What’s Happening?
What some would call a bad omen, a black cat ran out in the middle of the final Cup race at Fontana Sunday. Initially, broadcasts said someone hit a bird, but fans dug deep and pieced together that it was in fact a cat that got on the track at a dangerous time.
What You Need to Know:
- A black cat ran out on the track in front of the field at Sunday’s Pala Casino 400.
- After the disappearance, fans got creative to find the fate of what some are calling “NASCAT”
- NASCAR, at the end of the day, is entertainment and fans are taking the chance to entertain themselves with the ill-fated kitty.
In the Stands
In typical Reddit fashion, fans used the platform to investigate the mysterious appearance – and disappearance of the feline.

While there’s no clear decision on who caused cat’s ultimate fate, fans postulate that the harbinger of misfortune could point to the No. 12 Ford Mustang that has not had the best of luck lately.

Radio listeners were able to give more insight into the investigation.


One fans says didn’t happen at all

Unfortunately, this is no Mandela Effect. Twitter found where the track crew cleaned up the body under caution.
Guys the cat on the nascar track was real. And yes it was hit and killed. And no it was not hit by Blaney, the red on his nose is from his impact with the Auto Club wording on the wall. RIP little fur ball. #NASCAR #Fontana #AutoClub pic.twitter.com/59JiRAIvr4
— LGL (@lets_go_logano) February 27, 2023
Despite LGL’s thought that the red on Blaney’s nose was the wall, others still question.
Might've found who hit the black cat that was on the track during the Cup race 😳😳😳
— Ryan Ostrander 8 🏁 (@RyanOstrander_8) February 27, 2023
Zoom in on the 1st picture & you can see the cat right front of the 12 on the last lap of stage 1 in turn 4 #NASCAR #PalaCasino400 #NASCAR75 pic.twitter.com/IuG11nrk1m
It’s worth noting that the cat was cleaned up after the end of stage 1 so more than 2/3rds of the race elapsed before the picture of the 12 was taken.
Superspeedway racing or not, sometimes racing requires an element of “luck”. As the season continues, fans will be watching for NASCAT’s paw in their favorite driver’s of luck.
Garage Guys now has a NASCAT tribute shirt. Get yours today in The Daily Downforce Store.
#RIPNASCAT
— Chase Holden (@GarageGuyChase) February 28, 2023
Buy: https://t.co/C1zTv2F8gL pic.twitter.com/CxxDCM7fOT