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One of NASCAR’s most beloved race weekends at Auto Club Speedway came to an end after the 2023 season, as the governing body announced plans to revamp the Fontana, California-based facility. With new photos of the track’s demolition surfacing, fans have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the iconic 2-mile D-shaped oval.
Opened in 1997, Auto Club Speedway was built to replace the iconic Riverside International Raceway. The two-mile, D-shaped oval was part of Roger Penske's vision for a premier motorsports facility in Southern California. It quickly became a NASCAR staple, hosting its first Cup Series race, the California 500, on June 22, 1997, where Jeff Gordon dominated to claim victory.
A fan recently shared photos on X showing the under-demolition state of Auto Club Speedway. The images of the iconic two-mile facility sparked a wave of reactions from fans, many reflecting on the track’s history and expressing their thoughts on its transformation (via X).
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"Heartbreaking to see," a fan wrote.
"Clearly NASCARs never gonna do anything with it. Thats why they’ve left the whole chunk of it untouched," a fan wrote.
"Track was one of the best on the circuit. Would have been top 3 race with Kansas and Charlotte," a fan expressed.
"It's good to see everything that they said they were keeping for the short track is still there. Unlike many, I refuse to allow myself to be a doomer about this until they start ripping up what's still there," another fan wrote.
"This is so sad to see man. One of my favorite tracks and honestly one of the best that was on the schedule," another fan said.
"'Can’t wait for NASCAR to keep saying “we’re still looking into this' When there’s nothing left," another fan expressed.
The initial plan for Auto Club Speedway (ACS) proposed by NASCAR was to turn it into a short track. The 2023 Pala Casino 400 was the last Cup Series event held at the facility before its renovation work started. Moreover, reports suggest that besides creating an exquisite short oval track in Fontana, NASCAR also plans on constructing a logistics facility and industrial park with 6.6 million square feet of warehousing spacing.
A look back at the final NASCAR Cup Series race at ACS
The Pala Casino 400 was the second regular season race of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series campaign. Scheduled for February 26, the 200-lap race that covered 400 miles started with Joe Gibbs Racing's Christopher Bell on pole, sharing the front row with Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
The race saw an intense battle with 28 lead changes among 13 drivers and eight cautions. Ross Chastain of Trackhouse Racing dominated early, winning both Stage 1 and Stage 2. However, it was two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch who claimed his first victory of the season, potentially the last win at the track for several years. Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott and Chastain rounded out the podium.
Meanwhile, the 2025 Cup Series campaign will begin with the preseason Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, scheduled for February 2 at 8 PM ET.
