This year, the folks in Fontana didn’t just wave goodbye to 2023; they also had to part ways with the iconic two-mile oval at Auto Club Speedway. There’s a big shake-up on the horizon, as the plan is to downsize the track to a half-mile and give it a fresh, modern twist. This isn’t just about sprucing up the place; it’s about drawing in a crowd that’s more than just die-hard NASCAR enthusiasts.

Just the other day, a fan popped the question to Bob Pockrass about any new developments regarding the speedway’s future. Bob spilled the beans on plans to construct a shorter track, but the nitty-gritty details, like the exact layout and when the bulldozers roll in, are still up in the air. Despite Bob’s words, fans are feeling a bit blue. They’re worried that the races of tomorrow won’t hold a candle to the thrilling experiences they’ve cherished in the past.

The big changes happening at Auto Club Speedway aren’t exactly hitting the right note with fans

Rewind to February 2023: After the 400-mile NASCAR Cup Series race in Fontana, the news dropped like a bombshell. The 2-mile ACS, everyone’s beloved racing hub since 1997, was headed for history books. With the last fan’s footprints barely cold, demolition crews got cracking, making way for a snazzy new half-mile track. According to Bob Pockrass, racing could roar back into ACS by late 2024 or early 2025, sporting a makeover that’ll turn heads across the Cup circuit.

Bob Pockrass gave the scoop to an inquisitive fan: “Still the same on California Speedway. NASCAR last year sold all but 90 acres so everything they sold is being demolished. They still hope to build a short track there but exact configuration and construction timeline TBD.”

The legendary 2.0-mile superspeedway, born on the ruins of a steel mill, is set for a transformation that aims to make ACS a magnet for teams, drivers, and fans alike. NASCAR’s selling a chunk of the 568-acre property for a flashy entertainment and hotel complex, sure to spark some green-eyed glances from other tracks.

A few more intriguing details? The downfall of the two-mile oval mirrors Fontana’s recent economic shift towards warehouse development. CBRE Investment Management snapped up 364 acres of former NASCAR land for a logistical behemoth—the Speedway Commerce Center. Hillwood Development Company shelled out a whopping $559 million, eyeing a 6.6 million-square-foot logistics paradise.

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Residents, who’ve long grumbled about the noise and traffic on race days, might recall the million-dollar sound wall built a decade ago to muffle the drag racing din. As for the short track, it’s still in limbo, waiting for the green light.

NASCAR’s hinting at an 18-month timeline once they get the thumbs-up. This means 2025, maybe 2026, could mark a new chapter in Fontana’s racing saga. However, fans are far from sold on this idea. The thought of losing another iconic track to this short-track trend has left many feeling more than a little blue.

Fans have been piping up left and right, sharing their two cents on the latest twists and turns at Fontana Speedway

Bob Pockrass’s reply, meant to clear the air, only added fuel to the fire. Fans feel NASCAR’s knocking down a legendary track is the wrong turn. “Just forget it now, the best track is gone,” one fan lamented.

Another fan, questioning NASCAR’s integrity, said, “Incredible. NASCAR sold their soul for this track and 20 years later it is being sold and subdivided.” One downhearted fan expressed doubts about the track’s future, betting, “Betting we never see another race at this site. Another loss to the sport.”

With a slice of the land already sold, another fan chimed in skeptically,  “Never gonna happen. Give it another 2-3 years and they’ll sell the rest of the land as well. No way you’ll reconstruct a short track with all the new housing that’s going to pop up around it.”

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A baffled fan couldn’t wrap their head around NASCAR’s decision, remarking,  “I still can’t grasp why they got rid of a multi-groove 2 mile racetrack it was literally the only one of its kind. And the racing wasn’t even bad especially in its final 3 races.” What’s your take on Auto Club Racing’s future? How did the old races strike you? Was this revamp necessary?