Race of the week- 1971 Miller High Life 500 at Ontario

Over two decades before Penske Speedways, Inc. and Kaiser Ventures, Inc. began discussions of constructing a track in Fontana, California, the Grand National Series traveled west to Ontario, California to compete on the 2.5-mile sister track of the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  The configuration of the Ontario Motor Speedway was manifestly influenced by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

In February of 1971, the Grand National Series, now recognized at the Sprint Cup Series, traveled to the Pacific coast for the first race at Ontario.  Among the contenders were Richard Petty, Bobby Isaac, Buddy Baker, and open wheel luminary A.J. Foyt driving the storied Wood Brothers No. 21. 

Many wonder ‘what could have been’ for the Ontario Motor Speedway. From 1971 to 1972, and 1974 to 1980, the stock car star made the long trip to the western region of the UnitedState.  A host of monetary tribulations forced track management into bankruptcy.  The city of Ontario sold the track to land management group who eventually demolished the facility.

NASCAR traveled to California annually for the road course races in Riverside, and in 1988, the series visited Sonoma.  However, it was not until 1997 when the Winston Cup Series raced on an oval in the GoldenState. 

The video is a clip from the SPEED TV series ‘Back in the Day’ hosted by Dale Earnhardt Jr.  The popular program that aired on SPEED provided old school fans a reminder of how NASCAR racing once was, and it provided new school fans a glimpse of what stock car racing was in its golden age.