Auto Club Speedway (previously California Speedway) was a two-mile (3.2 km), low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California which hosted NASCAR racing annually from 1997 to 2023. It was also used for open wheel racing events. The racetrack was located near the former locations of Ontario Motor Speedway and Riverside International Raceway. The track was owned and operated by International Speedway Corporation and was the only track owned by ISC to have its naming rights sold. The speedway was served by the nearby Interstate 10 and Interstate 15 freeways as well as a Metrolink station located behind the backstretch.
First practice was held on Friday, March 16 at 12:35 PM PST. Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing would set the fastest lap with a lap of 40.299 and an average speed of 178.664 miles per hour (287.532 km/h).[2]
The second and final practice was held on Friday, 2:35 PM PST. Daniel Hemric of Richard Childress Racing would set the fastest lap with a lap of 40.262 and an average speed of 178.829 miles per hour (287.797 km/h).[2]
Qualifying would take place on Saturday, March 17 at 10:35 AM PST. Since Auto Club Speedway is at least 2 miles (3.2 km), the qualifying system was a single car, single lap, two round system where in the first round, everyone would set a time to determine positions 13-40. Then, the fastest 12 qualifiers would move on to the second round to determine positions 1-12.[3]
Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing would advance from the first round and win the pole by setting the fastest time in Round 2, with a lap of 39.766 and an average speed of 181.059 miles per hour (291.386 km/h).[4]