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The Auto Club Speedway has become the center of a heated debate among NASCAR fans across the nation as NASCAR looks to turn the 2 mile track into a short track. So today we are going to look back at the history of this Fontana track and how it went from an unpopular track fans wanted gone to a fan favorite that people want to keep in the NASCAR Cup Series long term. So today, we are going to look at the Auto Club redemption arch.
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27 comments
What are your thoughts on the Auto Club short track idea?
My thoughts are that the track will have to be repaved pretty soon anyway, and then the racing is going to be hot garbage for at least 5-8 years until it wears. If you make it a 1/2 mile short track racing can be good right away (barring how the car changes go).
@slysupersonic I agree, but they need to find about 30,000 more seats.
My opinion, the track should stay as a 2 miler. Racing their has improved over the years, especially on TV. Also, I find this reconfiguration too expensive, instead of the alternative which is to add already existing short ovals to the cup schedule. Especially Irwindale, but I would also like to mention tracks in the Rocky Mountain states. Plus, if you asked me the only changes that Auto Club needs would be an increase on the banking of the turns and that would be it. Aside from me thinking that the new generation of NASCAR stock cars should have more horsepower than what they already have.
I honestly hate it. I saw my first NASCAR race there with the 99 California 500. That’s where I developed my love for Jeff Gordon. All Auto Club needed was a repave.
As an IndyCar guy who wants to see it back on their schedule, I hate Jr
Auto club is my home track and I was really happy with the racing last year I hope 2023 will be better
Auto Club went from a track that was shortchanged to a beloved track that’s becoming short itself. Ironic.
I was there for the inaugural race. We showed up early with our camper and waited in the parking lot for the infield gates to open as there wasn’t a car tunnel. Roger Penske came to the parking lot and shook hands and signed autographs. We turned our scanner on that was still programmed from sears point, so as we were in the parking lot we were listening to dale sr coach dale jr about holding it wide open into t1. Great times.
Wow what a great story
The ironic thing is that Fonana is so big that they could build a short track on the infield.
literally even then, Iriwndale Speedway is a 1/2 mile track less than an hour away from Fontana
I vividly remember the 2011 and 2013 races and I just was in awe of how both races ended.
I remember just watching the 2013 race finish after coming home an it was epic.
California Speedway will forever be one of my all time favourite tracks. especially at night, with those pretty blue walls.
Whatever happens happens, can’t be mad, can’t be happy either, the racing was always good, and even if the short track doesn’t disappoint, I will be happy
The way the cars fan out into like 8 possible lanes of racing in the corner is unlike any track in NASCAR.
Growing up a harvick fan and JJ hater, the 2011 finish was a moment of unbelievable euphoria for me at the time lol. For the most part I’ve liked the 2 mile ovals over the years, but AC always stood out to me just a bit more than MIS.
As a dude who’s been going to races there since the mid 00’s, overstate how much of a turnaround time his track has seen.
It was legitimately at Kentucky levels of hatred, and now it puts on some of the best racing in the series.
Its a track you can go 4-5 wide at and everybody can be fast in any lane, its had some bad years but it more often than not delivers a banger of a race and a great finish for the reasons stated at the start.
This track has turned into one of my favorite ones, multi groove racing. Hope Chicagoland is back next year, that was another favorite of mine as well
If they make it like the blueprint I saw, it will be almost as awesome as Bristol was before they repaved it. I’m really looking forward to it.
I’m going to miss this race. I hope nascar doesn’t loose it’s raw sense of speed. Also, I think the reconfiguration is going to be dominated by the high line.
Rusty’s win in 2001 was special because it was Dale Sr.’ birthday and would’ve turned 50. The race in 2008 unfortunately moved to Monday and I couldn’t watch it live because of school, but when I did, it was the first race to showcase the Edwards vs Johnson battle for the championship. Sure Edwards did cruise to victory but their battle lasted a fair number of laps and it was a domino effect after that between them at the cookie cutter tracks.
I always loved the Auto Club Speedway. It’s one of my favorite tracks in the cup series. The restarts are always insane, the racing is great, and the track itself has had many great moments. The 2011 finish and 2013 finish come to mind. The worn out surface contributes to the great racing as well. Please keep the track the way it is.
As someone who has been attending races at Auto Club Speedway since 2010, I love the short track idea, but now is not the right time to convert it to a short track. With that said, the facilities need upgrades BADLY. Those seem to have not been upgraded since the track was built
California Auto Club Speedway is another in the line of historically great racetracks. It sucks to see it going away and everything be streamlined for “progress”. This got me to look into some Riverside speedway videos and think about what could have been if that entire area was upkept for racing.