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When Bob Pockrass dropped his report on the 2024 NASCAR schedule, one of the major storylines that he mentioned was the replacement for Auto Club Speedway. NASCAR still has not determined what will replace the track on the 2024 calendar, but plenty of candidates are out there. Which tracks could be in line to replace Auto Club Speedway’s date on the 2024 NASCAR schedule?
This would be a popular choice amongst fans for multiple reasons. First, it keeps a traditional California race date in California. Secondly, it gives NASCAR fans the opportunity to go to Sonoma when it is green in the late winter/early spring, rather than brown and dusty in the early summer.
However, Sonoma moving up in the schedule would leave a hole in that June slot where Sonoma is currently run. Another track would have to come in and take that date, but the good news is that date is usable for most tracks on the circuit. With the exception of Las Vegas, Phoenix, and the Chicago Street race, any track could hope on that date easily, and it would even be prime real estate for a new race track.
If NASCAR wants to keep Sonoma in its’ traditional date, then Laguna Seca is another California road course they can go to. NASCAR has never been to Laguna Seca, but it has traditionally hosted many of the top American racing series including sports cars and IndyCar. Why not let NASCAR at least try to race there?
The big issue here will be the racing product. The road course racing with the Next-Gen car has been hit-or-miss with some races being received very well by fans, and others not being received as well. Would adding ANOTHER road course race excite fans that much?
This may not be popular with fans, but it is at least an option that NASCAR can and will consider. NASCAR could keep the race in-state with Sonoma, but that is around a five-hour trip from Los Angeles, the metro area that Auto Club Speedway served. If NASCAR wants to keep that race date in the Los Angeles area, then the LA Coliseum is an option.
The race would still take place in late February, which would not be a major shift from how the current event at the LA Coliseum works. However, this race being a points race would not be popular amongst fans. Being a 0.25-mile track, it could not fit a full field, and it would not operate how a typical NASCAR race operates. That would be tough to swallow for many NASCAR fans.
North Wilkesboro Speedway reopening has made some rethink how NASCAR should approach short tracks. Is it worth it to bring some smaller venues into the Cup Series? Irwindale Speedway certainly fits that description, and it is in the Los Angeles Metro Area as well.
NASCAR would have to make some renovations to make this work, similar to how North Wilkesboro worked. However, Irwindale is already a track that hosts racing, and that means the renovations needed are far less than North Wilkesboro did.
In the hometown of Kevin Harvick, Bakersfield, sits Kern County Raceway Park. Given the history of Harvick in the area, this may be a track that could get a turnout. It would also need the same kinds of renovations that Irwindale would need.
The problem with the track is location. It is further inland, and it is almost two hours from Los Angeles. As a result, it is not too near to the Southern California market that Auto Club Speedway currently serves.
NASCAR’s options to replace Auto Club Speedway seem to be very limited. NASCAR may need to get very creative with how they go about replacing it because this is a market that they obviously want to be in.
