Auto Club Speedway
| Broke ground | 1995 |
| Opened | 1997 |
| Construction cost | US$100 million (US$134 million in 2021 dollars) |
| Architect | Paxton Waters Architecture Penske Motorsports, Inc. |
| D-shaped oval |
|---|
Why is there no NASCAR in Fontana 2021?
- The last time NASCAR held a race at Fontana was over two full years ago, so this weekend’s event will mark the return of the series to the track.
- The track’s racing weekend in 2020 took place immediately before the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic in the United States.
- The track’s race weekend in 2021, however, did not take place because COVID limitations in the state of California prevented it from doing so.
When was California Speedway built?
The construction of the track, which was carried out on the site of the former Kaiser Steel Mill, got under way in 1995 and was finished in the latter half of 1996. The racetrack has a total capacity of 122,000 people, with the grandstands having a capacity of 68,000 and the skyboxes having a capacity of 28. A fan zone was established in 2006 just behind the primary grandstand.
What happened to Fontana Speedway?
- The track in Fontana, California, was supposed to be converted into a half-mile bullring by now, according to earlier plans; however, this has not occurred.
- The decision to convert the two-mile track at Auto Club Speedway into a half-mile bullring seemed to make sense in light of the fact that a large number of NASCAR fans have expressed a desire to see more short tracks, and that attendance at Auto Club Speedway has been on the decline.
Is Fontana raceway closing?
The decision to permanently close the drag strip at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, was made public in a statement that was released on Friday, April 3, 2021.
Is California Speedway being rebuilt?
The superspeedway at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, is slated to be converted into a high-banked short track as part of a comprehensive redevelopment plan that is now in the planning stages.
Is NASCAR coming back to Fontana?
- On Sunday, drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series competed in the Wise Power 400 at Fontana’s Auto Club Speedway.
- This marked their first visit to the track since 2021, when it was closed because of COVID-19.
- Cup series drivers had their fourth opportunity to compete in what NASCAR refers to as their ″Next Gen″ vehicle at this event, which took place on Sunday.
Hendrick Motorsports has Cliff Daniels working as a crew chief for the team.
When was the last time NASCAR raced at Fontana?
On March 17, 2019, Joey Logano is in the lead during the NASCAR Cup Series car race that is taking place at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. The race was won by Kyle Busch.
How big is the NASCAR track in Fontana?
| Track Size | Two-mile D-shaped oval |
|---|---|
| Pit Road | 2200 feet in length with 44 individual pit areas |
| Road Course | (All three Road Courses are 45 feet wide) Interior Test Circuit 13 turns, 1.45 miles Interior Test Circuit 13 turns, 1.45 miles Motorcycle Competition Course 21 turns, 2.36 miles |
Is Auto Club Speedway being rebuilt?
On September 8, 2020, The Athletic was the first publication to reveal that NASCAR intended to transform the course. That happened a few days after NASCAR had presented San Bernardino County with their proposals for the restoration. According to a story from The Athletic at the time, the transition may have been finished by the 2023 season.
Is California Speedway going to be a short track?
Since NASCAR first announced their intention to transform the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway into a short track consisting of a half-mile, over two years had passed.
Is Auto Club Speedway still becoming a short track?
The two-mile course will be utilized for at least the next five years, starting in 2023. NASCAR officials continue to express interest in converting Auto Club Speedway in Southern California into a half-mile short track, despite the fact that the matter is still undecided.
How many drag strips are left in California?
- In addition, Southern California is home to two dragstrips that are an eighth of a mile in length.
- Both the Barona Dragway, which is located on an Indian reserve south of San Diego, and the Irwindale Speedway, which is located in the shadows of the former San Gabriel Dragstrip and Irwindale Raceway, are two of the most popular racetracks in the area.
- The Famoso dragstrip in Oildale/Bakersfield, California is now the most convenient quarter-mile facility.
Why did Auto Club Speedway close?
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, we have been forced to make a number of difficult decisions about our company’s organizational structure and day-to-day operations over the course of the past year. As a result of this unfortunate turn of events, the Auto Club Dragway will stay closed throughout the year 2021.
Why are drag strips closing?
- Politics was the cause of the demise of many drag strips, and it continues to be one of the primary factors behind the closure of most tracks today.
- Complaints about excessive noise are common at drag strips; this has been the case since since the sport’s earliest days.
- Because of the high levels of compression, the massive camshafts, and the extremely large headers, the automobiles have an inherent loudness.