MOORESVILLE, N.C. — NASCAR and Auto Club Speedway officials announced that the Feb. 26 NASCAR Cup Series race will be the final race on Auto Club Speedway’s classic two-mile oval in Fontana, Calif.
Planning continues for a new short track located on the current site, but details will be announced at a later date.
Concurrently, NASCAR and Auto Club Speedway are continuing to work with Hillwood Properties on redeveloping portions of Auto Club Speedway’s property. To accommodate this process, the Speedway has removed portions of the turn one and turn four grandstands in anticipation for the future short track development pending approval.
“This is going to be a can’t-miss event,” said Auto Club Speedway President Dave Allen. “This two-mile oval has produced so many incredible memories during the past 25 years, and we know the final race on this surface will produce more memories that will last a lifetime.
“Moreover, the continued redevelopment of this property will inject more fuel into the local economy, and we’re excited what the future holds for our race track and the Inland Empire as a whole.”
Auto Club Speedway’s 2-mile oval opened as California Speedway in 1997.
Night Race At Atlanta
The dates are set for the NASCAR Cup Series’ two trips to Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2023 with thrilling action returning to the high banks in the spring and summer, including the speedway’s first night race since 2014.
Stock car racing’s best will tackle the intense high-speed action on Atlanta’s 1.54-mile oval for 400 miles of superspeedway-style racing in the Ambetter Health 400 on Sunday, March 19. Fresh off the dazzling 2022 running of this event – which saw an AMS record 46 lead changes among 20 drivers – the Ambetter Health 400 will be one of the most anticipated events of the 2023 season.
As the race to the NASCAR playoffs intensifies, the NASCAR Cup Series will race into Atlanta once again for the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart on Sunday, July 9. New for 2023, Atlanta’s summer NASCAR races will be decided at night under the lights.
“After all the excitement we saw on the track and the fun we had off the track, I’m thrilled to invite fans back for the Ambetter Health 400 in March,” said AMS Executive Vice President and General Manager Brandon Hutchison. “Equally as exciting is being able to deliver what our fans have been asking for in July: NASCAR action under the lights during the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart. It’s going to be a year of live entertainment at its best! Our team is already hard at work to ensure both events are packed with unforgettable experiences for our fans.”
Brickyard Returns To August
The one-of-a-kind Brickyard Weekend will return to the month where it all started – August – for three exciting NASCAR and IndyCar races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Racing will take place Aug. 11-13 on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile IMS road course in three series — the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NTT IndyCar Series.
The Xfinity Series and IndyCar Series will share the bill on Aug. 12, with the Cup Series taking center stage the following day.
The Brickyard 400 took place annually in August since Jeff Gordon won the inaugural race Aug. 6, 1994, until Jimmie Johnson earned his first Brickyard victory on Aug. 6, 2006. The race weekend then took place in July or September for 16 of the last 17 years, with the exception being the first event with all three races on the road course in mid-August 2021.
“The Brickyard Weekend is such a unique event for race fans, with three exciting races among three top series on the IMS road course,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “August was the original home for the Brickyard 400 in 1994 and the original Brickyard Weekend with the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and IndyCar Series together in 2021, so we’re happy to see the races return to a date that’s popular with fans and with plenty of history.”
With the Brickyard Weekend returning to its original month, it’s also worth noting the 2023 event will take place on the eve of the 114th anniversary of the first motor race at IMS, a series of motorcycle races Aug. 14, 1909, on the 2.5-mile oval.
Trucks To Visit North Wilkesboro
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will join the NASCAR Cup Series at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway May 19-21.
The Truck Series will run in support of the NASCAR All Star Race on May 20 at the .625-mile short track that will host NASCAR competition for the first time since 1996. Hall of Fame driver Mark Martin went to victory lane when the series last ran at North Wilkesboro in 1996.
North Wilkesboro, then a dirt track, hosted its first race in May of 1947. Over the next five decades, the 0.625-mile circuit hosted 93 NASCAR Cup Series races. Next year’s Truck Series race will be the third at the track.
The Milwaukee Mile
The Craftsman Truck Series will also return to the famed Milwaukee Mile at Wisconsin State Fair Park on Aug. 27.
The series will run alongside the ARCA Menards Series in a doubleheader weekend that will be promoted by Track Enterprises, which will work in partnership with Wisconsin State Fair Park to present the event.
“We’re honored and proud to help Wisconsin State Fair Park bring NASCAR racing back to the Milwaukee Mile,” said Track Enterprises’ Bob Sargent. “A historical venue like the Mile deserves great racing and the NASCAR Trucks always put on a great show.”
The NASCAR Xfinity Series ran at Milwaukee annually from 1993 through 2009, while the Truck Series started its run there in 1995 and also raced there until 2009.
“The Milwaukee Mile is a fan-favorite, and some of NASCAR’s biggest stars scored early career wins at the historic one-mile oval,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Racing Development and Strategy. “What’s more, this race will serve as the second race in the Truck Series Round of 8, adding even more anticipation for what is sure to be a thrilling return to the Mile.”
Dirt At Bristol
The Food City Dirt Race returns to Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway April 9, and the track will also host a NASCAR Cup Series playoff round on Sept. 16.
“We can’t wait to put the dirt back down for the Food City Dirt Race in April and once again welcome the championship drama of the NASCAR Playoffs in September for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race,” said Bristol Motor Speedway President and General Manager Jerry Caldwell. “We all know what kind of intensity Bristol brings when the lights are turned on, so we are excited that both of our Cup races will once again be contested at night in 2023.”
Twice At Charlotte
Charlotte Motor Speedway will again host the NACAR Cup Series on two weekends. The Coca-Cola 600 is scheduled for May 28, with the Bank of America ROVAL 400 set for Oct. 8.
“For more than six decades, the Coca-Cola 600 weekend has represented tradition, perseverance and determination – traits that mirror those of the brave service men and women that we have the privilege to honor each Memorial Day,” said Greg Walter, executive vice president and general manager at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “Add that to the Bank of America ROVAL 400’s critical place in the second round of the Cup Series Playoffs and fans have plenty to look forward to at America’s Home for Racing next season. Our team embraces the opportunity to raise the bar for fans year after year and we are already hard at work making sure 2023 is our best year yet.”
Ever-Popular Darlington
It will be the third consecutive year that Darlington (S.C.) Raceway will host two NASCAR weekends featuring the Cup Series on Raceway will host NASCAR race weekends on May 12-14 and Sept. 2-3.
“Darlington Raceway continues to be one of the most competitive and beloved tracks on the NASCAR schedule, so we look forward to hosting two NASCAR Cup Series race weekends again in 2023,” said Kerry Tharp, Darlington Raceway President. “As NASCAR celebrates its 75th anniversary season, the Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR will showcase the history of the sport like never before over Mother’s Day weekend. The tradition continues with the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs starting as part of the crown jewel Cook Out Southern 500® over Labor Day weekend.”