Jimmie Johnson to start second in NASCAR race in Southern California

So many of Jimmie Johnson’s best racing memories occurred on the weathered Southern California asphalt about 100 miles north of his hometown.

The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is hoping to add one more incredible memory in his final start at Fontana (San Bernardino County).

Johnson is the king of Auto Club Speedway heading into the third race of his final NASCAR Cup Series season as a full-time driver. The native of El Cajon (San Diego County) has been the home favorite ever since he notched his first Cup win in Fontana in 2002, and he eventually added five more trophies.

And after qualifying in an impressive second place Saturday, he’ll start on the front row with Clint Bowyer in the Auto Club 400 on Sunday as he goes for a historic finish in what’s likely his farewell to the home fans who have backed him from the start.

“It would be insane,” Johnson said. “I’m very optimistic about this weekend. It would just be incredible to pull that off if we could.”

Johnson leads the Fontana record books with six victories, 980 laps led, 17 top-10 finishes, 13 top-five finishes and a 7.6 average finish. He has started 25 times there since that first win 18 years ago, and he has finished every lap in every race.

• Also at Fontana, Harrison Burton held off Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota teammate Riley Herbst for his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory.

Rupp ties Shorter, heads for Tokyo

Galen Rupp reclaimed his status as the nation’s top distance runner Saturday, winning his second straight U.S. Olympic marathon trials, this one in Atlanta, to earn a spot at the Tokyo Games.

Rupp, who won the bronze medal in the marathon at the 2016 Rio Games and qualified for his fourth Olympics, became...