The California Speedway in Fontana has become the second NASCAR Cup Series venue in recent years to change its name to that of one its premier sponsors, the Automobile Club of Southern California.
Following the trend set by its fellow California venue the Infineon Raceway (formerly Sears Point), the two-mile oval originally built in the 1990's by Roger Penske shall henceforth be referred by the Auto Club Speedway title.
The switch, which handily comes just days before the Auto Club 500 Sprint Cup Series race, is a multi-year agreement as circuit owners the International Speedway Corporation (ISC) begins to mirror the kind of ‘naming rights' deal often employed at ‘stick and ball' stadia across America and Europe.
Announcing the deal speedway president Gillian Zucker and Auto Club CEO Tom McKernan were suitably chuffed.
“The Auto Club's commitment to its members and fans will be seen over the next ten years in facility improvements, fan promotions and cutting edge guest amenities,” said Zucker. “We believe this relationship is the start of a new era for motorsports in Southern California and we look forward to the day when one in every two households in Southern California has not just a member of Auto Club but a member of the Auto Club Speedway fan family.”
“For more than 10 years the Auto Club has showcased its services to thousands of race fans at California Speedway. We now have a unique opportunity to expand that outreach and at the same time offer our members and all fans a world-class entertainment experience,” said McKernan. “Auto racing is a part of the heritage of the Automobile Club of Southern California and we are pleased that we can build on that legacy and take the sport into the future through our relationship with International Speedway Corporation.”
