In this Feb. 23, 2019, file photo ,Kyle Busch celebrates after winning the NASCAR Truck Series auto race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga. Busch says, “Bring it on.” Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson are the latest topflight drivers to accept the challenge of Kevin Harvick, who has offered half of a $100,000 bounty to any Cup Series driver who can beat the versatile Busch in a Truck Series race this year.
In this Feb. 23, 2019, file photo ,Kyle Busch celebrates after winning the NASCAR Truck Series auto race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga. Busch says, “Bring it on.” Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson are the latest topflight drivers to accept the challenge of Kevin Harvick, who has offered half of a $100,000 bounty to any Cup Series driver who can beat the versatile Busch in a Truck Series race this year.  John Amis | Associated Press
NASCAR

The Eckel 3 pick the Auto Club 400 in Southern California — will Kyle Busch continue the repeat winner trend in NASCAR this season?

Mark Eckel

Through the first two races of this NASCAR season there has been one common thread — a repeat.

Denny Hamlin, winner of the 2019 Daytona 500, found victory lane again two weeks ago. And Joey Logano, winner of the Pennzoil 400 in Las Vegas in 2019, won again there last week.

“The Eckel 3’’ is looking for another repeat winner Sunday in the Auto Club 400 in Southern California.

Kyle Busch won this race in 2019 after a second-place finish in 2018 and is the co-favorite to keep the repeat trend alive for a third straight week.

Busch is also the last driver to repeat here with back-to-back wins in 2013 and 2014. The only other driver to record repeat wins in Fontana was Matt Kenseth in 2006 and 2007.

Busch was not a unanimous pick of “The 3’’ but garnered enough votes to be placed on top. Here are Sunday’s selections from the group that as always includes Mike “Left Turn’’ Sweeney and Scott “Tobacco Road’’ Baker.

Kyle Busch (5-1): Busch obviously knows this track and knows how to win here. He hasn’t been a factor the first two weeks and last year’s champ might be due for a win.

Ryan Blaney (13-1): “Left Turn’’ is all over Blaney this week, pointing out how well he practiced Friday and that he’s been the best driver in the early going. He finished fifth here last year and those are not bad odds.

Jimmie Johnson (16-1): “Tobacco Road’’ is going with the sentimental pick of Johnson in his last race at his “home’’ track where he has six wins and will be honored before the race. TR, however, says sentiment has nothing to do with it. “I’m going with fast,’’ he said. It would be a great story if Johnson won.

Two Good Longshots:

Alex Bowman (20-1): He’s been the talk of the people around the garages and that includes “Tobacco Road’’.

Kurt Busch (25-1): Kurt likes nothing more than beating his brother and might just do that Sunday. “Left Turn’’ thinks he has a chance.

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