If you’ve driven past Fontana lately, you know it looks... different. Empty. The massive 2-mile oval that once defined Southern California racing is basically a ghost of its former self. Honestly, it’s a bit depressing for those of us who spent twenty years baking in those aluminum grandstands while the smell of Sunoco racing fuel and burnt rubber hung heavy in the Inland Empire air. Auto Club Speedway CA isn't just a track; it was the West Coast’s answer to the high-speed cathedrals of the South. But things changed fast.
The roar of 40 Cup cars hitting 200 mph is gone. For now.
Back in 1997, when Roger Penske opened the gates of California Speedway, it was a massive deal. Jeff Gordon won the inaugural race, and for a while, it felt like the center of the racing universe was shifting toward the Pacific. But by the 2020s, the narrative flipped. Real estate prices skyrocketed, the asphalt was falling apart, and NASCAR realized that 2-mile tracks were, frankly, getting a little stale for modern TV audiences.
The Rise and Fall of the Two-Mile Oval
The track was built on the old Kaiser Steel mill site. It was gritty. It was hot. But it was fast.
Engineers designed it to be a sister track to Michigan International Speedway, featuring a wide, D-shaped layout that allowed for five-wide restarts. It was terrifying and beautiful. You'd see drivers like Kyle Busch or Jimmie Johnson—who basically owned this place with a record six wins—rim-riding against the wall, millimeters from disaster.
But the track surface was the real story. As the Southern California sun beat down on the pavement year after year, the oils evaporated, leaving behind a "cheese grater" surface. By 2023, the track was so abrasive that tires would give up the ghost after only a few laps. Drivers loved it because it put the race in their hands, but the infrastructure was crumbling.
Why the Demolition Started
It wasn't just the asphalt. It was the land.
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NASCAR, which now owns the property through its merger with International Speedway Corporation, sat on a goldmine. The Inland Empire became the logistics capital of the world. Warehouses are more profitable than a track that hosts one major race weekend a year. So, they sold off roughly 433 acres of the site. That’s a massive chunk of change.
The plan? Rebuild.
The idea was to take the remaining land and create a "short track." Think Martinsville or Bristol, but in the heart of San Bernardino County. The project, often referred to as "Next Gen Fontana," was supposed to be a high-banked half-mile oval. But then the world got weird. Supply chain issues, soaring construction costs, and a general rethink of the NASCAR schedule put the whole thing on ice.
The Identity Crisis of Auto Club Speedway CA
So, where does that leave us today?
Currently, the grandstands are mostly gone. The 2-mile configuration is officially retired. For fans of Auto Club Speedway CA, it feels like an era has ended without a clear successor. There's been a lot of talk from NASCAR executives like Steve Phelps about the importance of the Southern California market, but talk is cheap when there’s no dirt being moved.
Southern California is the car culture capital. It’s weird not having a premier oval here. While the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum was a fun "pop-up" experiment, it wasn't a permanent home. It lacked the soul of a dedicated speedway.
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What the Experts Are Saying
If you listen to the industry insiders, the "Short Track Fontana" isn't dead, but it’s definitely in a coma. Some analysts suggest that NASCAR is waiting to see how the TV rights deals shake out before committing hundreds of millions to a new build. Others wonder if they’ll just keep using the Coliseum or maybe head back to a revamped Long Beach street circuit.
Dave Moody and other veteran voices in the garage have noted that the "Next Gen" car actually races better on larger tracks than short tracks. This creates a massive irony: they tore down a 2-mile track just as they developed a car that works best on 2-mile tracks.
- The track opened: 1997.
- Final race on the 2-mile oval: February 26, 2023 (Won by Kyle Busch).
- Current Status: Under demolition/redevelopment.
Life After Racing: The Hollywood Connection
One thing people forget about Auto Club Speedway CA is how much it contributed to movies. Because of its proximity to Los Angeles, it was the go-to spot for filming. Ford v Ferrari used it extensively. The Bucket List, Charlie’s Angels, and countless commercials were shot there.
When you lose a track like this, you lose more than just a Sunday race. You lose a piece of the California economy.
What You Should Know If You’re Planning a Visit
Don't. At least, not for a race.
If you drive by 9300 Cherry Ave today, you'll see a lot of fencing and heavy machinery. The site is a construction zone. The drag strip—the Auto Club Dragway—has also faced its share of closures and noise ordinance battles over the years. It’s a messy situation for local gearheads.
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The reality is that "Auto Club Speedway CA" as we knew it exists only in the history books and on iRacing now. If you want to see NASCAR in person in the West, you're looking at a road trip to Phoenix Raceway or Sonoma.
The Environmental and Economic Impact
Building a new track in California isn't like building one in the 90s. The regulatory hurdles are insane. CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) requirements alone are enough to make a developer weep. NASCAR has to navigate noise mitigation, traffic flow, and emissions standards that didn't exist when Penske first broke ground.
Also, let's talk about the fans. The Inland Empire has a massive, loyal blue-collar fan base. These aren't just "lifestyle" fans; these are people who work on their own trucks and live for the sound of a V8. By leaving the market open for several years, NASCAR risks losing that generational connection.
What Happens Next?
The most likely scenario involves a waiting game. NASCAR is incredibly tight-lipped about the blueprints for the new half-mile. We know they've filed permits. We know they've done the land surveys. But until you see concrete being poured, it’s all just speculation.
The "Next Gen" version of the track will likely be a multi-use facility. Think concerts, festivals, and maybe even some smaller-scale automotive testing to keep the revenue flowing between race weekends. It has to be more than a racetrack to survive in 2026 and beyond.
Actionable Steps for Racing Fans
If you're missing the action at Fontana, here is how you can stay plugged in and what you can actually do:
- Monitor the San Bernardino County Planning Commission: This is where the real news breaks. Before a single brick is laid for the new track, it has to go through public hearings. Search for "NASCAR Fontana Redevelopment Project" in their archives.
- Support Local Short Tracks: While we wait for the big oval, places like Irwindale Speedway are still holding it down. If you want to keep racing alive in SoCal, you have to support the grassroots level.
- Check the "Busch Light Clash" Schedule: Until Fontana returns, this is your best bet for seeing Cup cars in the LA Basin. Keep an eye on the January/February schedule releases.
- Preserve the History: If you have old programs or photos from the 2-mile era, keep them. That version of the track is gone forever, and the memorabilia is becoming increasingly valuable to collectors.
The loss of the 2-mile Auto Club Speedway CA is a tough pill to swallow for traditionalists. It was a bridge between the old-school superspeedways and the modern era. While we wait for the "New Fontana" to rise from the dust of the Kaiser Steel site, we’re left with the memories of 200 mph restarts and the sound of engines echoing off the San Bernardino Mountains. It was a wild ride while it lasted.