Auto Club Raceway at Pomona

Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
mbtrama · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	Auto Club Raceway at Pomona
Location	Pomona, California, United States
Opened	1952
Layout1	Dragstrip
Surface	Asphalt
Length km	0.402
Length mi	0.25

Auto Club Raceway at Pomona is a quarter-mile dragstrip located in Pomona, California, notable for hosting premier motorsport events and serving as a landmark in American drag racing culture. The facility has been integral to the development of drag racing championships, attracting major sanctioning bodies, prominent drivers, and manufacturers from the United States and abroad. Its legacy links it to multiple motorsport institutions and significant competitions held since the mid-20th century.

History

The origins trace to a postwar Southern California motorsport boom that included connections to National Hot Rod Association, International Hot Rod Association, corporate sponsorships, California, and local promoters. Founded in 1952, the venue became a focal point amid contemporaries such as Riverside International Raceway, Irwindale Event Center, Long Beach Grand Prix, Laguna Seca Raceway, and Ontario Motor Speedway. Over decades the facility hosted marquee meetings associated with NHRA Winternationals, NHRA Finals, Sears Point Raceway-era scheduling, and partnerships with entities like Auto Club of Southern California, Walt Disney Company-era Southern California land development, and regional municipalities. The track’s timeline intersects with figures such as Wally Parks, Don Garlits, Tom McEwen, "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, and teams linked to Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Chrysler Corporation competition programs. Renovations and sanctioning changes occurred as drag racing evolved, integrating safety standards from Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile-adjacent discussions and innovations championed by the NHRA's technical staff.

Facilities and Track Layout

The complex occupies grounds near the Pomona Freeway, adjacent to the Fairplex and within reach of Los Angeles County transportation corridors. The dragstrip is a quarter-mile (0.25 mi / 402 m) straightaway with concrete and asphalt treatments similar to surfaces used at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Brainerd International Raceway, and Bristol Motor Speedway preparations for drag events. Support infrastructure includes staging lanes, a return road network, pit paddocks, and timing systems supplied by suppliers frequenting Motorsports Engineering markets and championships like NASCAR Cup Series support operations. Grandstands and hospitality suites accommodate spectators alongside corporate suites used by organizations such as Auto Club of Southern California and manufacturers that showcase product lines at events. Media facilities support broadcasters from networks including Fox Sports, ESPN, and niche outlets focused on Motorsport broadcasting.

Events and Competitions

The venue is synonymous with flagship drag racing events under the aegis of the National Hot Rod Association, notably the annual season-opening and season-closing national events that draw international competitors. It has hosted the NHRA Winternationals, NHRA Finals, and a variety of professional and sportsman classes including Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle. Beyond NHRA, the site has accommodated speciality meets tied to Hot Rod Magazine, SPEED, and manufacturer demonstration programs involving Ford Performance, Chevrolet, and Mopar affiliates. Ancillary events have included car shows with partnerships involving SCCA, Bonneville Salt Flats-linked record attempts, and historic gatherings that bring together collections associated with collectors such as Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, and regional museums like the Petersen Automotive Museum.

Records and Notable Performances

The record book includes elapsed times and top speeds set by elite competitors in classes like Top Fuel and Funny Car, with performances often referenced alongside milestones achieved at venues such as Gainesville Raceway and ZMAX Dragway. Iconic runs by drivers such as Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, Kenny Bernstein, Tony Schumacher, and John Force have become part of the circuit’s lore. Manufacturers and teams from Richard Childress Racing-style operations and independent builders have used the track to debut technology advances in aerodynamics and powertrains that later influenced Formula One-adjacent research and high-performance road car development. The strip has witnessed class records, championship-deciding runs, and comeback performances documented by motorsport publications including AutoWeek and Racer.

Ownership and Management

Ownership and operation have involved collaboration among entities such as the Auto Club of Southern California, local government agencies from Los Angeles County, and motorsport promoters with ties to the National Hot Rod Association. Management has coordinated event scheduling with organizations including NHRA, regional promoters, and corporate sponsors. Facility stewardship has balanced commercial partnerships with heritage preservation efforts linked to historical societies and museums concerned with Southern California automotive history, maintaining ties to institutions like the Pomona Fairplex administration and regional development boards.

Safety and Upgrades

Safety improvements have mirrored broader motorsport advances, incorporating barrier technology influenced by research associated with SAFER Barrier development, advances in personal protective equipment promoted by SFI Foundation, and timing/telemetry upgrades paralleling systems used in IndyCar Series and Formula E. Track resurfacing, runoff extensions, and paddock reconfiguration occurred during major renovation campaigns to comply with sanctioning body requirements and enhance spectator amenities, aligning with standards adopted at venues such as Sebring International Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway. Ongoing modernization efforts aim to integrate environmental management practices similar to those at Laguna Seca Raceway and improve accessibility in line with Americans with Disabilities Act considerations.

Category:Drag racing venues in the United States Category:Motorsport venues in California