Round 4 of Nitto tires USTCC were held at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana.  This is the only roval in the schedule this year.  The weather for this weekend is sunny and hot and expected to be in 100 degrees.  Championship leader, Team Prima Racing of Hartanto and Lepper is looking for another win to maintain their unbeaten streak.  While second place, Team BTM Motorwerks and Andy Chittum is gunning for his first win in the series.  Curt Simmons, which is in distant third this weekend has a strongest chance to win, given the track favor a big HP car such as his Dodge Neon SRT Turbo.

The past 3 races, Team Prima Racing Acura TSX had been piloted by Andrie Hartanto.  This weekend, however, it will be piloted by Thomas Lepper for the first time this season.  Tom Lepper is past champion and seasoned driver with tons of experience in various cars.  Lepper is up to the challenge and will try to make the upset by beating the heavy favorite, Simmons with his Dodge Neon SRT Turbo.

Chittum took to the top of the time sheet early in practice.  Simmons slot in second place but fighting mechanical gremlins all morning.  Lepper followed in third, progressing every minute, followed closely by McColligan in his Mazda RX8.

First Qualifying, bad luck hit Chittum, as he lost 5^th gear and was only able to post time over 2 seconds of his best in practice.  Simmons jump into provisional pole, followed by Lepper.  McColligan again slot into 4^th, while Rich Peterson rounding the top 5.

Second Qualifying showed Chittum back with a vengeance and posted fastest lap time for the weekend and snatched the pole position from Simmons, with only .05 time difference in combined qualifying time.  Lepper is comfortably in 3^rd followed by McColligan in 4^th and Rich Peterson rounding the top 5.

While lining up for the standing start, Simmons stalled and initially couldn’t get his car started.  This put other cars to take his hard earned front row and he has to start from 4^th place.  This however doesn’t matter much as the turbo power propel him to reclaim the lead before the field hit turn 1.  The top 3 quickly break away and jog for position.  Chittum was able to grab the lead a few laps later, and few moments later, Lepper was able to get passed Simmons.  Simmons fought back and was able to re-pass Lepper and Chittum to reclaim the lead.  The top 3 juggle position throughout the race, but Simmons prevailed and captured his first win for the season.  Chittum finished second, followed by Lepper rounding the top 3.

Team Prima Racing still lead the championship points.  Round 5 is at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah.  Hartanto will be back piloting the car.

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