“Just Awful”- Brand New Images of Auto Club Speedway’s Sad State Leaves NASCAR World Deeply Heartbroken

The NASCAR community bid farewell to the Auto Club Speedway earlier this year, in February. NASCAR has sold the picturesque race track by the mountains in Fontana to Hillwood Development Co. for an estimated fee of $544 million. The sale details were conveyed following the final Pala Casino 400 race at the 2-mile speedway in February.

However, the latest reconstruction images have surfaced, and the NASCAR community wasn’t ready for that. Fans and journalists have expressed their shock and sadness at the sight of the drastic changes in the speedway’s structure, and the anguish has been widespread.

The restructuring of the Auto Club Speedway has begun in Fontana

The demolition of the beautiful race track began on October 9 as construction personnel started by removing the asphalt surface and trees within the premises. Hillwood Development Co. plans to replace the 2-mile track with a half-mile oval short track.

Hillwood managed to strike a deal based on its history with NASCAR. Having partnered with NASCAR for the Daytona International Speedway, they collaborated to redevelop 200 acres of area around the race track. The latest images show the audience stands being demolished, with the racing surface already out of order. Renowned NASCAR journalist Jeff Gluck chanced upon the photo and voiced his pain as he wrote, “Oooof. Hadn’t seen this one yet. All of these sting.”

The final Pala Casino 400 witnessed Kyle Busch score his maiden win in a Richard Childress Racing car after a grueling battle with Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain. Well, Busch’s first win in new attire was the Auto Club Speedway’s last race in old attire.

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The disappointment in the effects of the reconstruction has spread like wildfire in the community. Some fans have gathered to reminisce about their favorite memories of the track, while most have been deeply saddened by it.

NASCAR fandom is heartbroken by the loss of a historic race track

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NASCAR President Steve Phelps had earlier conveyed a feeling about establishing a short track in the California market. However, that has yet to go down well with the NASCAR fanbase. A fan commented about the same, highlighting how the speed of development and need for revenue have destroyed some historic race tracks. “Shame how many speedways are dying as development creeps up,” he wrote.

“Very sad to see. I always made a point to attend the NASCAR / IndyCar races there. I also loved the track days there, to.” said another fan as he recalled the days of high-octane racing in Fontana.

One of the fans wrote that his sadness increases with every image of the demolition that emerges, “Every picture I see from this demo depresses the hell out of me. I always had a soft spot for that track.”

“Man… so much good racing… so much potential… killed by NASCAR’s pathetic rules. Really s*cks to see this… hurts bad,” “That’s actually the saddest thing I’ve seen today,” read some other comments voicing the dissatisfaction.

NASCAR’s increasing attention towards short tracks and road courses has been alarming, worrying the NASCAR fandom. These new racetracks have replaced iconic speedways like Fontana and Rockingham in the NASCAR schedule, which the fans haven’t liked.

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