California Dreamin’ NASCAR Style

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Filed under: NASCAR Tracks 

California Dreamin’ NASCAR Style

A preview of the Auto Club 500 at Fontana.

Auto Club 500 logo

NASCAR’s California roots go pretty deep. The 1951 equivalent of NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series was known as Grand National, and they ran 5 races in the Golden State that year.

NASCAR founder Bill France wanted to spread NASCAR from its southern roots to the West Coast. In his words, “From sea to shining sea.”

From 1970 to 1981 NASCAR’s first race of the year was not in Daytona Beach. It was on the road course at Riverside, California.

The 2 drivers with the most momentum from the Daytona 500 are winless at the 2 mile California track. But both Jamie McMurray and Dale Earnhardt Jr are optimistic heading into California.

“It’s much easier to go there after you run good somewhere else,” Dale Earnhardt Jr said. “You know, I look forward to seeing how we are as a team.”

But if history is any indication Jimmie Johnson should have the advantage. Johnson has an average finishing position of 2.8 over the last 3 years at Fontana, with 3 wins.

Auto Club 500Race Facts

The Race: Auto Club 500

The Place:

Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, Calif.

(2-mile oval)

The Date: Sunday, Feb. 21

The Time: 3 p.m. (ET)

Race Distance: 500 miles/250 laps

TV: FOX, 2 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN and Sirius NASCAR Radio

Channel 128. (Local: KFRG-FM,

KVFG-FM, KXFG-FM.)

2009 Polesitter: Brian Vickers

2009 Winner: Matt Kenseth

Pre-race day schedule (all times

local): Friday—Practice, 12-1:30 p.m.

Qualifying, 3:40 Saturday—Practice,

11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. and 12:45-1:50.

 

 

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Comments

2 Comments on California Dreamin’ NASCAR Style

  1. mamadew88 on

    2. Been to this track many times when I once lived in CA. Pit stops are very important here because of the banking. Every time I attened any of the races here the weather was so unkind. Either it rains because of the “spring” showers or extremely hot because of the High Desert location in the Fall. Maybe if the schedule was reversed somehow the races would be more exciting.
    Jimmy Johnson does well because he lives there and knows the track better that most drivers.

    [Reply]

  2. nascarbaby on

    3. This is the sister track to Michigan International Speedway.( M.I.S.)
    I been going for 5 years to M.I.S. Only once they could not race for 3 days I was there ,first time in 60 years that HAPPEN…..I had to watch it on T.V. with my ticket in my hand. Waaaa!!!!!
    We could not stay that long to see it…But, M.I.S. gave us a $20.00 gas card for next year race with are ticket order.
    The weather her is really nice & hot, both in June & August. I like the track it is crowd freindly. A must to do,at least once. Hope to see you there.

    [Reply]

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