Drivers honor Kobe, Gianna

Several NASCAR Cup Series drivers used Sunday’s Auto Club 400 in Fontana to pay tribute to former Lakers star Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the seven others who were killed in a helicopter crash five weeks ago in Calabasas.

The No. 12 Ford driven by Ryan Blaney, who finished 19th, was painted in purple and gold. So was the No. 24 Chevrolet driven by William Byron, who placed 15th.

“I was fortunate enough to meet Kobe and this is a great way to honor him, Gianna & all the victims,” Blaney wrote in unveiling the paint scheme on Twitter last month.

Daniel Suarez, driver of the No. 96 Toyota, wore purple-and-gold racing gloves. He finished 28th.

Busch’s frustration

Defending Auto Club 400 champion Kyle Busch started Sunday 17th in the 38-car field, reached the leaders late in the race and finished second.

But Busch never led a lap and he didn’t have nearly enough to overcome race winner Alex Bowman, who finished nine seconds ahead of Busch.

“Slow, we were slow,” Busch said. “Just didn’t have the speed overall today for some reason. Then, there at the end, [it] felt like the tires were worn out at the last bit of the race.

“Just a frustrating day for us. I just feel like we’re kind of missing it a little bit.”

Wait till next year

Several top drivers still have failed to win a Cup race at Auto Club Speedway.

They include Clint Bowyer, Denny Hamlin, Aric

Almirola and Joey Logano. All have made a dozen or more starts in the Auto Club 400.

Bowyer started on the pole Sunday but on Lap 93 had a tire go flat in Turn 1 that forced him to the pits. As he made the long, slow ride to pit road, he damaged the front spoiler on his No. 14 Ford. He wound up finishing 23rd.

Almirola, who finished eighth in the No. 10 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing, said: “I thought we had a top-five car, and we just kept giving away all of our track position. We have to do better.”