Could Kern Raceway Host Cup?

Located about 110 miles from the L.A. Memorial Coliseum — host of the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum — Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway will host the next ARCA Menards Series West race. The 0.5-mile short track, previously known as Kern County Raceway Park, has hosted 13 West events.

With the end of the Coliseum’s contract as the venue for the Clash and the closure of Auto Club Speedway, could NASCAR move its California NASCAR Cup Series event — be it an exhibition or points-paying — to Kern?

In short, it is a possibility in the future, but the facility is not ready to host Cup yet.

“There would have to be some additional infrastructure put in,” ARCA Menards Series East and West series director Chris Wright told Frontstretch. “Can it over the long haul? Kern, to me, and Dominion Raceway in Virginia are the two most current cutting-edge, as far as most recent-built, tracks. There is an opportunity there but it would take additional infrastructure beyond what it has today.”

For new track owner Tim Huddleston, he and his track partner Kevin Harvick both have Kern hosting a NASCAR national series event on their wish list.

“That would be Kevin and I’s dream to be able to do that someday,” Huddleston told Frontstretch. “It’s an amazing facility and it has the bones to do it. So, we’ll see.”

In his first year of ownership, Huddleston is upgrading track facilities, both big and small changes.

“It is already happening today,” he said. “We have improved our fencing on the property, we’ve got brand-new parking lots being put in and paved almost every inch of the spectator parking. Just expanding our kitchen; yes, we’re already working on it.”

Safety is a priority in NASCAR, especially SAFER barriers. The Coliseum had temporary ones installed. Kern does not have any permanent SAFER barriers but if NASCAR mandated the track have those for an event, those could be added.

“It has the room for it,” Huddleston noted. “Meaning by the turns, you don’t run that close to the wall. And there is plenty of room to be able to add a SAFER barrier and not affect the line of the racetrack, which is cool.”

With 36 chartered entries in Cup, that’s 36 teams that would need space in the infield. Not to worry though, as Huddleston stated there were 68 teams in the infield for the racetrack’s opening night in 2024.

NASCAR wants to continue racing in California. It has held discussions…