A racetrack has lost the battle of relevance; a track that is among the most modern circuits in America and has the distinction of holding the world closed-circuit speed record. Did you know a scene from the ‘Terminator’ franchise was filmed on the site?

Fontana was once a heavily industrialized town. The highlight back in the day was the 880-acre Kaiser Steel. At a time when the ancient land saw modernity beckon, it had served warships for the Pacific Coast shipbuilding industry during World War II till 1983, a facility that produced about 75 million tons of steel over its history. Time passed; and soon, the rotting site stood as the reminiscing memory in the form of a backdrop in major Hollywood films. One memorable entry is the iconic T-1000 vs T-800 mega fight, featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger’s sentimental thumbs-up sign.

Fontana is set to get a new look

It was in 1994 that Roger Penske began thinking about creating a racetrack on the site. After approvals and construction, the project was completed in late 1996. Marlboro Team Penske’s driver, Paul Tracy, became the first driver to test on the new Speedway, on January 10, 1997. And NASCAR had held its first test session on the track from May 5-7 the same year.

With the passing of time, NASCAR has shifted its attention to short tracks and road courses. It has decided to amend the Auto Club Speedway by shortening the track. Races on these tracks have seen more frequent contacts, close-quarter racing, unpredictable winners, and a new requirement of expertise. While this could benefit short-track aces like Chase Elliott or Tyler Reddick, many other drivers would have hoped to keep racing at a quintessential Fontana race annually.

Autoclub Speedway president Dave Allen spoke on the renovation earlier this year in February when the news of Fontana’s exclusion from 2024 was relayed. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, he said, “I think we’ve been at a point where entertainment is our business.”

“What the drivers do on the track is how memories are generated and what people are thinking about when they leave. But it’s the integration of everything. It’s important for us to stay diversified and provide entertainment for people to have fun all day long.”

The speedway is all set to become a half-mile track if the impending changes are implemented. With the search for newer tracks still ongoing, giving classic venues new attire has not gone down well with the fans. NASCAR’s thought process in this situation stems from making it a more watchable sport than it is, and the authorities want fans to be immersed in the racing experience instead of attending races for its sake, forcing them to take the necessary steps. The expected time period for completing the project has been estimated to be around two years.

Teary-eyed reactions as Auto Club Speedway becomes victim to a business opportunity

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NASCAR is trying to adapt to changing times for multiple reasons, with viewership and sales being the prime. With the rise in affinity for shorter durations of racing, the Dallas-based company and NASCAR’s business partner, Hillwood, looked at the track as a business opportunity. After a complete revamp of the track, it is possible that it could generate millions of Cup Series races on it, but fans are taking it otherwise.

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NASCAR will only retain 89 acres of land in the deal and has conceded ownership of the rest. One of the fans on Twitter was visibly angry at the change in focus from NASCAR. Moving from a diverse set of tracks to shorter tracks has angered old-school fans a lot. The fan commented, “Got rid of one of its best tracks to pay for a gimmick street course.“

“RIP can’t believe they are actually gonna tear it down- great memories Auto Club will be missed,” said another follower of the sport, deeply saddened and mourning the demolishment.

Auto Club Speedway’s demographic placement is another factor that has hurt a lot of fans. People from across the country have wished to visit California just to get a glimpse of this scenic racetrack. One such fan was left lamenting the announcement after having failed to visit the track previously. He wrote, “Too pure for this world. Always wanted to make a trip out to that track. It’s a real shame knowing I’ll never get that opportunity.”

Many more fans will share his feelings of sadness and regret as the two-year project takes its baby steps. As for how the results fare, it will only be known with time.

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