NASCAR’s Commissioner Says Abandoned Track’s Reconfiguration Will Cost $300 Million
What’s Happening? During an episode of NASCAR’s Hauler Talk podcast this week, NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps was asked about the abandoned…
NASCAR Driver Ryan Vargas has shared some more photos of a now dilapidated and mostly destroyed Auto Club Speedway, leaving NASCAR fans asking if the series will ever return to the track.
In 66 days, it will be three years to the day since NASCAR stock cars last raced at California’s Auto Club Speedway.
Prior to this race, a majority of the venue’s property, located in Southern California, was sold by NASCAR for over $500 million, with the sport, as of 2020, planning to reinvest in the small portion of land that remained to build a proposed half-mile short track.
Now, all that remains of the once massive two-mile oval is its grandstands, a small strip of front stretch, and the infield surrounded by warehouses and industrial roads.
Since its closure, warehouses grew around the track just as fast as the asphalt was torn up, with NASCAR fans, media members, and even drivers from the area sharing occasional updates on the growing number of close-range buildings and new roads encasing the remains of the track.
This past weekend, NASCAR Driver Ryan Vargas ventured to the site, showing fans the desolate condition of what remains.
While there are no signs of progress towards construction of the proposed short track, many fans were quick to point out just how close one of the new warehouses is to what would be turn one of the track, as seen in Vargas’ pictures and the view from Apple Maps below.
This tight space, along with little to no updates from NASCAR on the venue’s future, has left some fans hopeless about a future for the track. With user @LAW9960, replying to Vargas, saying, “I have no hope that they’ll ever build. Way too expensive to build in California.”
Despite NASCAR’s continued interest in the Southern California market, including the addition of the new San Diego Street race this coming season, the sport has yet to make any dedicated moves towards rebuilding Auto Club into a half-mile short track.
But that doesn’t mean the sport has gone completely radio silent on the matter.
In April, NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps, who was NASCAR President during the initial plans for the conversion nd the tracks’ sale, told NASCAR’s Hauler Talk podcast that it would cost $300 million to build that venue, with Phelps then saying, “Is that the best use of that money? That is the big question.”
Interestingly enough, Phelps seemed to suggest that he supports this investment in the venue during day seven of the recent antitrust trial between NASCAR and the teams’ 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports.
Two days before the two parties settled this suit, Phelps claimed on the witness stand that he hoped the sport would go through with its original plan.
But, unfortunately, unital NASCAR has a concrete update on Auto Club, fans will have to rely on their fellow fans, drivers, and media members for updates on the ever-growing industrial epicenter surrounding the once sprawling race track.
What’s Happening? During an episode of NASCAR’s Hauler Talk podcast this week, NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps was asked about the abandoned…
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