AUTO CLUB [formerly CALIFORNIA] SPEEDWAY NEWS/RUMORS
Address:
9300 Cherry Avenue
Fontana, CA 92335
Phone:
(909) 429-5000
Fax (909) 429-5500
Tickets (909) 428-9300
Toll-Free (800) 944-7223
Fax for Tickets (909) 429-5199
Track Specs:
Superspeedway: 2.0-mile oval 75 feet wide with a 15 foot apron
Banking: turns: 14 degrees; frontstretch 11 degrees; backstretch 3 degrees
Front Stretch: 3,100feet
Back Stretch: 2,500feet
Pit Road: 2,200 feet long with 44 individual pit stalls
Grandstand Seats: 92,000
Approx: 1,800 Infield RV spaces
Websites:
Auto Club Speedway
California Speedway
ESPN's NASCAR Track Guide: California Speedway
- Four Race Tracks Tony Stewart has never won a Cup race at: There are four current race tracks the Cup Series runs on that #20-Tony Stewart has not won at [a Cup race]:
California 0 for 15 with a best finish of 4th in 1999 & 2001
Las Vegas 0 for 10 with a best finish of 2nd in 2000
Talladega 0 for 19 with a best finish of 2nd [6 times] in 2001,2002,2005,2006
Darlington 0 for 16 with a best finish of 4th in 2001 & 2002
Stewart has won at 18 of 23 tracks he has raced on, didn't win at Rockingham which is no longer active for Cup racing.(8-31-2008)
- Hollywood-Themed Camping World Back Lot Will Premier at Auto Club Speedway in 2009: Auto Club Speedway campers will have something to celebrate in 2009-the new Camping World Back Lot, a 286-site campground at Auto Club Speedway that will have a unique Hollywood theme. Campers will get not only great NASCAR racing, but also the full Hollywood "back lot experience." Visitors to the Camping World Back Lot will find a wide variety of activities, including studio-sponsored movie nights, comfortable common areas, and food stands with a cinematic theme. The campground will have full access to infield stores, water and pump services and easy access to trams. Camping sites are sold as a package for the entire racing season. The package includes one site for both races, two Action Pack ticket packages.(Auto Club Speedway PR)(9-1-2008)
- California Race Winners Will Ring the "Mobell": Race winners at Auto Club Speedway will inaugurate a new tradition in Gatorade Victory Lane this race weekend: ringing the "Mobell" a full-scale replica of the hundreds of bells that line California's El Camino Real. The Mobell was presented to Speedway president Gillian Zucker by the Automobile Club of Southern California, which integrates the image of the bell in its AAA logo. The 700-mile-long El Camino Real linked California's 21 Franciscan missions, which were founded by Father Junipero Serra in the late 18th century. The winners of the Camping World RV Service 300 Presented by Coleman and the Pepsi 500 will each ring the bell as part of their post-race Gatorade Victory Lane celebrations.(Auto Club Speedway PR)(8-31-2008)
- Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, Bo Bice and Randy Couture Added to Pepsi 500 Pre-Race Ceremonies: Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, stars of the MTV hit series, "The Hills" will serve as honorary starters and wave the green flag to start the Pepsi 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday, August 31. They will be joined during the pre-race ceremonies by American Idol season four runner-up Bo Bice, who will perform "The Star Spangled Banner," and mixed martial arts star Randy Couture will serve as honorary race official and pace car driver, leading the field to the green flag from behind the wheel of the official Chevy pace car. Giving the command to start engines will be TV icon Drew Carey, announced earlier as the event's Grand Marshal.(Auto Club Speedway PR)(8-30-2008)
- New food menu at Auto Club Speedway: There's a new food line at Auto Club Speedway, created in part by feedback that track president Gillian Zucker received earlier this year. In addition to the standard race track fare of hot dogs, hamburgers and French fries, fans will get an opportunity to order: Kabobs of marinated beef, chicken and vegetables over a bed of rice; Grilled Mexican corn on the cob;
Sushi, including California Rolls and spicy tuna rolls; Mexican fruit salad, a combination of sliced watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumbers, pineapple and mago seasoned with lemon juice and chili powder; Chicken sausage sandwiches; Root beer floats. The new food debuted at one of the Speedway's Hard Card Club functions earlier this summer and was greeted with smiles. Tim Niro, general manager of Americrown's western division, said the Speedway's hamburgers, one of the traditional food staples in sports, will have a new taste. "We changed the way they are to be cooked," said Niro, who has spent the past two years in charge of the Speedway's concessions. "At three locations, we're going to grill the hamburgers. We're using raw hamburger rather than frozen patties". Based on past figures, Niro expects fans to consume 10,000 hamburgers and 20,000 hot dogs this weekend. The track made the switch in napkins and the way it wrapped hot dogs after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers complained the paper was sticking to the front of the cars, causing some to overheat.
"I got tired of getting called into the (NASCAR) hauler," said Niro, who faced a similiar situation while working at Michigan Internaional Speedway. "We got nine times the complaints at Michigan and here about the wrappers. We put the hot dogs in foil, which will not get airborne, as opposed to how we did it before."(Los Angles Daily News)(8-28-2008)
- ACS goes for Guinness record; bingo hall: For as long as California/Auto Club Speedway has been open, attendance has always been a subject of speculation. Since the track's opening in 1997, the policy has been not to release numbers, regardless of the event. That should change this week, if a world record is to fall. Together with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the Speedway will attempt to set a world record for the largest bingo hall. Each fan in attendance at Sunday's Sprint Cup Series Pepsi 500 will get a card and a chance to win some of the $20,000. The record is 70,080 set by a group in Colombia in 2006, which erased the 53,000 mark in Dodger Stadium set in 2003. There's little doubt in this corner that the record will fall on Sunday - if not, the real heat story won't be about the weather. But somehow, it's doubtful the folks at Guinness will just take the Speedway's word.(San Bernardino County Sun.(8-26-2008)
- Drew Carey To Serve As Grand Marshal For Pepsi 500: Stand-up comic turned actor and producer Drew Carey will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 2008 Pepsi 500, Auto Club Speedway President Gillian Zucker announced. The host of “The Price is Right” and star of the long-running comedy “The Drew Carey Show”, Carey will give the starting command, “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines”, to the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers running in the Pepsi 500 on Sunday, August 31.
“It’s only fitting that one of the biggest stars on television should be giving the most famous command in motorsports,” said Zucker. “Drew Carey is a big NASCAR fan, and I know our fans are going to be excited to see him at the track. I hope everyone will listen to Drew and ‘come on down’ to Labor Day’s biggest party.” One of televison’s biggest stars, Carey succeeded longtime host Bob Barker on the legendary show “The Price Is Right” after having had the distinction of starring in two hit shows simultaneously: “The Drew Carey Show”, which ran from 1995-2004, and the improv/sketch show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” on which he was both host and producer. While in the Marine Reserves, Carey’s military buzz cut and black wide-rim glasses became part of his trademark look. He began his successful career as a comedian in April of 1986 at the Cleveland Comedy Club. One of his first big breaks was competing on "Star Search '88." In 1991, Carey landed a spot on HBO's "14th Annual Young Comedians Special" and appeared on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson." Carey landed his own television development deal at Disney, which led to an opportunity for Carey to co-star in the series "The Good Life." Carey also had the opportunity to work with Bruce Helford, who was a consulting writer on the series and hired Carey as a staff writer for "The Gaby Hoffman Show." Their experience led the two of them to decide to co-create “The Drew Carey Show.”. Carey also starred in his own comedy special for Showtime, "Drew Carey: Human Cartoon" and performed in Showtime's "Tenth Anniversary of the Montreal Comedy Festival."(ACS PR)(8-25-2008)
- 2009 Cup Schedule Announced, 4 "off" weeks: NASCAR announced today its national series schedules for the 2009 season, which features realigned dates for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Truck Series. In the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series there will be a three-way date swap between Atlanta Motor Speedway, Auto Club Speedway (formerly California Speedway) and Talladega Superspeedway.
• Atlanta’s second 2009 race will be held on Sunday, Sept. 6, taking the Labor Day weekend slot now held by Auto Club Speedway.
• Auto Club Speedway’s second race will be Sunday, Oct. 11 – the fourth week of the “Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup,” a slot formerly held by Talladega.
• Talladega’s second event will move to Sunday, Nov. 1, making it the seventh Chase event – the slot formerly held by Atlanta.
“The 2009 schedule reflects realigned dates that are good opportunities for everyone involved in our sport – fans, sponsors, tracks and teams," said NASCAR President Mike Helton. The season begins with a tripleheader weekend at Daytona International Speedway capped by the running of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, Feb. 15. In addition to that season-opening event for the Sprint Cup Series, the Truck Series starts its season on Friday night, Feb. 13, followed the next afternoon by the Nationwide Series opener. For all three series, the season will conclude with another tripleheader weekend, at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 20-22.
Other key NASCAR Sprint Cup dates in 2009:
• The 31st annual Budweiser Shootout at Daytona – a non-points event – will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7.
• On the evening of Saturday, Sept. 12, Richmond International Raceway will again host the “Chase cut-off” race, affording the last opportunity for drivers to qualify for NASCAR’s championship playoffs.
• New Hampshire Motor Speedway will host the first races in both the “Race to the Chase” (Sunday, June 28) and the Chase (Sunday, Sept. 20).
There also will be an additional off-week for NASCAR’s premier series in 2009, prior to the Labor Day weekend event, giving teams a final break before a 12-week stretch that will end the season. Because of the way the calendar falls, NASCAR Sprint Cup teams will have a total of four off-weeks during the 2009 season.
The NASCAR Nationwide Series will have a 35-race schedule. Changes from this year include a new event at Iowa Speedway on Aug. 1, replacing Mexico City; a switch of the Atlanta Motor Speedway event from March to September; and moving the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve event in Montreal to Sunday, Aug. 30.
The NASCAR Truck Series in 2009 again will have 25 races, with one realigned date: The series’ late-season race at Atlanta will be replaced by a night event at Chicagoland Speedway on Friday, Aug. 28.(NASCAR PR)(8-19-2008)
- California race to move rumor returns: Speculation is mounting that NASCAR's Labor Day race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana could be moved to October, starting next year. The track has struggled to sell all of its 92,000 seats on Labor Day weekend partly because of the weekend's typically hot temperatures, and has petitioned NASCAR for another date. One proposal being weighed is a three-track swap, in which Fontana would receive Talladega Superspeedway's date in October, Atlanta Motor Speedway would get the Labor Day race and Talladega would receive Atlanta's fall date in October. That would put the California race in the middle of the 10-race Chase for the Cup that decides NASCAR's premier championship. But NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said the sanctioning body is still meeting with officials for all tracks and that next year's schedule "is still being determined." NASCAR hopes to announce the schedule by September, he added. Auto Club Speedway President Gillian Zucker said "nothing has been decided yet" and that the three-track swap idea "is one of several scenarios that I have heard are being discussed." She also said "it's possible that [Labor Day] date will remain the same" next year but is hopeful of moving the race. "Everyone is in agreement that a later date for the second [Fontana] race is in the best interests of the sport," Zucker said. Her track also stages a Cup race in late February.(Los Angeles Times)(5-25-2008) Comment here
- Auto Club Speedway Hosting Garage Sale: Race fans will have the opportunity to purchase California Speedway-logo bearing merchandise at incredible discounts as well as authentic historical items from the track during the upcoming AMA Suzuki Superbike Championship weekend, the Auto Club Speedway announced. A tremendous variety of items featuring the California Speedway logo as well as past event-related apparel will be made available at discounted rates of up to 70% off the original retail price. Some additional one-of-a-kind items include light pole banners featuring the likenesses of drivers including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart, backdrops that were utilized in Gatorade Victory Lane celebrations and over-sized signage from the track's timing and scoring center. Lucky fans will have the opportunity to purchase some truly authentic pieces celebrating Southern California's racing heritage. This year's garage sale will take place from Thursday, April 24 through Sunday, April 27 in the Goodyear garage off of terrace suite road. The garage sale will be open from 12:00 pm-8:00 pm on Thursday and is open to the general public on that day only. Hours of operations from Friday through Sunday will be 8:00 am-5:00 pm and bargain hunters must purchase a ticket to the AMA weekend to gain access to the sale on those days.(California Speedway PR)(4-21-2008)
- Special tix deal for Auto Club Speedway: Two great events for one incredible price only at Auto Club Speedway [fornmer California Speedway]. This amazing package includes:
- 2-day ticket to the AMA Suzuki Superbike Challenge, April 26-27
- Pit pass for the AMA Suzuki Superbike Challenge
- Lower reserved seat to the Pepsi 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race, August 31
- Pit pass for the Pepsi 500
For a limited time only. Offer expires April 23rd. For tickets or more information, call 800-944-RACE.(3-26-2008)
- Deal to swap [California/Atlanta] race dates near, Smith suggests: Bruton Smith worked the room in the media center Friday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, confirming he has proposed swapping his Atlanta track’s October date for the Labor Day weekend slot at Auto Club Speedway in California. “It is the thing to do,” said Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc. “I hope that we will have an answer on that in the very near future.”(Charlotte Observer)(3-1-2008)
- California considering reconfiguring to a restrictor-plate track UPDATE denied: The Fontana [Auto Club (formerly California) Speedway] facility needs to do something to change its image. Rebuilding the racing surface to make it a new version of Talladega or Daytona would brings loads of attention and far better action on the track. Of course, there are some issues, like money. We're talking millions of dollars to reconfigure the racetrack. Texas Motor Speedway rebuilt its 1.5-mile oval in 1998 at a cost of $3 million. The cost of this project would double that amount, at least. The price tag to do it might be as high as $10 million. Not cheap, but goodness knows ISC can afford it. And Fontana officials may need to rebuild the turns anyway because of the water seepage issues that caused problems last weekend. But plate racing is NASCAR's version of torture for many drivers. They hate racing in large packs inches apart with little throttle response from the choked-down engines. However, it is exciting to watch, which is why many fans can't wait to see every plate event. Tell the people in Southern California they have the modern version of Talladega and you have something to sell. Auto Club Speedway, which hasn't managed to sell out its two Cup races, needs a dramatic change. There's nothing more dramatic in NASCAR than restrictor-plate racing.(see full story and quotes by Michael Waltrip at ESPN.com)
AND Auto Club Speedway President Gillian Zucker said Monday that engineers will arrive this week to determine what can be done to correct drainage problems on the 2-mile track. Water seeping up through seams in the asphalt played havoc with track drying efforts during the Auto Club 500 race weekend, delaying the completion of the Sprint Cup Series race by one day. The seepage, referred to as “weepers,” was also blamed for two accidents during the early laps of the Cup event. “A leaky race track is unacceptable,” Zucker said. “We will have engineers here [Tuesday], and we will fix it.”(SceneDaily.com, plus a report refuting the restrictor plate news at FoxSports)
MORE: Auto Club Speedway president Gillian Zucker said engineers are on their way to the Fontana track to take a look at what was behind the "weeper" problem that plagued the Auto Club 500 this past weekend. Weepers are caused when ground water starts to leak through cracks in the pavement. They were blamed for causing two crashes in the opening laps of the rain delayed race, involving Dale Earnhardt Jr., Casey Mears and Deny Hamlin. She said it's not known at this time if construction will be necessary or if future events will have to be postponed or rescheduled.(Orange Country Register)(2-27-2008)
UPDATE: Gillian Zucker, president of Auto Club Speedway, believes reconfiguring the 2-mile Fontana, Calif., oval into a restrictor-plate track is an idea worth considering seriously. "I love it," Zucker said Tuesday. "It's a game-changer. Michael Waltrip told me his idea about it Saturday night. It was funny at first, but I thought, 'Sure. Why not?' "
Zucker said they are going to rebuild part of the racing surface to repair the water seepage problems, commonly known as weepers, that arose last weekend. Heavy rain caused water to push up through the seams in the turns. "If we are going to tear it up anyway to fix the drainage, let's make it a lot more interesting," Zucker said. "It could be a very dramatic thing for us." Zucker said she hasn't spoken to anyone at NASCAR or International Speedway Corp., the track's parent company, about the idea yet. Zucker said she wants to know what fans think before she makes a decision.(ESPN.com)
UPDATE 2: A senior spokesman for track operator International Speedway Corp. said Wednesday that there are no plans to turn Auto Club Speedway into a restrictor-plate configuration or otherwise modify the layout of the 2.0-mile facility that hosts two NASCAR race weekends annually. ISC owns the track and ultimately would be the entity approving and paying for any track changes. But none are forthcoming, an ISC official confirmed. But Wes Harris, ISC’s senior director, corporate and investor communications, said Wednesday there are no plans for such an extreme and costly makeover. In fact, Harris said, it isn’t even in the discussion phase, nor is it likely to be.(SPEEDTV.com)(2-28-2008) Comment here
- Lots of Jet Fuel used at Calif: During the weekend, the jet dryers that circled Auto Club Speedway for more than 10 hours during several rain delays consumed more than 6,500 gallons of fuel. They burned 3,000 gallons on Sunday night as they tried in vain to dry the track. There were reports that the track ran out of fuel and had to have some trucked in from nearby Ontario International Airport on Sunday night. What could an airline do with that much fuel? According to Virgin Atlantic Airlines statistics, a Boeing 737-800 can fly 3,383 miles on 6,875 gallons of fuel. Jet dryers from Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway and Sonoma's Infineon Raceway were used during the weekend.(Orange County Register)(2-26-2008)
- Calif and Atlanta to switch dates? UPDATE: Rowdy.com reports: "According to our good buddy David Poole, we might find ourselves watching the Labor Day race in Atlanta. There is talk of California and Atlanta switching dates with Cali getting the October Chase race and Atlanta getting Labor Day."(Rowdy.com)(2-22-2008)
UPDATE: Atlanta Motor Speedway president and general manager Ed Clark said Friday that the track has had no discussions with Auto Club Speedway of Southern California about swapping each track's respective fall race date. "I don't know where that's coming from," Clark said. "We'd certainly have to take a look at it and have to talk with our fans and employees and get their views on it. We'd have to at least look at it. If it would be a win-win deal for both sides, it would make sense."(Macon Telegraph)(2-23-2008) Comment here.
- California Speedway to change name UPDATE: In a landmark development within the motorsports industry, California Speedway will announce a deal with the Automobile Club of Southern California for the naming rights to the 11-year-old track. The agreement is for 10 years, but no financial terms have been released. According to industry sources, the deal is estimated to be worth between $50 to $75 million. "This will redefine track licensing," said Speedway president Gillian Zucker, who will preside over today's press conference along with Tom McKernan, president and CEO of the Auto Club. "It's a powerful platform, very unique. This will be more than a signage and media deal." Under the terms of the agreement, the official name of the track that first opened in 1997 will be the Auto Club Speedway of Southern California. The Auto Club already had a presence at the Fontana facility. Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race is the Auto Club 500 and the Speedway's drag strip was christened the Auto Club Dragway in 2007.(Inland Valley Daily Bulletin)(2-21-2008)
UPDATE: International Speedway Corporation and the Automobile Club of Southern California—the nation’s largest member of the AAA federation—today unveiled details of a new partnership. At a trackside press conference, Speedway President Gillian Zucker and Auto Club CEO Tom McKernan announced the re-naming of the state’s premier motorsports facility as the Auto Club Speedway of Southern California. The new partnership will place a premium on enhancing the fan experience at the Auto Club Speedway, with special initiatives aimed at Auto Club members, and a series of capital improvements that will make the racetrack more comfortable, accessible and enjoyable. Detailed plans are still being developed, but as soon as this year, fans can expect to see new escalators, increased shade, new misting zones, and new interactive fan-friendly elements incorporating new technologies. The Auto Club and its affiliated insurance company will use the Speedway facilities to expand development of automotive technology and driver safety initiatives. Activities will include testing at the Speedway to evaluate new automobile equipment and performance characteristics, and the opening of new Auto Club Teen and Mature Driver Schools at the track. The Auto Club Dragway, located on the north side of the Speedway facility, will continue as a site for the National Hot Rod Association street legal drag racing program, offering Southern Californians a safe alternative to illegal street racing.(California Speedway)(2-23-2008) Comment here
- Pepsi to sponsor Aug race at Calif: California Speedway has announced a multi-year agreement with Pepsi to serve as the title sponsor for the Speedway’s fall Sprint Cup Series Race. The race which traditionally takes place at the end of the Labor Day weekend and this year will run on August 31, 2008 will now be known as the Pepsi 500. In addition to its role as the title sponsor of the race, Pepsi will continue to serve as the “official soft drink and non-alcoholic beverage provider” of the Speedway, a designation the brand has held since 1997. The Pepsi 500 Weekend, featuring the Camping World 300 Presented by RVs.com (Nationwide Series race) and the Pepsi 500 (Sprint Cup Series race) will take place at California Speedway over the weekend of August 29-31, 2008.(California Speedway site)(2-20-2008)
