Dale Earnhardt Jr. to start from rear in Auto Club 400 due to cut tire

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s 600th career Cup Series start will come from the back of the grid after the No. 88 team found a cut right-front tire on Earnhardt’s car Sunday morning, prior to that afternoon’s race at Auto Club Speedway.

Earnhardt qualified 18th during time trials on Friday. But NASCAR rules requires drivers start a race on the same tires they qualify. If a change is made, they must forfeit their starting position and are only permitted to change the damaged tire and not all four. Earnhardt will now start the Auto Club 400 from the rear of the 39-car field.

Jimmie Johnson, Earnhardt’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, skipped qualifying Friday after being involved in an accident during practice earlier in the day that necessitated a switch to a backup car. But under NASCAR rules, Johnson can start Sunday’s race on four new tires because he never turned a lap in qualifying.

Earnhardt voiced his displeasure with the rule that went into effect prior to the 2017 season in a series of tweets Sunday morning. NASCAR’s 14-time most popular driver said he would’ve been better off skipping qualifying altogether and just starting the rear of the field on fresh four new tires, rather than changing one and losing his original position.

Drivers with fresh tires have a significant advantage at ACS, located in Fontana, Calif., as the 2-mile track surface is worn, quite abrasive, and quickly chews up tires.