The two-mile D-shaped oval at California Speedway, located 50-miles west of Los Angeles, joined the Nextel Cup schedule in 1997 and added a second race in 2004.

The track is a favorite for Hollywood celebrities, who flock to the pits each year.
California Speedway has a history that you might expect a track just 50 miles from Hollywood to have.

The speedway sits on a 568-acre site that once hosted the first steel mill located west of the Rocky Mountains, Kaiser Steel Mill. The mill produced the steel that helped build the Liberty ships used by the Allies to win World War II.

Kaiser Steel went out of business in 1983. Following that, the site fell into such disrepair that it was used in the movie The Terminator to portray a post-Apocalyptic world where men and machines battled each other for supremacy and survival.

Penske Motorsports Inc. purchased the land and completed the track in 1997. The first race held on the track was a Winston West Series race won by Ken Schrader on June 21, 1997. Later that day, Mark Martin won an International Race of Champions event at the new facility. Jeff Gordon won the track's first Cup race the following day.

California Speedway has also played host to races in the NASCAR Busch and Craftsman Truck Series, as well as events in the IndyCar Series and what is now the ChampCar World Series on its oval and road racing and motorcycle events on its road courses.

In 1999, Penske Motorsports Inc. merged with International Speedway Corporation, bringing California Speedway into the ISC family of tracks. Beginning in 2004, California Speedway's two-mile oval became the host of two NASCAR Cup Series races each year, adding a Labor Day weekend event to is roster of activities.

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Past Winners:

1997

• Jeff Gordon-Calfornia 500

1998

• Mark Martin-Calfornia 500 presented by NAPA

1999

• Jeff Gordon-California 500 presented by NAPA

2000

• Jeremy Mayfield-NAPA Auto Parts 500

2001

• Rusty Wallace-NAPA Auto Parts 500

2002

• Jimmie Johnson-NAPA Auto Parts 500

2003

• Kurt Busch-Auto Club 500

2004

• Jeff Gordon-Auto Club 500
• Elliott Sadler-Pop Secret 500

2005

• Greg Biffle-Auto Club 500
• Kyle Busch-Sony HD 500

2006

• Matt Kenseth-Auto Club 500