap 104, attempting an overcut — it gained him a few spots temporarily, but he lost grip late in the cycle.
Lap 110 – Caution: Debris on Backstretch
- A piece of rear fender from Barry Clock-Tower’s #84 brought out a caution, erasing gaps and putting drivers on split strategies.
- Leaders who pitted early (Bedlam, Gibbs, Juice) stay out.
- Several others like Hocevar, Decker, and Hemric come back in to top off.
Lap 114 Restart – All-Out Intensity
- Bedlam leads, but Ty Gibbs dives underneath into Turn 1 and briefly takes the lead — only to slide up and allow Juice Millar to go three-wide off Turn 2.
- Juice leads Lap 116 — his first lap led since Stage One.
- Behind them, Matt DiBenedetto and Allgaier shuffle past a fading Magnussen, who reports the car is “tight center, loose off.”
Laps 120–130 – Setting Up the Finale
- The top 6 break away in a league of their own: Bedlam, Gibbs, Millar, Allgaier, DiBenedetto, Eckes
- Christian Eckes finds new life on the high line and starts reeling in the leaders — gaining steadily on Gibbs and DiBenedetto.
- Austin Hill climbs to 8th, showing late-race strength and saving his best for the final stage.
Lap 131–135 – Penske Power Up Front
- Tommy Bedlam held the lead on the restart, but his teammate Juice Millar was glued to his bumper, creating a Team Penske 1-2.
- Ty Gibbs and Justin Allgaier briefly tried to form a lower lane, but it lacked the speed to keep up.
- Christian Eckes, running 5th, found pace again on the high line and closed in — now in range of his first potential Xfinity podium.
Lap 136–140 – Juice Makes His Move
- On Lap 137, Juice Millar took a bold dive into Turn 1 and pulled alongside Bedlam, leading for a moment on the backstretch.
- The crowd came alive — teammates battling, no orders, just raw racing.
- Bedlam used side-draft down the front straight and cleared Juice again at the stripe on Lap 138.
- Behind them, Gibbs closed the gap, now just 0.3 seconds off the lead.
Lap 141–145 – Caution! Wild Card Incoming
- Caution on Lap 141 as J.J. Yeley spun into the grass off Turn 4. No damage, but it bunched the field for a 5-lap shootout to decide the race.
- Teams faced a tough call: stay out on old tires or pit?
- Leaders stayed out, choosing track position over fresh rubber.
- Kaz Grala, Austin Hill, and Daniel Hemric pitted for fresh Goodyears from outside the top 10 — hoping for a late charge.
Lap 146 Restart – The Gloves Come Off
- Bedlam leads with Millar to his outside.
- Ty Gibbs dives low into Turn 1, but slides up and loses momentum.
- Eckes takes advantage, passing Gibbs for 3rd.
- Millar and Bedlam go side-by-side again — crowd on their feet — teammates refusing to yield.
Lap 150 – Checkered Flag: BEDLAM WINS
- On the final lap, Millar sends it high in Turn 1, carrying massive momentum down the backstretch.
- Bedlam throws the block into Turn 3, pinching him off just enough.
- Coming off Turn 4, it's a drag race to the line — Tommy Bedlam wins by 0.089 seconds over Juice Millar in a Penske 1-2 sweep.
* * * * *
Jamie Little Interviews Tommy Bedlam – Victory Lane, Auto Club Speedway
The #22 Team Penske Ford is parked on the frontstretch. Smoke still wafts from the rear tires after a victory burnout. Tommy Bedlam climbs out of the car, throws his fists in the air, and slaps the roof of the car. The crowd roars. Jamie Little approaches with a big smile.]
Jamie Little: "Tommy Bedlam — two-for-two to start your Xfinity Series career! You battled your teammate, you held off a hard charge from Ty Gibbs, and you had to survive a late restart. How’d you get it done today?"
Tommy Bedlam: (still catching his breath)
"Man… that was a dogfight. I mean, Juice was all over me, and I knew if I gave him one inch, he’d take the whole thing. That last restart? I just dug deep, trusted the car, and we executed. This Penske team — these guys are unreal. Every time we’ve unloaded, we’ve had a rocket."
Jamie: "We saw you and Juice Millar racing each other hard but clean. What’s it like going toe-to-toe with a guy like that — especially your own teammate?"
Bedlam: (smiles, nods)
"It’s the best kind of pressure. He knows how I race. I know how he races. No games, no drama — just clean, aggressive racing. I wanted to beat him fair and square, and I think we did that today. We both drove the wheels off these Fords. That was fun."
Jamie: "Back-to-back wins. Rookie of the Year leader. Championship contender. Did you expect this kind of start to your full-time season?"
Bedlam: (laughs, looks at the camera)
"I knew we could compete, but… yeah, this? This is a dream. I’ve got the best people behind me — Penske, Ford, our sponsors, my crew chief — and we’re just getting started. There’s a long way to go, but we’re going to keep swinging."
Jamie: "Tommy Bedlam, your winner at Auto Club!"
Camera pans out to the crowd as Bedlam throws a fist in the air, crew members pouring in around him, Juice Millar walking over to fist bump him. Penske 1-2 sweep complete.
I wonder if Brandon Blaze can do the Indianapolis 500
