Auto Club Speedway Pre- Race 2023
- Thread starter StandOnIt
- Start date
Jorge De Guzman
2017, 2021 Pick Em Champion 2018 Bold Predictor
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2017
- Messages
- 14,830
- Points
- 883
Could be the last one here. I've always enjoyed the racing at Fontana, even when it was in style to hate the 1.5's. I thought this place raced a bit like Michigan but I dont think the corners are banked as high. I liked how cars could use multiple grooves while also some strategy played out during the race.
wi_racefan
Team Owner
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2017
- Messages
- 4,606
- Points
- 573
It's funny that some people consider 50s to be cold. Man I'd love to see some consistent 50s
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
Revman
In Adam I Trust
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2014
- Messages
- 12,701
- Points
- 883
I hear ya.....alll relative. NASCAR doesn't go there to see 50's....and wet. It will be okay though.....once they drop the rag, who gives a ****?
StandOnIt
Farm Truck
I don't think the place is being razed because of the racing product itself. I like the racing there too. It's a wide track and multi grooved and those tracks, whatever size they are, have the potential for good racing.
Jorge De Guzman
2017, 2021 Pick Em Champion 2018 Bold Predictor
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2017
- Messages
- 14,830
- Points
- 883
oh I agree too, I think economic factors are at play here. I was just giving a little bit of the reasons why I had liked the racing at Fontana. Plus that backdrop and those mountains.....cool place to catch a race at it seemed.
StandOnIt
Farm Truck
I don't appreciate Nascar thinking it isn't fandom's business to tell us the reasons why they are shrinking the size of the track besides "the fans want more short tracks" I sure the hell don't want more of them. If they had a better reason than what they are saying I could understand. Short tracks are single file follow the leader mostly. But whatever, a lot of fans like them.
Revman
In Adam I Trust
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2014
- Messages
- 12,701
- Points
- 883
We know NASCAR's reason...don't we? $$$$.....Penske built that place by cleaning it up--which cost a ton....and then selling. The land is now worth more than the Cup date because it is usable. The proposed short track was either a smokescreen or a desperate attempt to hold onto something....At the end of the day, you want to draw 40-50K in SoCal? You can do that with a temporary thing like the Clash or a street course. It would be hard for me to imagine that Auto Club is going to be leveled, but I don't like the writing on the wall right now.
wi_racefan
Team Owner
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2017
- Messages
- 4,606
- Points
- 573
Like mentioned above there becomes a point that the land becomes worth more than you can make with it as a race track. At the end of the day everything is a business.
Brentford
Team Owner
Okay, I'll take him in the pick'em game. Thanks!
jaqua19
Team Owner
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2015
- Messages
- 9,309
- Points
- 883
FFS.
It's been one race and already weather issues?
I love this place.
Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
Mispeedway15
Team Owner
- Joined
- May 22, 2016
- Messages
- 4,220
- Points
- 443
Short tracks are awesome, but as Jr alluded to, we need to make these cars race better on them. Last year was a severe disappointment, short track races were just terrible as this new car just brakes too well. Between that and aerodynamics at play, literally no one could pass. While passing has always been tough at short tracks, with a little physicality, great timing and speed you could make it happen
Efisher131
750 truther
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2016
- Messages
- 4,088
- Points
- 593
Don’t forget them having to shift at Martinsville and Richmond. That kills the racing too
StandOnIt
Farm Truck
The car was working fine and Bristol has been reconfigured multiple times, going with one race dirt now. Martinsville hasn't for years sold out and the TV ratings aren't a standout, Richmond, Darlington etc. People are still complaining about the Clash. People like Jr I look at sideways about what they are trying to accomplish. Having a clone of east coast late model short track racing is not only going to be redundant, but most of those tracks draw small dedicated crowds. SRX is a good example and also competition doing more east coast and rust belt. It's saturated.
Revman
In Adam I Trust
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2014
- Messages
- 12,701
- Points
- 883
I know....no worries....bundle up, and drop the rag!
StandOnIt
Farm Truck
No outliers
RacerrecaR
*Screams in DW*
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2015
- Messages
- 3,269
- Points
- 443
I would choose to wear shorts outside if it got up to 40 degrees
Blaze
#ForTheA
Nah. I think Larson
rd45usa
Contrarian
No. Set the pipe down.
FLRacingFan
Sorts by “New posts”
Ticket sales look pretty damn good online. This place has delivered for the past decade or so and hopefully it does again for one last time. The bumps and sandblasted surface have been such a unique challenge.
wi_racefan
Team Owner
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2017
- Messages
- 4,606
- Points
- 573
I'd have to imagine ticket sales will be good with the uncertainty of the future of that place
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
Jorge De Guzman
2017, 2021 Pick Em Champion 2018 Bold Predictor
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2017
- Messages
- 14,830
- Points
- 883
Agreed, especially those in the region who supported the track, I feel deserve better. I’m empathetic to Fontana fans in this instance....it just all seems slimy. As a Chicagoland ticket holder who only missed 3 cup races in 18 years and lost my home track to factors beyond my control like “Covid and Illinois restrictions” (but never came back after a vaccine was made and those restrictions lifted), I would have appreciated an attempt at transparency that they are chasing the money of a street race and in this instance the value of the land. That’s fine I get it, it’s business. But to be wishy, washy in the “we don’t have a time table on the construction of the track yet, if it even comes to that”( after putting the conversion of a short track plan out into the open almost 3 years ago now) just gives me massive used car salesman vibes. Say what you mean.
As for your view on short tracks, hopefully this car will perform better on them this year so that you will get some enjoyment out of them. I don’t want to see too many short tracks on the schedule myself, maybe 1-2 more and we get it back the short track I always wanted so I’m content as can be with that.
Charlie Spencer
Road courses and short tracks.
That didn't help Rockingham, Kentucky, Chicago, etc.
Jorge De Guzman
2017, 2021 Pick Em Champion 2018 Bold Predictor
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2017
- Messages
- 14,830
- Points
- 883
Or Road America.
wi_racefan
Team Owner
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2017
- Messages
- 4,606
- Points
- 573
Road America packed that place out. They lost the race because of politics, not attendance, track closing or reconfiguration.
Chicago, Kentucky and Rockingham all lost races because poor attendance.
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
Jorge De Guzman
2017, 2021 Pick Em Champion 2018 Bold Predictor
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2017
- Messages
- 14,830
- Points
- 883
If you believe the potential loss of Fontana is due to a track reconfiguration I have some ocean front property in suburban Illinois to sell you. Chicago lost their 2020 date due to what I was told on the website from the track was Covid and Illinois restrictions to Covid and “Cup is working with Illinois to come back to the track in the future.” Nothing was said about attendance in terms of Chicagoland from track brass or nascar. I’ve gone into detail before about what I thought about attendance at the track and the multiple jumping Cup dates so there’s no need to rehash that. I don’t remember about why they left Kentucky, or even Rockingham as Cup left there 19 years ago.
My point was about Road America was they packed the track, I’m in agreement with you. They lost their date for reasons I don’t quite understand when people say “oh attendance is key you have to show up” , well no...here’s a recent of example of that not being true.
pjmolo
Director of driver attitude adjustments . . .
Like you, @Jorge De Guzman, I was at the last Chicagoland race in 2019 and as I recall, the stands were pretty damn well filled.
My grandson and I left early when that big-ass storm blew in but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that there would never be another Cup race there.
My grandson and I left early when that big-ass storm blew in but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that there would never be another Cup race there.
wi_racefan
Team Owner
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2017
- Messages
- 4,606
- Points
- 573
The problem with autoclub is it needs work (repave). So the decision needs to be made, spends more money or sell it and cash out. IMO Chicago lost its date because of the IL politics and once they left they realized there was better options out there.
Either way I hope it puts on a good race this weekend and comes back in one form or another for 2025
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
Either way I hope it puts on a good race this weekend and comes back in one form or another for 2025
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
Jorge De Guzman
2017, 2021 Pick Em Champion 2018 Bold Predictor
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2017
- Messages
- 14,830
- Points
- 883
I was there too, we took shelter at my in-laws house they live about 10 min from the track, because I thought no way were they getting the rest of this race in today. That storm was something, Ill never forget watching those clouds roll through. People like to roll with the narrative no one showed up to Chicagoland, I'm not sure thats correct but whatever the only time I saw that place truly empty on TV was after that storm.
AuzGrams
Team Owner
Rockingham did not have poor attendance in 2012 & 2013 for Trucks.
Attendance wasn’t *bad* at Kentucky or Chicagoland, but not sold out, I think attendance is still not a problem at most 1 race markets.
AuzGrams
Team Owner
I’d prefer a repaved 2 mile track in California.
Chicago politics are kinda lame, yet ironically AMA Supercross is running at Chicagoland & NHRA.
They should try a Cup race at the Milwaukee Mile. It’s in the city!
wi_racefan
Team Owner
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2017
- Messages
- 4,606
- Points
- 573
I'd go I can literally see the track from my office. The mile had a lot of financial problems and rumors where they stiffed nascar on sanctioning fees back in the day. I'm just happy to see the trucks back.
Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
jaqua19
Team Owner
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2015
- Messages
- 9,309
- Points
- 883
I know I may be biased, but I have a good feeling about this season.
Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
Revman
In Adam I Trust
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2014
- Messages
- 12,701
- Points
- 883
Me either....but we will race....that's all I care about.I don't want PNW weather.
Revman
In Adam I Trust
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2014
- Messages
- 12,701
- Points
- 883
I got the pipe from @StandOnIt. Christmas present.
Jorge De Guzman
2017, 2021 Pick Em Champion 2018 Bold Predictor
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2017
- Messages
- 14,830
- Points
- 883
Agreed.