California Speedway News and Rumors
California Speedway Races |
Winner |
| Race 2, 07 |
|
Matt Kenseth |
| Race 25, 06 |
Sony HD 500 |
Kasey Kahne |
| Race 2, 06 |
|
Matt Kenseth |
| Race 25, 05 |
|
Kyle Busch |
| Race 2, 05 |
|
Greg Biffle |
Race 10, 04 |
|
Jeff Gordon |
April 21, 2006:
NASCAR hires help for California track: Long-time NASCAR consultant, short-track owner and France family friend Ken Clapp will help California Speedway in its efforts to boost slumping ticket sales at the facility. In an exclusive interview with SPEEDTV.com Thursday at Phoenix International Raceway, Clapp, 67, said he has made a commitment to assist in the revitalization of the Southern California speedway. Clapp said he was asked by NASCAR Vice Chairman Bill France, Jr. last month at Las Vegas to take on the project. “I told him it will take five years,” said Clapp, who will serve as a consultant to track President Gillian Zucker. First up on Clapp’s list is a barnstorming tour with Zucker of the Southern California media, where he has deep roots and many friends. Clapp, who for many years was co-owner and operator of the fabled Stockton 99 Speedway, said some dramatic changes could be in the works at California Speedway. Among them are a possible date change for the spring race, to move it further away from the nearby Las Vegas race, and a track redesign similar to the one done at Homestead-Miami Speedway a couple of years back. The goals are to create better racing and draw more fans. (SpeedTV)
Mar. 3, 2006:
California Speedway atop sports television ratings last weekend: 2006 West Coast Premiere of NASCAR At California Speedway Wins The Rating Race March 2nd, 2006 The 2006 West Coast Premiere of NASCAR at California Speedway dominated the Nielsen Media Services television ratings for sports this weekend (February 24-26), with both the NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series races scoring top finishes. According to data received from NASCAR, Sunday’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Auto Club 500 on Fox was number seven nationally for total households in primetime, and number four among adults, with a rating of 7.4 and average viewership of 12.5 million. The race ranks as the fourth highest rated auto racing event (with the exception of Daytona 500 broadcasts) in broadcast history. It was the top-rated competitive sporting event for the week, finishing second only to the Winter Olympics closing ceremonies. Saturday’s NASCAR Busch Series Stater Bros. 300 was the No. 1 cable sporting event of the weekend, with a 2.1 rating and an average of two million households tuning in. The race finished ahead of cable broadcasts of both NBA and college basketball games (including the Celtics/Lakers game), and the PGA tour. (California Speedway PR)
Feb. 27, 2006:
California Speedway to make changes? The race was largely a parade in front of what appeared to be many empty seats, and track President Gillian Zucker said afterward that changes could be made to the speedway, including progressive banking, if it is necessary to improve the on-track product. "Today, with limited cautions, I imagine we may hear more about it and if we do, we'll take a look at the track surface. In Miami, it has completely changed the show." (L.A. Times)
Feb. 25, 2006:
California Speedway 2 Cup weekends economic impact near quarter billion, Fontana wants more: Hotel rooms are booked from Anaheim to the Coachella Valley. Crowds wait outside restaurants. Registers ring up souvenir sales. Cars stack up at gas stations. All because an estimated 250,000 race fans are traveling to Fontana for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series this weekend at California Speedway. When the races come to the Speedway in February and again in September, they bring not only traffic, but money -- lots of it. The economic impact of the track to the Inland Empire is $220 million a year with the two races, according to a 2003 report by Redlands-based economist John Husing. "We wipe out virtually every hotel room in the Inland Empire with that Speedway,'' he said. However, the lion's share of money from sales taxes and transient occupancy taxes does not go to Fontana, but to Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga instead because those cities have more hotels and sit-down restaurants, Husing said. Now Fontana wants a bigger piece of the pie and is hungry for developments that can feed off the success of the track. Suggestions include building more hotels, a restaurant row, and even an auto-oriented entertainment complex. "It is a major economic generator when one of those races goes on,'' Husing said. "The question is how do you lure people from the track into the restaurants and hotels and gas stations and into the city's boundaries.'' Even though the Speedway has been open since 1997, the window of opportunity for Fontana to recapture some tax dollars has not closed, Husing, city officials and planners agree. (Daily Bulletin)
Feb. 23, 2006:
Don't look for California Speedway sell-out: Don't be surprised if there are empty seats Sunday at California Speedway during the Auto Club 500, the first of two stops this year for the Nextel Cup Series in Fontana. This race probably won't sell out again no matter what the speedway's marketing team does if NASCAR officials continue to hold it the week after the season-opening Daytona 500, NASCAR officials dealt California Speedway a difficult hand when they moved this race from late April or early May to February, holding it only two weeks before a wildly successful event in Las Vegas. That means the Nextel Cup Series is racing twice in basically the same market in less than a month. Las Vegas is only 224 miles away from Fontana, a four-hour drive up Interstate 15 (or an even shorter airplane ride). Brian France, the CEO of NASCAR, said he is expecting a large turnout for Sunday's race in Fontana, but even he told the media at the Daytona 500 he wasn't anticipating a sellout. California Speedway's second Cup date seems to be safe for the time being, however. NASCAR officials want to ride the wave of excitement created by the Daytona 500 into their biggest market. There probably will be about 80,000 screaming NASCAR fans in the grandstands. (Orange County Register)
Feb. 21, 2006:
Jewel leads California's pre-race show: As drivers get ready to start their engines for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Auto Club 500 at California Speedway on Sunday, February 26, multi-talented Grammy nominated artist Jewel will get the NASCAR fans warmed up for the big race as she headlines the nationally televised Pre-Race show on FOX at 12:30 p.m. PST. This will be the first ever-televised pre-race show in California Speedway history. The Auto Club 500 will kick-off the 2006 NASCAR on FOX coverage as this year’s West Coast Premiere of NASCAR and the second race of the season for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series — one week following the Daytona 500. Widely celebrated as an internationally known vocalist and songwriter, Jewel is among the most successful female performers on the music scene today. Her last five albums have sold more the 25 million copies worldwide. Jewel’s new album, “Goodbye Alice In Wonderland” arrives on May 02. Her new single, “Again And Again” has gotten overwhelming reaction at radio. For more information on the new album, single and video, visit www.jeweljk.com. Her musical and songwriting talents have received multiple awards – Jewel is a three-time Grammy Award nominee and the recipient of an American Music Award and a MTV Music Award. In 1999, Jewel was presented with the prestigious Governor’s Award from the Los Angeles chapter of The Recording Academy (NARAS) for her creative talents and accomplishments in the music community. (California Speedway PR)
California Speedway Day: Representatives from the City of Los Angeles will declare February 22, 2006 as "California Speedway Day in L.A." They will be joined at City Hall by the winner of the 2006 Daytona 500, Jimmie Johnson, who will be in town in preparation for the February 26, 2006, Auto Club 500 at California Speedway. Johnson will drive to the south steps of City Hall in a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race car for the ceremony proclaiming February 22, 2006 as "California Speedway Day in L.A." (California Speedway)
Sep. 28, 2005:
California Race Fans Raise over 200k for Hurricane Relief: In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the need to assist our fellow Americans, race fans in Southern California bonded together to help those affected by this natural disaster. According to figures released by the American Red Cross, race fans, California Speedway and speedway partners came together to raise and estimated $200,000 to the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina relief efforts during the course of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series SONY HD 500 on Labor Day weekend. Led by a call to action by fellow International Speedway Corporation (ISC) facility Talladega Superspeedway, California Speedway officials made plans to incorporate an American Red Cross drive for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts at the Labor Day race weekend. Booths were set up behind the grandstands at the speedway's main gates with the Inland Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross and San Bernardino County professional firefighters association members collecting monetary donations. FedEx IT also made it possible for credit card donations to be made at the gates, though these donations are not included in the final number. Saturday's NASCAR Busch Series sponsor, Ameriquest, also collected funds for the American Red Cross at their booths on the California Speedway midway. They pledged to match all monies collected at the booths. Additionally, Sony donated thousands of Ryan Newman SONY HDTV hats to be sold with 100-percent of the purchased price going to the American Red Cross. California Speedway also gave a cash donation that brought the entire weekend's total to $200,000. Many NASCAR drivers and teams pledged their support during the weekend, including Carl Edwards (winner of the Ameriquest 300), Kyle Busch (winner of the SONY HD 500) and their respective team owners who committed to donating their race winnings to the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. (California Speedway PR)
Sep. 8, 2005
Record NASCAR ratings in LA: The Los Angeles market rating for last Sunday's SONY HD 500 rose 47 percent compared to last year's Labor Day race weekend event at California Speedway, according to data released today by NBC. The NBC broadcast of the SONY HD 500 drew a 2.5 rating in Los Angeles, compared to last year's Labor Day race, which finished with a 1.7 rating, and early indications are that the national rating may also rise. Preliminary national ratings show a 5.2 rating and 10 share, up from last year's final 5.1 rating, for race 25 on the "Race to the Chase" for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. "I'm ecstatic to hear of the increased television numbers in Los Angeles. We had tremendous attendance at the speedway, just missing a sellout, but we also had strong viewership in our market, which speaks to the long-term growth of NASCAR in Los Angeles," speedway President Gillian Zucker said. "People in Los Angeles are excited about the sport. They get it. They follow it. Everyday, more and more people are hearing the NASCAR message in Los Angeles, and we are building more fans for the future. We will continue to be aggressive in our outreach throughout the Los Angeles market. "I've heard from so many fans already about how much they enjoyed the atmosphere at the speedway last weekend, from skydivers to concerts, more celebrities in attendance than ever before, improved food options and easy access into and out of the race. Positive experiences like this are infectious, and I'm sure the word will spread about the big-event atmosphere at California Speedway," Zucker continued. "We are committed to bring more new and innovative amenities in an effort to increase the fan experience even further at California Speedway." Earlier this year, California Speedway's Auto Club 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race drew a 4.0 rating in the Los Angeles market, which was a 33 percent increase over the 2004 Auto Club 500 rating of 3.0. National ratings topped out at 7.9, the highest ever for a non-Daytona 500 NASCAR event. (California Speedway PR)
Sep. 5, 2005
NASCAR and California fans raise 180K for Relief: As NASCAR roared into Southern California for the SONY HD 500 at California Speedway, race fans geared up to help the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Over the course of Labor Day weekend more than $180,000 was raised. Collections at the speedway’s main grandstands and infield camping areas totaled more than $70,000. Ameriquest's total collections at their booths were nearly $40,000 and they also committed an additional $70,000 in matching funds. The total collection amount does not include the following, all of which will be reconciled later this week. Starbucks, which donated the hourly rate of their volunteers who came to work Collections made at the Stater Bros. Infield Express Sony’s hat sale made on California Speedway’s midway (CupScene)
Sadler gets a surfboard: When Elliott Sadler was inducted into [California Speedway] this track’s “Walk of Fame,” an honor bestowed largely because of his victory in the Nextel Cup race run here a year ago, he also received “a Dennis Kemp original commemorative surfboard” as a gift from California Speedway. “We race our butts off 36 times a year,” said Sadler, but it’s times like this that make it all worthwhile.” (Gaston Gazette)
Sep. 3, 2005
Illegal parts at California: Parts confiscated this weekend by NASCAR inspectors were an unapproved rear gear ratio and side window from the No. 37 Dodge driven by Tony Raines; and unapproved side windows from the No. 22 Dodge of Scott Wimmer and No. 32 Chevrolet of Hamilton Jr.
Sep. 2, 2005
California Speedway to collect donations: California Speedway and San Bernardino County Fire are teaming up to raise money during the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event at the speedway this weekend to benefit the American Red Cross relief efforts for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. This "Race for Relief" effort will replace the "Fill the Boot" drive which was originally scheduled for this weekend to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. California Speedway and San Bernardino County Fire have agreed to move the "Fill the Boot" drive to the February NASCAR race weekend at California Speedway in 2006. Donations of cash or check can be made at the following Gate Entrances at California Speedway: Gates 10, 12, 14 and 16. Firefighters from throughout San Bernardino County, along with the Inland Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross volunteers, will be collecting at the gates. For additional information, please contact the Inland Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross at 909-986-6651. (California Speedway PR)
Aug 6, 2005
NFL & California Package Offer: Here's one great offer that NASCAR and NFL fans can't miss enjoy a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race and an NFL game for under $150. California Speedway and the San Diego Chargers have partnered up to bring a "Bolt to the Races" package to sports fans. The package is $145 per person and includes one lower level grandstand ticket to the September 4th SONY HD 500 and one view level ticket to the November 20th San Diego Chargers vs. Buffalo Bills game. Other great extras that are part of the "Bolt to the Races" deal include your choice of a bus ride to the race (from Qualcomm Stadium) or to the game (from California Speedway), a Sunday NASCAR Pre-Race Pit Pass, California Speedway hat, San Diego Chargers Yearbook and San Diego Chargers hat. "This is a unique offering for sports fans in Southern California, blending two great sporting opportunities into one package," said Roger Curtis, California Speedway vice president of sales and marketing. "We are pleased to be working with the Chargers on this new promotion and hope that NFL fans and NASCAR fans take advantage of this great opportunity." This special ticket offer is only available through the California Speedway Ticket Office. For more information, or to order your "Bolt to the Races" package, call 909.429.5000. You must mention the "Bolt to the Races" package name to get this deal. For more information about California Speedway and the SONY HD 500 event, visit www.californiaspeedway.com. For more information about the San Diego Chargers, visit www.chargers.com. (California Speedway PR)
Aug 2, 2005
Speedway a economic booming success: NASCAR only comes to Fontana two weekends a year, but for city and county officials alike, using the California Speedway as a marketing tool has become a year-round activity. The track is one of the region's core economic assets. Tens of thousands of fans turn out on NASCAR weekends, the largest Speedway events, spending their dollars at the track, on hotel rooms, rental cars, meals and paraphernalia. A leading local economist estimates a single race weekend injects roughly $84.7 million into the region's economy. Current efforts reflect not only attempts to take advantage of the twice-annual cash infusions but also to build long-term change on the back of the Speedway. Last week, county officials approved a redevelopment plan that puts the Speedway at the heart of a new economic and marketing package for the formerly named San Sevaine Redevelopment Project Area, in unincorporated Fontana. Officials within the city see an economic advantage in more closely allying themselves with the Speedway, too. But perhaps an even larger enticement is the role the Speedway and NASCAR might play in shifting people's perceptions of Fontana. (Daily Bulletin)
July 29, 2005
California Speedway races to finish at night: Overwhelming fan reaction to night racing at California Speedway has resulted in later start times for the speedway’s NASCAR Labor Day weekend events. It was announced today that California Speedway’s three September NASCAR events – NASCAR West Series 200, NASCAR Busch Series 300 and NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series SONY HD 500 – will have night racing finishes. Following the 2004 events, fans and competitors alike embraced the excitement of night racing. The new race times are a direct result of fans desire to see more night racing at California Speedway. “We’re thrilled to be able to deliver on our fans’ desire for later start times at California Speedway’s NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series races,” said Gillian Zucker, California Speedway president. “Guests will have the opportunity to experience daytime, dusk and racing under the lights all in one visit at California’s largest sporting event and teams will face the challenge of changing track temperatures as the sun sets, adding to the excitement of the competition.” Growing interest in the sport of NASCAR and increased television ratings nationwide over the first half of the 2005 season has resulted in additional demand for events to be televised in primetime. (California Speedway PR)
July 19, 2005
California announces Sept. Sponsorship: California Speedway announced Monday that a Letter of Intent has been entered into by Sony Electronics, Inc., to be the title sponsor of the Nextel Cup Series 500 mile event at the speedway on Sunday, September 4. The multi-year sponsorship agreement for the Labor Day weekend event -- the Sony HD 500 -- is currently being finalized. "We are proud to welcome Sony to our family of corporate sponsors at California Speedway," said speedway President Gillian Zucker. "We're delighted to bring Sony's breakthrough technology and entertainment enhancements to the fans at the track as we strive to make the Sony HD 500, Southern California's 'can't miss' Labor Day event." The Sony HD 500, which will be televised nationally in high definition on NBC, will start at 5:10 p.m. PT, allowing for a finish under the lights. This will be the eleventh Nextel Cup Series race at California Speedway's two-mile, D-shaped oval. Tickets for the SONY HD 500 Labor Day weekend are on sale now. For ticket and event information, call 1-800-944-RACE [7223] or log onto www.californiaspeedway.com. (California Speedway PR)
June 24, 2005
Zucker named California track president: California Speedway returned to the forefront of the motorsports industry on Thursday by announcing Gillian Zucker as its new track president, the first woman in the country to hold such a position at a major speedway. It will mark her second work assignment in San Bernardino County. Zucker, 36, served as assistant general manager for the High Desert Mavericks of the California League in 1993-94. Zucker will replace William Miller, who resigned from the position in March following the track's NASCAR Nextel Cup Auto Club 500. Zucker will assume her duties as the fourth president in nine years on July 5. (Daily Bulletin)
June 3 2005
Crash at California Speedway kills 2: Two San Diego County men died when the Porsche they were racing crashed and caught fire Thursday morning at California Speedway in Fontana, authorities said. Benjamin Miles Keaton, 39, and his passenger, Corey Nicholas Rudl, 34, both of La Jolla, died from injuries after Keaton lost control of a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT. The car left the track, careened onto a grassy area and struck a barrier. The engine compartment then caught fire, according to a San Bernardino County sheriff's report. On-site medical personnel, the same used for NASCAR and Indy Racing League events at the speedway, responded at 10:40 a.m. and quickly extinguished the fire, sheriff's officials said. Rudl, who worked in Internet marketing, was pronounced dead at the scene; Keaton was airlifted to Loma Linda University Hospital, where he died about an hour later, according to the San Bernardino County Coroner's Office. (LA Times)
March 24, 2005
Cali. Speedway President Announces Resignation: William G. Miller, President of California Speedway since Sept. 2000, announced his resignation from the speedway effective March 31, 2005. No permanent replacement for Miller has been named at this time. Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan Sperber will oversee operations of the speedway until a replacement is named. "There is never a perfect time to leave an organization, but I thought now would be best for me and my family," Miller said. "It also gives the team here time to work toward its two upcoming events in April and prepare for the Labor Day NASCAR NEXTEL Cup event. It's been an honor and a pleasure to work with this team and our family of sponsors and partners." (California Speedway)
March 4, 2005
Final Ratings in, Records for Top NASCAR Divisions: Cup The final national rating of 7.9, the FOX broadcast of last Sunday's Auto Club 500 from California Speedway is the highest rated non-Daytona 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series event since the second race of the 2001 season, according to data released by FOX Sports. It was also the top rated sports television event of the weekend. In addition, the Los Angeles market rating rose 33 percent to a 4.0 rating for last Sunday's race, from a 3.0 rating for last year's Auto Club 500, which was contested in May, according to FOX Sports information. The Auto Club 500 on FOX has seen its rating grow from a 5.3 rating in 2003 to a 6.1 rating in 2004. This year's race was the first time the event was held as the second race of the season, coming off the Daytona 500, which garnered a 10.9 television rating on FOX. Last year's final national rating for the second NASCAR event on FOX was 6.6. Busch The Stater Bros. 300, broadcast Feb. 26 on FX, was the highest-rated NASCAR Busch Series event in FX broadcast history and had a 55% increase in households (2,212,000) over the season’s second race last year at Rockingham (1,424,000), also broadcast on FX. In addition, viewers (3,305,000) increased 83% over last year’s second event (1,803,000).
March 1, 2005
Record NASCAR television Ratings: The Auto Club 500 Nextel Cup race Sunday at California Speedway received a 7.1 overnight national TV rating on Fox, the highest overnight rating in history for any NASCAR event other than the Daytona 500. It topped the 7.0 rating for the Feb. 25, 2001 race at Rockingham, N.C. That race was the week after Dale Earnhardt's death in the Daytona 500. (Dallas News)
NASCAR Driver Rings Presented: During the pre-race festivities for the Green Flag Auto Club 500 in Fontana, California, Jostens(R) and BDI Industries presented officially licensed NASCAR rings to last season's top ten contenders in the inaugural Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup. Designed by the same Jostens artists who created the Super Bowl ring for the New England Patriots last year, the customized rings feature the official Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup logo. The rings were designed by Jostens in partnership with BDI Industries to recognize the significant accomplishments of the 2004 top ten NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers. The 2004 champion Kurt Busch, received a specially designed "2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Champion" ring, followed by ring presentations to the remaining top drivers, including Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Elliot Sadler, Ryan Newman, Jeremy Mayfield. "We certainly appreciate BDI and Jostens efforts in developing these special rings that allow these ten drivers to commemorate the significant accomplishment of making it into the inaugural Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup," said Blake Davidson, NASCAR's managing director of Licensed Products. (Jostens PR)
Feb. 27, 2005
California Extension: The Automobile Club of Southern California has signed a three-year agreement to continue as title sponsor of the Auto Club 500.... Sunday's Auto Club 500 drew an estimated 95,000. Short of the past two sellouts of 110,000.
Arnold Trackside Today: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will participate in prerace festivities for today's Auto Club 500 (GNEXT Notes)
Feb. 26, 2005
Kyle Busch Wins Pole in For Auto Club 500: Busch becomes the youngest pole winner in NASCAR's premier series. Starting Grid
Illegal Parts Seized in CA: NASCAR inspectors found their first violator of the Nextel Cup Series' near gear ratio rule on non restrictor-plate tracks. Officials confiscated the rear gear of Ken Schrader's No. 49 Dodge during inspection at California Speedway on Friday. Also taken Friday was the entire rear deck lid of Kevin Lepage's No. 37 Dodge. Both are likely to face penalties, which will be announced early next week. (ThatsRacin)
Feb. 25, 2005
NASCAR's Drive For Diversity LA Youth: Nextel Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: NXTL) today announced a program that brings the thrill and excitement of NASCAR to minority youth in the Los Angeles area. During the weekend of the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway, Nextel, in partnership with Mauldin Brand Agency, is sponsoring the Nextel Youth Speed Rally as well as hosting 90 Los Angeles minority youth for a VIP trackside experience. The Nextel Youth Speed Rally, taking place on Saturday, Feb. 26, at the SPEEDZONE in the City of Industry, will be hosted by "100.3 The Beat" dee-jays Big Les, Spindarella and A-One, and will feature musical guests Bow Wow and 3on3, Wyclef Jean's latest endeavor. Morty Buckles, a member of NASCAR's inaugural class of the Drive for Diversity program and 24-year racing veteran will be on hand to sign autographs. Attendees will be able to visit The Nextel Racing Experience, Nextel's mobile fan exhibit that features two racing simulators and the latest in Nextel wireless technology. The event will begin at Noon and end at 4:00 pm. (ThatsRacin)
Chevy SSR Pacing the Field: A Chevrolet SSR will perform pace duties for the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway on Sunday, Feb. 27, and continue those duties for a total of 20 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races this season. This weekend will be the first time the Chevy SSR, a unique blend of an open-air roadster with pick-up truck functionality, will pace the field during the 2005 race season. "The Chevrolet SSR pace vehicle makes a bold statement on the track-just like our Chevy NASCAR drivers," said Brent Dewar, Chevrolet general manager. "Pacing the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series provides a good opportunity to showcase the unique style and performance of the SSR, which now offers 390 horsepower." The 2005 Chevy SSR pace vehicle has a four-color paint scheme with a "Sling Shot Yellow" nose blending into hot orange and "Torch Red" racing flames throughout the body and ultimately transitioning to a "Kinetic Blue" truck bed. The event logo for each race will be featured on both door panels with a red Chevy bowtie displayed on the hood. (Chevy PR)
Feb. 3, 2005:
NASCAR Fans Flock to NASCAR Cali Testing: Unpainted stock cars were a big draw Wednesday as more than 7,000 fans made their way to California Speedway for the first of two NASCAR Nextel Cup test sessions. It mattered little to those pressed against fences, many wearing the colors of their favorite drivers, that the Chevrolets, Fords and Dodges on the track failed to resemble the usual grid. It was more an opportunity to get ready for the 2005 season. Following the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, the Nextel Cup teams will head West once again for the Auto Club 500 on Feb. 27 at the Fontana track. (SBSun)
Feb. 2, 2005:
NASCAR Preseason Testing California: NASCAR's Preseason Thunder, several NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series teams will participate in a test session at California Speedway from January 31 - February 3, 2005. The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series test dates, February 2 - 3. Drivers Include, #01-Joe Nemechek, #07-Dave Blaney, #0-Mike Bliss, #2-Rusty Wallace, #4-Mike Wallace, #5-Kyle Busch, #6-Mark Martin, #7-Robby Gordon, #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr, #9-Kasey Kahne, #10-Scott Riggs, #11-Jason Leffler, #12-Ryan Newman, #14-John Andretti, #15-Michael Waltrip, #16-Greg Biffle, #17-Matt Kenseth, #18-Bobby Labonte, #19-Jeremy Mayfield, #20-Tony Stewart, #21-Ricky Rudd, #22-Scott Wimmer, #24-Jeff Gordon, #25-Brian Vickers, #29-Kevin Harvick, #31-Jeff Burton, #32-Bobby Hamilton Jr., #38-Elliott Sadler, #40-Sterling Marlin, #41-Casey Mears, #42-Jamie McMurray, #43-Jeff Green, #44-Terry Labonte, #45-Kyle Petty, #48-Jimmie Johnson, #49-Ken Schrader, #50-Jeff Fuller, #66-Hermie Sadler, #73-Eric McClure, #77-Travis Kvapil, #88-Dale Jarrett #91-Bill Elliott, #97-Kurt Busch and #99-Carl Edwards. Today join a Q&A session: A question and answer session featuring Casey Mears, Jamie McMurray, Scott Riggs and Joe Nemechek will be conducted in the Speedway's "Party Zone" tent in Suite Lot C. Race fans can submit questions prior to the forum for the drivers upon entering the tent. Gates open to the public on Wednesday at 10:00am and guests are invited to watch the cars on-track from above the Terrace Suites along Pit Road. After the cars have finished testing for the day, guests are invited to attend the fan forum, which will be limited to the first 1,500 guests in the standing-room-only tent (guests will be admitted in the tent beginning at 4:30 p.m.). Guests can also attend the test on Thursday, February 3rd from 10:00am - 4:00pm.
January 28, 2005:
California could lose a 2nd date? Among the rumors at the Nextel Media Tour in Charlotte, N.C., is that one of California Speedway's two NASCAR dates could be in trouble. Mind you, it's strictly something said and repeated but never finding its way into print. After all, it's rather silly to even think about. Absurd is perhaps a better adjective. NASCAR, track owner International Speedway Corp. and the controlling France family went to great lengths to realign the schedule in 2004 to give Fontana its Labor Day Sunday night event. To even propose such a thought after one race is unthinkable. However, it indicates someone somewhere is concerned about whether NASCAR will ever catch on in Southern California. Apparently, selling 93,000 seats or so, not to mention another 15,000 in the infield, isn't enough for some. (Daily Bulletin)
January 12, 2005:
Slow Ticket Sells and California Labor Day Weekend on the move? There are reports that early-season ticket sales are worrisome at several NASCAR tracks, particularly California Speedway. According to some, one reason is high ticket prices. Last September's Labor Day race at the Fontana track was a difficult sell; some NASCAR insiders said that a number of tickets were actually giveaways, or pushed on sponsors. The California race was sponsored by General Mills' Pop Secret division; this year's 500 has no sponsor. That September race in California was such a tough sell that at least one NASCAR executive is reported to be pushing to revive the Southern 500 at Darlington as a Labor Day race and to move the California race to a different weekend. (Winston Salem Journal)
December 22, 2004:
California to Saturday Qualifying: California Speedway, taking advantage of a new NASCAR Nextel Cup rule allowing for the change of qualifying, will hold the series' first Saturday qualifying session. Qualifying for the Auto Club 500 will be held Feb. 26 at 12:10 p.m. It will be sandwiched between Busch Series qualifying, scheduled for 10 a.m., and the Busch 300 race, scheduled to start at 3 p.m. "With NASCAR looking to consolidate, to manage time better, save some money and work, we thought it was something we could do,' track president Bill Miller said. "For us, it was a good fit. It makes good sense.' After qualifying, cars will be impounded until Sunday, meaning teams cannot make work on their cars between qualifying and the 250- lap race, eliminating the need to have a car set up for qualifying and then changed to a race setup. (DailyBulletin)
November 16, 2004:
California and other tracks may not shorten weekends: NASCAR's sweeping changes aimed at a shorter weekend for its Nextel Cup Series may not include California Speedway, for the time being. The sanctioning body announced Monday it would impound cars following qualifying until the Sunday race. Under the new procedures, Nextel Cup teams would practice two hours on Friday and qualify Saturday, placing a greater emphasis on race setups. The traditional "Happy Hour," the final practice for the premier series would be eliminated. However, some tracks -- including Texas, Charlotte and Talladega -- are resistant to the change as it would greatly affect track attendance on Friday. "We are still in the process of getting more tracks to commit to this procedure," said John Darby, the Nextel Cup director. "We appreciate the cooperation of our track operators to assist us in delivering cost-saving measures to the team owners." (Daily Bulletin)
