Auto Club Speedway: Difference between revisions

|Image_caption = D-shaped oval (1997–20241997–2023)

|Capacity = 122,000 (total)<ref>{{cite web |title=Auto Club Speedway Track News, Records & Links |url=http://www.jayski.com/news/tracks/story/_/page/auto-club-speedway |website=jayski.com|publisher=jayski.com|access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>

|Owner = [[NASCAR#International Speedway Corporation|NASCAR]] (2019–2023)<br />[[International Speedway Corporation]] (1999–2019)

|Operator = [[NASCAR]] (1999–2023)

|Broke_ground = {{Start date and age|dfdd=yes|1995|11|22}}

|Opened = {{Start date and age|dfdd=yes|1997|06|20}}

|Events = '''CurrentFormer:''' <br />'''[[NASCAR Cup Series]]'''<br>''[[Pala Casino 400]]'' (1997–2020, 2022–2023)<br>''[[Pepsi Max 400]]'' (2004–2010) <br />'''[[NASCAR Xfinity Series]]'''<br>''[[NASCAR Xfinity Series at Auto Club Speedway|Production Alliance Group 300]]'' (1997–2020, 2022–2023)<br />'''Former:'''<br />[[NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series]]<br>''[[San Bernardino County 200]]'' (1997–2009)<br />[[IndyCar Series]]<br>''[[MAVTV 500]]'' (1997–2005, 2012–2015)<br />[[AMA Superbike Championship]] (2002–2010)<br />[[Rolex Sports Car Series]] (2002–2005)

|Layout1 = D-shaped oval (1997–20241997–2023)

|Layout2 = Interior Road Course (2001–20242001–2023)

|Layout3 = Sports Car Course (2001–20242001–2023)

|Layout4 = Motorcycle Course (2001–20242001–2023)

'''Auto Club Speedway''' (known as '''California Speedway''' before and after the 2008–2023 corporate sponsorship fromby the [[Automobile Club of Southern California|Auto Club]]<ref name="sponsor">{{cite web|title=California Speedway to change name UPDATE|url=http://www.jayski.com/pages/tracks/past/california-past.htm|publisher=jayski.com|access-date=September 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102100446/http://jayski.com/pages/tracks/past/california-past.htm|archive-date=January 2, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>) iswas a {{cvt|2.000|mi|km|abbr=on}}, D-shaped oval [[superspeedway]] in unincorporated [[San Bernardino County, California]], near [[Fontana, California|Fontana]]. It has hosted [[NASCARNational Association for Stock Car Auto Racing]] (NASCAR) racing annually sincefrom 1997 until 2023. It was also previously used for [[open wheel racing]] events. The racetrack iswas located {{cvt|47|mi|km|adj=on}} east of [[Los Angeles]] and iswas near the former locations of [[Ontario Motor Speedway]] and [[Riverside International Raceway]]. The track iswas last owned and operated by NASCAR. The speedway iswas served by the nearby Interstates [[Interstate 10 in California|10]] and [[Interstate 15 in California|15]] freeways as well as a [[Metrolink (Southern California)|Metrolink]] station located behind the backstretch.

Construction of the track, on the site of the former [[Kaiser Steel]] Mill, began in 1995 and was completed andin opened on June 20,late 19971996. The speedway's main grandstand hashad a capacity of 68,000, additionally it featuresfeatured 28 skyboxes and hashad a grand total capacity of 122,000. In 2006, a fanzone was added behind the main grandstand. Lights were added to the speedway in 2004 with the addition of a second annual NASCAR weekend. SinceFrom 2011 to 2023, the track has hosted only one NASCAR weekend each year.

In 2023, the track was closed for reconstruction as part of the Next Gen California project and demolition started in October 2023.

On April 20, 1994, [[Roger Penske]] and [[Kaiser Steel]] announced the construction of a racetrack on the site of the abandoned [[Kaiser Steel|Kaiser Steel Mill]] in [[Fontana, California]]. A day after the announcement, [[ChampChampionship Car|CARTAuto Racing Teams]] (CART) announced it would hold an annual race at the speedway. Three months later [[NASCAR]] president [[Bill France Jr.]] agreed to sanction [[NASCAR Cup Series]] races at the speedway upon completion, marking the first time NASCAR made a commitment to run a race at a track that had yet to be built.<ref name="Dates">{{Cite news|last=Eisenberg |first=Jeff |title=Looking Back: Key dates in the history of California Speedway |newspaper=The Press Enterprise |year=2007 |url=http://www.pe.com/sports/projects/2007/10years/# |access-date=September 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212120327/http://www.pe.com/sports/projects/2007/10years/ |archive-date=February 12, 2009 }}</ref> Community meetings were held to discuss issues related to the construction of the track and the local effects of events held. The local community largely supported construction of the speedway citing potentially increased land values and rejuvenation of the community. In April 1995, after having toured the sister track Michigan International Speedway, the [[San Bernardino County]] Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the project.<ref name="latimes">{{Cite news | last = Glick| first = Shav| title = New Track Is a Steel California Speedway Will Be Built on Site of Old Fontana Mill | newspaper = [[Los Angeles Times]]| url = http://articles.latimes.com/1995-11-27/sports/sp-7600_1_california-speedway| access-date=November 13, 2010| date=November 27, 1995}}</ref> The [[California Environmental Protection Agency]] gave Penske permission to begin construction after Kaiser agreed to pay US$6 million to remove hazardous waste from the site. Construction on the site began on November 22, 1995, with the demolition of the Kaiser Steel Mill.<ref name="Dates" /> The {{convert|100|ft|adj=on}} [[water tower]], a landmark of the Kaiser property, was preserved in the center of the track to be used as a scoreboard. {{convert|3000|cuyd}} of contaminated dirt was removed and transported to a toxic waste landfill. To prevent remaining impurities from rising to the surface, a cap of non-porous [[polyethylene]] was put down and covered with {{convert|2|ft}} of clean soil.<ref name="latimes" /> Construction of the track was completed in late 1996.<ref name="Dates" />

In 2006, the speedway's midway, located behind the main grandstand, was overhauled. The new midway, called the "Discover IE FanZone", includesincluded the addition of Apex (a [[Wolfgang Puck]] restaurant), additional shade and lounge areas, a retail store and an entertainment stage.<ref>{{cite web|title=2006 Racing Season Concludes, 2007 Just Around the Corner |url=http://www.autoclubspeedway.com/Articles/2006/10/2006-Racing-Season-Concludes-2007-Just-Around-The-Corner.aspx|publisher=Autoclubspeedway.com|date=October 5, 2006|access-date=September 13, 2010}}</ref>

Upon the addition of a second NASCAR weekend at the track in 2004, attendance at the races dropped off dramatically, by as much as 20,000. With such a large attendance swing, drivers and media began to doubt if the track deserved two dates, even if the track was near Los Angeles, the nation's second-largest media market.<ref>{{cite web |author=Gluck, Jeff |url=http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/sprintcupseries/Jeff_Gluck_fontana.html |title=Lack of attendance remains No. 1 concern at Auto Club Speedway |publisher=SceneDaily.com |date=February 21, 2009 |access-date=September 14, 2010 |archive-date=March 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307215750/http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/sprintcupseries/Jeff_Gluck_fontana.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Weather also became a concern with either extremely hot days or with rain threatening the races. All of this factored into NASCAR's decision to remove a second race from the track with the realignment of the 2011 NASCAR schedule. Former track owner [[Roger Penske]] said the track may be located in a one-race market. Track president Gillian Zucker cited bad weather windows and fans having other entertainment options as reasons for the attendance decline.<ref>{{cite web|author=Gluck, Jeff|url=http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/sprintcupseries/Weather_scheduling_blamed_for_attendance_woes_loss_of_Cup_races_at_Atlanta_California.html|title=Weather, scheduling blamed for attendance woes, loss of Cup races at Atlanta, California|publisher=SceneDaily.com|date=August 8, 2010|access-date=September 14, 2010|archive-date=March 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307215755/http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/sprintcupseries/Weather_scheduling_blamed_for_attendance_woes_loss_of_Cup_races_at_Atlanta_California.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The facilitytrack iswas often used for filming television shows, commercials and films. In 2000, portions of ''[[Charlie's Angels (2000 film)|Charlie's Angels]]'' were filmed at the speedway,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seeing-stars.com/locations/ca1/CharliesAngels3.shtml |title=Charlie's Angels Filming Locations&nbsp;— part 3 |publisher=Seeing-stars.com |access-date=September 13, 2010}}</ref> and in 2005, portions of ''[[Herbie: Fully Loaded]]'' were filmed there.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trivia for Herbie Fully Loaded |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0400497/trivia|publisher=imdb.com|access-date=September 13, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100912170322/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0400497/trivia| archive-date= September 12, 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> In 2007, ''[[The Bucket List]]'' saw [[Jack Nicholson]] and [[Morgan Freeman]] drive a vintage Shelby Mustang and Dodge Challenger around the {{convert|2|mi|km|adj=on}} speedway.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0825232/locations |title=Filming Locations For The Bucket List |publisher=IMDB.com |access-date=November 13, 2010}}</ref> The track was used as [[Daytona International Speedway]] in the 2019 film ''[[Ford v Ferrari]]''.

During the [[1999 Marlboro 500]] CART race, Canadian driver [[Greg Moore (race car driver)|Greg Moore]] died in a crash along the backstretch of the track. It was determined that after sliding along the infield grass, Moore's car hit the edge of oncoming pavement, which caused the car to flip into a concrete retaining wall. The incident prompted the track owners, [[International Speedway Corporation|ISC]], to pave the backstretch of both Auto Club Speedway and its sister track [[Michigan International Speedway]] in an attempt to prevent a similar accident. Shortly after the crash, CART mandated the use of a head-and-neck restraint system on all ovals. The rule eventually became mandatory on all tracks.<ref>{{cite news|title=Moore, 24, killed in horrifying CART crash|url=http://espn.go.com/auto/cart/news/1999/1031/144448.html|access-date=September 13, 2010|work=ESPN News Services|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|date=November 3, 1999|location=[[Fontana, California]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Greg Moore |url=http://www.danspitstopracing.com/greg_moore |access-date=November 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531214158/http://www.danspitstopracing.com/greg_moore |archive-date=May 31, 2010 }}</ref>

On September 8, 2020, it was revealed that documents for the reconstruction of the facility as a half-mile high banked oval had been filed with San Bernardino County. As first reported by ''The Insider'', the new short track layout would feature long straightaways like [[Martinsville Speedway]] and high banked turns like those featured at [[Bristol Motor Speedway]]. According to the published preliminary site plan, the new layout would fit inside the footprint of the current layout's trioval, and utilize much of the existing infrastructure such as the garages (which would be outside the new track), main grandstand and pit road suites (which would overlook the relocated backstretch). The work would bewas scheduled to start after the 2021 Auto Club 400, and was scheduled to be completed in time for the 2022 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jayski.com/2020/09/08/auto-club-speedway-to-be-reconfigured-to-half-mile-short-track/ |title=Auto Club Speedway to be reconfigured to half-mile short track |website=[[Jayski's Silly Season Site]] |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |date=September 8, 2020 |access-date=September 9, 2020}}</ref>

In December 2020, it was announced that the 2021 race weekend had been cancelled due to complications surrounding the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/12/08/nascar-2021-schedule-auto-club-races-shifted-to-daytona-road-course/ |title=Auto Club races shifted to Daytona Road Course |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |date=8 December 2020 |access-date=8 December 2020}}</ref> On February 27, 2022, Auto Club Speedway president Dave Allen announced on [[Sirius XM]] NASCAR Radio that plans to convert the speedway havehad been put on hold.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jayski.com/2022/02/27/plans-to-convert-auto-club-speedway-to-short-track-are-on-hold/ |title=Plans to Convert Auto Club Speedway to Short Track are on Hold |website=[[Jayski's Silly Season Site]] |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |date=27 February 2022 |access-date=28 February 2022}}</ref> With the [[Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum|Busch Light Clash]] now being held at the [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]] beginning in 2022, there was now no official commitment from NASCAR to follow through with plans to convert the speedway. In early 2023, following the [[Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum]], NASCAR COO[[chief operating officer]] Steve O'Donnell made mention that NASCAR was, "evaluating the market as a whole and what's the best place for us to race within the totality of 2024 and beyond."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Moment to celebrate: NASCAR starts its 75th anniversary season with a continued eye on change |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2023/02/13/Upfront/nascar-75th.aspx |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=www.sportsbusinessjournal.com |date=February 13, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

=== CurrentFormer races ===

* Red, White and Cruise&nbsp; — A [[Independence Day (United States)|July 4]] festival consisting of a car show, various family-friendly entertainment and a fireworks show.

The original track length iswas disputed by CART and NASCAR that runran at Auto Club Speedway. The NASCAR timing and scoring usepreviously used a length of exactly {{convert|2.000|mi|km}}.<ref>[http://www.nascar.com/en_us/nascar-tracks/auto-club-speedway.html Auto Club Speedway at NASCAR.com]</ref> The IRL timing and scoring use also used a length of exactly {{cvt|2.000|mi|km|abbr=on}} since their first race in 2002.<ref>[http://www.imscdn.com/INDYCAR/Documents/3315/2015-06-27/indycar-race-results.pdf 2015 IndyCar race result at Indycar homepage].</ref> CART measured the track as {{cvt|2.029|mi|km|abbr=on}} and used this length for timing and scoring between 1997 and 2002.<ref>[http://www.champcarstats.com/races/200218.htm The 500 Presented by Toyota result on champcarstats.com]</ref>