FONTANA — It’s long been decided that this will be the last race weekend on the 2-mile oval at Auto Club Speedway.
What’s still in question is the weather.
Rain and the effects of the current winter storm could play a major factor this weekend as NASCAR rolls into Fontana for the Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 on Saturday and the Cup Series Pala Casino 400 on Sunday.
“As for Saturday, it’s always NASCAR’s policy to make every attempt to run the race on the day it’s scheduled and we’ll do everything in our power to make that happen,” NASCAR track communications director Matt Humphrey said.
Friday’s practice and qualifying and Saturday’s race are most in doubt as the local forecast calls for a nearly 100% chance of rain showers throughout both days.
The green flag for Sunday’s race will likely be unfurled despite overcast conditions.
“The weather is looking a lot better for Sunday, which is encouraging,” Humphrey said.
Sunday’s Pala Casino 400 (12:30 p.m. PT on FOX) will be the final race on the historic 2-mile layout as planning continues for the construction of a state-of-the-art short track to be built on site, pending approval.
“What we’re working on is really exciting,” said track president David Allen last month. “The fact that we race at a half-mile at Martinsville (Speedway) and Bristol (Motor Speedway), it’ll be cool to have another half-mile, especially out here on the West Coast with so much racing history.”
In September 2020, it was revealed by NASCAR industry publication “The Insider” that documents for the reconstruction of the facility as a half-mile high-banked oval had been filed with San Bernardino County.
The new layout fits inside the footprint of the current layout’s tri-oval and will utilize existing garage, grandstand and pit suite infrastructure, though Allen told Sirius XM NASCAR Radio in 2022 that plans to convert the speedway have been put on hold.
At the Busch Light Clash…
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