Dale Earnhardt Jr., a titan in the world of NASCAR and the short-track circuit, has a love for Fontana that dates back to 2015. With a record of five top-fives at the 2-mile superspeedway, the 26-time Cup Series race winner has plenty of fond memories. However, he’s not particularly hopeful about the track’s potential reopening as a short track, despite it fitting his modus operandi.
Before his reign on the NASCAR grid, Earnhardt Jr. was a force to be reckoned with in the realm of short-track racing. His career took off with late model racing at popular venues such as Myrtle Beach Speedway. Yet, somewhat surprisingly, this short-track kingpin doesn’t support his favorite race format at Fontana. Let’s delve into the why’s and how’s of the matter, starting with the inherent historical significance of this race track.
Auto Club Speedway, the stage for NASCAR’s Cup Series since 1997, was erected on the former site of the old Kaiser steel mill in Fontana. Except for the 2021 season, hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, at least one race has been held annually since its inauguration. However, after Kyle Busch’s victory in the 2023 Cup Series race, this Southern California Speedway was demolished.
NASCAR aimed to rebuild and remodel the 2-mile track into a half-mile short track. However, the project required collaboration with state and local lawmakers, a synergy that proved elusive. NASCAR West Region President Dave Allen, however, recently hinted at potential developments.
“We’re going to do something,” Allen stated cautiously. “I just don’t know what and when yet.” He admitted that strategic decisions about the future of the track are on hold until certain issues within the sport are resolved.
Interestingly, Earnhardt Jr. has some experience in this domain. He was instrumental in reviving North Wilkesboro Speedway, a 0.625-mile short track in North Carolina. But when it comes to breathing new life into Auto Club Speedway, even he finds reasons to be skeptical.
During a recent episode of Dale Jr Download, Earnhardt Jr. praised Fontana as an ideal spot for a short track. However, his business acumen allowed him to spot potential pitfalls in the proposal. From navigating the maze of permits and building codes to the financial burden of the project, the obstacles seem formidable.
“Even if NASCAR wants to do it, they can’t get it done,” he said. He pointed out the prohibitive costs and bureaucratic hurdles associated with building in California, especially for a sporting event or speedway. Earnhardt Jr. voiced his doubts about the financial viability of the project, calling it “probably going to be a bigger pain in the a–.”
NASCAR seems to concur with Earnhardt Jr.’s reservations, acknowledging the need for business sense in their decisions. The landscape has changed drastically since the earlier days when Southern California hosted regular events at over a dozen race tracks. Today, only a few remain, with Irwindale Speedway being the latest casualty.
Following the final Fontana race in 2023, NASCAR sold a significant portion of the land to Ross Perot Jr.’s Dallas-based Hillwood Development Company and CBRE Investment Management for an estimated $569 million. The site, once a hub for NASCAR races, will soon house a substantial logistics facility and industrial park.
The future of the Fontana track remains uncertain, as NASCAR continues to weigh its options in light of financial considerations. Will Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s skepticism prove to be well-founded? Only time will tell.
