After a two-year absence, the roar of NASCAR engines is making a welcome return to The Auto Club Speedway in Fontana for what may be the final 400-mile race at the track.
Although not finalized, the track is anticipating a possible redevelopment project that would convert the 2-mile track to a high-banked short track later this year.
Race fans turned out Friday, Feb. 25, for the NASCAR hauler parade as the trucks carrying the race cars entered the facility for Sunday’s WISE Power 400.
NASCAR haulers back up as they enter the garage area at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, during the hauler parade. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
NASCAR fan Jack Harrington, from La Verne, plays a game of Jenga in the infield at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The truck carrying the race car of Cody Ware drives by race fans during the NASCAR hauler parade at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Eric Waters, from Temecula, signals for a truck driver to sound his horn during the NASCAR hauler paradeat Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, while his son Collin, 9, climbs on his back. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Ribs cook in a smoker in the infield at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Beer cans litter the ground as NASCAR fan Joel Ciuchta, from Santee, plays ping pong in the infield at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Joey Logano fan Alonso Cosio, 11, from Riverside, shows his excitement as his NASACR hauler drives by during the NASCAR hauler parade at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Chase Elliott fan Ethan Skorupski, 6, from Irvine, waves to a passing truck during the NASCAR hauler parade at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
NASCAR fan Bret Johnston, from Norwalk, rides his motorized “fast ice chest’ around the infield at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The NASCAR hauler of Kyle Busch makes it’s way into Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, during the hauler parade. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The hauler of Kyle Busch makes its way into Auto Club Speedway in Fontana during the NASCAR hauler parade on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Busch fan Benny Blaney, 3 from San Pedro, watches the NASCAR hauler parade at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
NASCAR fan Pete Rodriguez, from Santa Maria, sprinkles seasoning onto the burgers he’s cooking for family and friends in the infield at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
NASCAR haulers back up as they enter the garage area at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, during the hauler parade. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Race fans watch the NASCAR hauler parade as the trucks enter the infield at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. The NASCAR series returns this weekend to the super speedway following a two year absence due to the pandemic. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Brittin Weddle, 12, from Fontana, waves a green flag made from a shopping bag during the NASCAR hauler parade at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
NASCAR fan Pete Rodriguez, from Santa Maria, sprinkles seasoning onto the burgers he’s cooking for family and friends in the infield at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Kyle Busch fan Benny Blaney, 3, from San Pedro, has his ear protection fall off his head as he watches the NASCAR hauler parade at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
NASCAR fan Jeanine Magana, from Highland, waves as the truck carrying Alex Bowman’s race car passes by during the hauler parade at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. The NASCAR series returns this weekend to the super speedway following a two year absence due to the pandemic. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Thousands of campers in the infield set up their viewing spots and barbecues for the weekend of racing. Santa Maria resident Pete Rodriguez, who has been attending races with his motorhome and family at the track for over 10 years, said, “it’s a great time, we see a lot of the same faces out here in the infield each year. It’s like camping with 500 friends and we all get along great.”
The race, scheduled to be held in February 2021 had to be relocated to the Daytona track because of the coronavirus so there have been no NASCAR events in Fontana since 2020, which was the last major sporting event in the state before the pandemic put an end to all events for months.
NASCAR qualifying begins at 11:35 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, followed by the NASCAR Xfinity Series Production Alliance Group 300 at 2 p.m. Drivers will take the green flag Sunday for the WISE Power 400 at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are available at autoclubspeedway.com.
