A warehouse complex is systematically removing NASCAR's Auto Club Speedway, section by section.

      TheIceberg via YouTube

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      We have an update regarding the ongoing situation at the now-closed Auto Club Speedway located near Fontana, California. Although there has been no visible advancement regarding its potential transformation into a new motorsports venue, activities on the property have continued during this time. The positive aspect is that demolition seems to have come to a halt since our last report; however, the negative side is that the damage has already been incurred.

      While the dismantling might have ceased, there is still significant activity on the site. Turns 1 and 2, along with their adjacent parking lots, have been replaced by two large warehouses—one of which is positioned just feet away from the remnants of the speedway’s front stretch, creating a striking contrast with the untouched paddock garages and grandstands that remain intact.

      This was an intentional choice—or at least it was initially. After the closure of Auto Club Speedway, NASCAR had ambitious plans to rejuvenate the track for short-track racing, which would decrease maintenance costs and limit the venue's dependency on major races to generate revenue. These plans have since stagnated, as NASCAR indicates it must focus on other locations requiring more urgent attention. NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps has stated he still aims to construct a short track on the property because, as he mentioned, there is simply not enough room for anything larger.

      Current plans for the Auto Club Speedway site show that Building 1 and Building 2 now occupy the space where Turns 1 and 2 once stood. CBRE

      For now, the site has, in some respects, reverted to a prior state. California Speedway itself was constructed on a former industrial site—the previous location of Kaiser Steel, which continues to exist in a roundabout manner as California Steel Industries. CSI still operates on the premises, with its offices located in the southeast corner of the property, visible to the right of the two warehouses in the post below.

      What will become of Auto Club Speedway? At this stage, it remains uncertain. Motorsports enthusiasts in LA would certainly appreciate having another nearby venue (especially considering the potential for increased prices at Willow Springs, which was also recently sold), but given the limited space and the uncertain status of the project, we recommend they do not hold their breath.

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