NASCAR at Fontana results: Kyle Busch earns first win with Richard Childress Racing at Pala Casino 400

Kyle Busch is one of NASCAR's great entertainers. So it was only right that he capped off his first win of the 2023 season with a bow.

Busch, who was NASCAR's highest-profile free agent in 2022, captured his first checkered flag as a driver for Richard Childress Racing with a win in the Pala Casino 400 on Sunday at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. The future Hall of Famer took the lead from Stage 1 and 2 winner Ross Chastain and then cruised to a comfortable victory over Hendrick Motorsports' Chase Elliott.

One week removed from his showing in the Daytona 500, a race he very well could have won had it not been for late wrecks, Busch was locked in from the green flag. A Stage 2 wreck that knocked out a handful of drivers made the race that much more winnable for Rowdy.

Busch got a slight scare from Michael McDowell, who opted to stay out rather than pit in the hope of getting a caution late in Stage 3. That caution flag wouldn't be waved, though, and once Busch flew past the No. 34 car, it was only a matter of time before he ended up in victory lane with his new team.

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"Sometimes you do [doubt yourself]. You kind of get down on it and you wonder what's going on and what's happening," the former Joe Gibbs Racing standout said post-race. "You put yourself in a different situation and you're able to come out here and reward your guys. . . . It's awesome to be able to reward them."

Kyle Busch's points-win percentage with Richard Childress Racing is now 50%.

"Hopefully, there's many more left to go." pic.twitter.com/5iJ50xyWu3

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 27, 2023

The Sporting News tracked live results from the Pala Casino 400, that last NASCAR Cup Series race to be run on the 2-mile track at Auto Club Speedway. (The facility is set to undergo a major renovation, with the track being greatly shortened.) Follow below for the udpates and highlights.

Pala Casino 400 live updates, highlights from 2023 race

(All times Eastern)

7 p.m.: Kyle Busch takes the checkered flag at Fontana!

6:58 p.m.: Three laps left. Busch's lead over Elliott back in nearly four seconds. All RCR needs is a clean finish and things will be good to go.

6:56 p.m.: Busch starting to encounter more traffic up the field. Keselowski took a swipe at  the wall, making fairly hard contact with the wall. You have to imagine Richard Childress breathed a sigh of relief that nothing more came from that collision.

6:54 p.m.: Elliott's lap times are getting increasingly faster, especially when compared with Busch. The No. 9 car has cut into Busch's lead each of the past few laps. There might not be enough time left, though; just seven laps remain.

6:52 p.m.: While Busch is holds a fairly sizable edge, he did get tight on the wall in the Turn 3. Might have even made contact trying to pass Justin Haley. All of this is to say, there's still plenty of time left in today's race.

6:50 p.m.: Busch in really good shape with 13 laps remaining. The future Hall of Famer looks poised to nab his first victory as a member of Richard Childress Racing. He holds a four second edge over Elliott.

6:46 p.m.: Busch takes the lead. Elliott and Chastain not too far behind. McDowell falling fast; he's dropped to three seconds behind Busch for second-place.

6:44 p.m.: McDowell has the lead at the moment. However, his tires have 25 laps worth of additional wear compared to Busch. Unless a caution flag is waved, the No. 34 car could be in trouble.

6:43 p.m.: Wallace done for the day. Looks like his engine overheated, spelling an end to his Fontana dreams.

6:41 p.m.: Burton into pit road. That leaves just McDowell and Gragson on the track and drivers yet to pit in Stage 3. Things could get very interesting if a caution flag were to be waved.

6:37 p.m.: Unsurprisingly, Logano's trip to pit road sparks a wave of drivers to follow suit. Just four drivers — Harrison Burton, Michael McDowell, Noah Gragson and Bubba Wallace — have yet to pit.

6:32 p.m.: With 35 laps remaining, we're in that weird limbo where drivers have to figure out whether they want to pit or not. Seems like the likely option is to split the last few laps. With Logano headed to pit road, it seems Busch and Chastain are on their way down to the pits, as well.

6:26 p.m.: Chastain and Busch the clear favorites, continuing to make their presence felt on the two mile track of Auto Club Speedway.

5:57 p.m.: Chastain takes Stage 2, keeping in line with his strong showing today.

5:55 p.m.: Keselowski, who was involved in that early Stage 2 wreck, has chipped away, finding himself in the top ten and on pact to nab a stage point.

5:50 p.m.: With Chastain carrying a fairly sizable lead as we approach the end of Stage 2, looks like drivers further down the pack are hoping to make up so ground. Busch falling off a bit, with the likes of Logano and Kevin Harvick getting dangerously close to the No. 8 car.

5:46 p.m.: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. makes contact with the inside wall...twice. That'll be a concern for his team's spotter.

5:39 p.m.: Busch keeping things simple in second-place, maintaining a bit of distance between the leader. He's also getting faster, with his last lap being a half second faster than Chastain's. A lot to be excited for if you're a Kyle Busch stan.

5:35 p.m.: After the major wreck, things have really started looking different at Auto Club Speedway. Bowman and Harvick swap positions in seventh- and eighth-place. 

Chastain still cruising early, having held the lead for 40 of the race's 101 laps.

5:32 p.m.: After the race restart, it's Denny Hamlin sitting out in front, holding a half-second edge over Chastain. Over half of Stage 2 left, so plenty of time for additional reshuffling.

5:20 p.m.: Wreck on the restart. Keselowski, Bell, Almirola, Reddick and Ty Dillon among those involved. Gnarly stuff there.

Big crash on the restart in Fontana. Here's what happened: https://t.co/OCeKqttGOE pic.twitter.com/bM9r6OE0v2

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 26, 2023

4:53 p.m.: Busch makes some good ground on pit road. Suarez, however, will be docked after being adjudged to have entered the area too fast.

4:48 p.m.: And there it is...Chastain takes the green. Good run by the No. 1 car, especially early. Things got a little tighter towards the end of the frame, but Chastain was able to make these work come the end of the period.

4:46 p.m.: Chastain looking more and more likely to cruise to the green flag in Stage 1. Track has taken most a few bumps and bruises, but a solid opening stage from the Championship 4 contender, who looks poised to nab his second stage win of the nascent season.

4:45 p.m.: After a series of difficulties to start the race, Kyle Busch is up to 13th, 19 spots higher than where he was to start the day.

4:40 p.m.:  Chastain holding firms the top gem at the Golden State. He's being trailed by Daniel Suarez and Ryan Blaney with just six laps to go before the end of Stage 1. Solid start for the Trackhouse Racing star.

4:27 p.m.: Keselowski receies a caution after experiencing some car troubles on the track.  That's not what you want to see.

4:18 p.m.: Noah Gragson gives out a little love tap as you do. We've just reached the halfway mark of Stage 1 and it's Ryan Blaey and Joey Logano standing out the tmost.

4:12 p.m.: Back under green and the tsmophere is tense at Auto Club Speedway. Ross Chastain currently leading from the the, a few ticks in front of Team Penske's Joey Logano.

4:03 p.m.: Competition caution waved after Lap 17. That should help Larson out, who will have more time to get his car checked out in the meantime.

4:00 p.m.: Kyle Larson, the reigning winner at the California race, is headed to pit road after appearing to have some engine trouble early in the race.

3:58 p.m.: William Byron already smoking the rest of the competition. He and Martin Truex Jr. are well in front of his opposition drivers.

3:55 p.m.: Bowman sitting in pretty position through Lap 6. He's got a sizable advantage over second-place Christopher Bell.

3:52 p.m.: Already three wide as we wrap up our first lap of the day. Alex Bowman sits on top, although there's already plenty of jostling around the leaderboard.

3:50 p.m.: Green flag at and about at Auto Club Speedway/ The Pala Casino 400 is underway!

2:55 p.m.: Here's today's starting lineup. Christopher Bell and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. leading the line in the front row.

2:47 p.m.: Despite some chilly weather (at least by California standards), looks like it will be a full house at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday.

It’s official...we’ve SOLD OUT one more time for the #PalaCasino400! pic.twitter.com/K8zv5AGqo0

— Auto Club Speedway (@AutoClubSpdwy) February 26, 2023

Pala Casino 400 starting lineup

Pala Casino 400 start time

• Start time: 3:30 p.m. ET

The Pala Casino 400 is listed to start at 3:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. PT) in Fontana, Calif., but with pre-race festivities, the green flag is scheduled to wave at 3:47 p.m. ET (12:47 p.m. PT).