Thursday March 28th, 2024 5:20AM

After a 26 year run, NASCAR says goodbye to Fontana

By Greg Beacham - AP Sports Writer

FONTANA, Calif. (AP) — The traditional five-wide salute before Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California carried added poignancy because of the finality of this race.

NASCAR is shutting down the track built by Roger Penske with vague plans to build a new track in its place, along with selling off much of the surrounding property.

The decision brings an end to an entertaining era for stock car racing in Southern California's rich car culture. The big track east of Los Angeles is a favorite of nearly every racer in multiple disciplines, with its coarse grip and wide-open spaces creating impressive racing for a quarter-century.

NASCAR currently has nowhere to race in the area in 2024, and the new track might not even be ready by 2025 — if it happens at all.

Kyle Busch ended the NASCAR Cup series era on the 2-mile raceway with a win on Sunday afternoon, while John Hunter Nemechek closed out the overall racing history on the layout with a win in the rain delayed NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Sunday night.

Dry Sunday

A week of unusual rainstorms and occasional snow finally abated Saturday night, and NASCAR dried the asphalt impressively before the race. Although sand and debris bothered some drivers, the track even managed to avoid any major problems from collected rainwater weeping out of cracks in the track.

Big Crash

The race featured a major wreck out of a restart shortly before the midway point involving 10 cars, the most in any collision in a Cup race at Fontana. Four drivers — including pole-sitter Christopher Bell — couldn't continue after the wreck that sent several cars skidding into across infield.

For Starters

Defending champion Kyle Larson was out of contention after developing engine trouble on the opening laps. Shortly after Brad Keselowski spun from contact with Corey LaJoie, Busch was sent to the back.

Up Next

NASCAR’s three national tours now head for the 1.5 mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway for three days of action this weekend.

  • Associated Categories: Sports, NASCAR News, NASCAR Cup
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