NASCAR drivers bemoan final race on Auto Club Speedway’s 2-mile tri-oval
FONTANA — It’s loved by most every driver in NASCAR, and some of the Cup Series’ best have thoughts about this weekend being the last for Auto Club Speedway’s 2-mile tri-oval.
“It’s unfortunate that the last weekend is like this and we have (rain) this weekend,” driver Ryan Blaney said. “I wish it was beautiful and 80 (degrees) out and people could really enjoy it because it is such a cool race track.”
First rumored in 2020, Sports Business Journal reported Friday that California Speedway Corp., owned by NASCAR, had closed on the sale of more than 80% of the speedway parcel.
“It’s sad because it’s such a great race track and Roger (Penske) built this place,” 2021 Cup Series champion Joey Logano said. “But business is business and how do you go against that when you hear what some of the numbers were? How do you not take that?”
Estimates place the price tag on the 433-acre parcel between $300 million to $500 million.
“Congratulations on the sale of the property,” driver Ross Chastain said. “If it’s worth that much, then sell it and we can build again.”
Plans to replace the 27-year-old facility, built in 1997, with a smaller short-track are on hold while NASCAR determines its place in the Southern California market.
“You have to put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself, ‘What would you do?’” Logano said. “It makes it a pretty simple decision from their standpoint.”
The news of the sale also has put a sudden significance on winning what may be the last Cup Series race in Southern California for the foreseeable future.
“Knowing that it is going away, this speedway has been one of my favorite large race tracks that we go to and I’m definitely on the side of being very bummed that this surface is going away,” driver Chris Buescher said.
NASCAR Cup Series has a long history in Southern Calfornia, starting in 1970 at Riverside International Raceway, but has not said what its plans are for Southern California for 2024 and beyond.
“The last few years that I’ve run here I’ve really enjoyed (Fontana),” driver A.J. Allmendinger said. “It’s put on great racing, but the biggest thing that stands out to me are some of the finishes this track has had.”
Perhaps the most famous finish to a Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway came in 2011 when Kevin Harvick passed Jimmie Johnson in Turn 4 of the last lap to win.
“It’s always tough to see a race track that’s in this phase go away,” Harvick said. “This track has been one of the driver’s favorties because of the surface and the cracks and the bumps and the seams, and being able to race all over the race track.”
For last year’s race winner, Fontana is fun because it’s so wide.
“I like the track a lot. It really suits my style quite a bit (and) I’m sad to see it go,” Kyle Larson said.
Martin Truex Jr., the 2018 Auto Club 400 winner, best summed up the feelings in the garage.
“I’m going to miss the track in general,” said Truex Jr., who won The Clash at The Coliseum to start the season. “(Fontana) is very unique. It’s very fun (and) a big challenge to do all the things it takes here to be successful. I typically like the older tracks, and this is certainly one of those.
“I’m going to miss everything about this track. Hopefully we can go out on a high note last time around.”