Despite an Auto Club Speedway-record 12th caution flag on the 250th and final lap, Carl Edwards took the checkered flag to win the Auto Club 500. Edwards, who had the second-best finishing average of all Cup drivers at Auto Club Speedway before the race started, wins his first Sprint Cup Series race here, outlasting defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon.

"It feels good to be in victory lane," Edwards said. "I’m very proud to be driving that Ford Fusion. Ford and Roush/Fenway, all the engineers, everyone has worked really hard this winter, and it’s paid off. The reason we won the race today is that preparation."