It’s quiet now. If you stand near the corner of Cherry Avenue and San Bernardino Avenue in Fontana, you won’t hear the scream of 800-horsepower engines or the synchronized roar of 50,000 people jumping to their feet as the green flag drops. The asphalt that once hosted legends like Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and Kyle Busch is largely a memory. Auto Club Speedway Fontana isn't just a racetrack anymore; it's a massive, dusty symbol of how much the American sports landscape is shifting.
People are confused. Honestly, it’s understandable. One day it was a two-mile "D-shaped" oval known for blistering speeds and tire-shredding abrasive pavement, and the next, it was a construction zone surrounded by rumors of a "short track" future that seems to stay perpetually "just around the corner."
Why the Two-Mile Track Had to Die
Let’s be real about the old configuration. The two-mile superspeedway was a beast. Built by Roger Penske in the mid-90s on the site of the old Kaiser Steel mill, it was designed to bring IndyCar and NASCAR glory to Southern California. And for a while, it worked. It was fast. Insanely fast. In 2000, Gil de Ferran set a closed-course world record there with a qualifying lap of 241.428 mph. Think about that for a second. That’s nearly four miles a minute.
But speed alone doesn’t sell tickets in the 2020s.
The track was huge. Too huge. Because the footprint was so massive, the sightlines weren't always great for fans in the lower rows. More importantly, the land underneath the track became worth a literal fortune. We’re talking about the Inland Empire, one of the most critical logistics hubs in the world. As e-commerce exploded, the value of hundreds of acres of flat land near major interstates and rail lines skyrocketed. NASCAR, which owns the property via International Speedway Corporation, looked at the balance sheet and saw a gold mine that was only being used for a major event once a year.
They sold off 433 acres of the site to real estate developers (specifically Hillwood Development and CBRE Investment Management) for an estimated $544 million. That is a staggering amount of money for "dirt."
The "Paper" Short Track: A Plan in Limbo
The official word from NASCAR has been consistent: they want to build a half-mile short track. They want to take the "Colosseum" vibe and bring it to Fontana permanently. The vision is a high-banked, Martinsville-meets-Bristol style bullring that would utilize the existing grandstands.
It sounds perfect on paper. Short-track racing is generally what fans want—more contact, more drama, and you can see the whole track from any seat.
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But there’s a catch.
As of early 2026, the progress has been... well, slow. While the old two-mile surface has been ripped up and the land sold for massive "Speedway Commerce Center" warehouses, the actual construction of the new half-mile oval hasn't hit full stride. This has led to a lot of local frustration. Fans in Southern California, who already lost the historic Riverside International Raceway decades ago and saw Ontario Motor Speedway vanish, are rightfully skeptical.
NASCAR executives like Ben Kennedy have insisted that Southern California remains a "priority market." You can’t blame them. Los Angeles is the second-largest media market in the country. You don't just walk away from that. But until the first load of concrete is poured for the new banking, Auto Club Speedway Fontana remains in a state of architectural purgatory.
The Logistics Invasion
If you drive past the site today, you’ll see the "Rebirth." But it’s not the kind of rebirth race fans were hoping for. Giant concrete tilt-up buildings are rising where the backstretch used to be. The Inland Empire is the warehouse capital of the United States. Basically, every pair of sneakers or flat-screen TV that comes through the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach spends time in a warehouse in Fontana or Ontario.
The Speedway Commerce Center is a massive industrial project.
- Total space: Millions of square feet of Class A industrial real estate.
- The trade-off: Tax revenue and jobs for Fontana, but at the cost of a cultural landmark.
- The remnant: NASCAR kept about 90 to 100 acres. That’s just enough for a short track, a pit road, and some parking. It’s tight.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Fontana Experience"
There’s a common misconception that Fontana was a boring track. People who say that usually only watched the races on TV during the early 2000s when the "aero-push" made passing difficult.
In reality, as the track aged, it became a driver favorite. The asphalt became "worn out." In racing terms, that’s a compliment. Worn-out asphalt means less grip, which means drivers have to actually drive the car instead of just pinning the throttle. It created multiple grooves. You could go high, you could go low, or you could skim the wall.
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By the time the final race on the two-mile oval happened in 2023 (won by Kyle Busch), it was arguably the best racing on the circuit. It’s the ultimate irony of motorsport: by the time a track gets "good," it’s usually time to repave it or tear it down because the infrastructure is crumbling.
The Cultural Impact: More Than Just NASCAR
Auto Club Speedway Fontana wasn't just for the Cup Series. It was a Hollywood darling. Because of its proximity to L.A., it was the go-to spot for filming.
- Ford v Ferrari: Much of the racing sequences were captured here, standing in for other venues.
- Commercials: Almost every major car commercial you saw for twenty years was shot on that infield road course or the oval.
- The Glow: The track had a specific "California" vibe—mountains in the background (the San Gabriels), palm trees, and that weird, hazy golden hour light that looks incredible on film.
Losing the big oval meant losing a massive production set for the film industry. That’s a niche but significant blow to the local economy.
Is There a Path Back?
So, what’s the move if you’re a fan? Right now, you’re looking at the Busch Light Clash (when it’s in L.A.) or trekking out to Phoenix or Vegas.
The reality is that the "New" Auto Club Speedway will be a boutique experience. It won't be the sprawling 100,000-seat monster it once was. It will likely be a 30,000 to 40,000-seat facility focused on high-intensity short-track racing.
But there are hurdles. Noise ordinances in Fontana have tightened as more residential developments move in. Environmental impact reports for new construction in California are a nightmare. And honestly, NASCAR is currently experimenting with street courses (like Chicago) and stadium races. If the "Clash at the Colosseum" model continues to work, does NASCAR even need a permanent short track in Fontana?
That is the multi-million dollar question.
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The Reality of the "New" Fontana
Don't expect a race in 2026. The timeline has shifted repeatedly. The most optimistic experts suggest we might see engines fire up in 2027, but even that feels like a stretch given the current state of the site.
If you're looking for actionable insights on how to handle the "Fontana Void," here is how the landscape actually looks:
For Local Fans: Support the local "bullrings." Irwindale Speedway is still kicking and offers some of the best short-track action in the country. If we don't support the smaller tracks, the big ones have no reason to build new ones.
For Travelers: If you used to make the yearly pilgrimage to Fontana, pivot your travel plans to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway or Phoenix Raceway. Phoenix has essentially taken over as the "West Coast Hub" for NASCAR, especially since it hosts the Championship Weekend.
For Real Estate Observers: Keep an eye on the industrial leases at the Speedway Commerce Center. The success of those warehouses is what’s funding—or delaying—the return of the track. If the industrial market cools, NASCAR might be less inclined to rush the "sports" side of the project.
The story of Auto Club Speedway Fontana is a classic California tale. It’s about the tension between heritage and high-value real estate. It’s about a sport trying to reinvent itself while literally standing on top of its own history. The big oval is gone, and it isn't coming back. Whether the "short track" dream becomes a reality or just remains a clever way to keep fans interested while the warehouses go up is something only time—and perhaps a lot of permits—will tell.
Actionable Steps for the Racing Community
- Monitor the SCEQ (California Environmental Quality Act) filings for the Fontana area; that is where the real news of construction starts will actually break first, long before a press release.
- Check the NASCAR schedule releases usually in late summer. If Fontana isn't on the provisional list for the following year by August, expect another "gap year."
- Pivot your memorabilia search. Items from the "Last Race" at the 2-mile oval are currently spiking in value among collectors; if you have 2023 race-used gear, hold onto it.