Infineon Raceway in Napa Valley, California is one of two road-courses on the Nextel Cup circuit. Built in 1968, the track has been hosting Cup series races since 1989. In 1968, the 2.52-mile road-racing course was constructed on 720 acres by Marin County owners Robert Marshall Jr., an attorney from Point Reyes, and land developer Jim Coleman of Kentfield. The two conceived of the idea of a racetrack while on a hunting trip. Ground was broken in August and paving of the race surface was completed in November. The first official event at Infineon Raceway was an SCCA Enduro, held on Dec. 1, 1968.

A year later, the track was sold to Filmways Corp., a Los Angeles-based entertainment company for $4.5 million. From 1969 through early 1970, Infineon Raceway hosted a variety of events, including USAC IndyCar races, NASCAR stock car races, SCCA races, and drag races. In May of 1970, the track closed and became a tax shelter for Filmways after losses of $300,000 were reported.

In 1973, Hugh Harm of Belvedere and Parker Archer of Napa arranged to lease the track through Filmways vice president Lee Moselle for $1 million. Bob Bondurant, owner and operator of the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, announced that he would move his school from Ontario Speedway in Southern California to Infineon Raceway. The Pacific Region of the Sports Club Car of America announced it would hold a driver's school and series of non-spectator races at the track.

In 1975, a group calling itself Black Mountain Inc., which included Bondurant, William J. Kolb of Del Mar and Howard Meister of Newport Beach, purchased the track from Filmways for a reported $1.5 million. Five years later, The Black Mountain Group took on an additional partner -- the Long Beach Grand Prix Association -- in hopes of improving marketing and public relations.

In 1986, Harvey "Skip" Berg, president of a real estate acquisition and management firm headquartered in Seattle, took control of the track and became major stockholder in Brenda Raceway Corp.

NASCAR debuted at the track in 1989, with Ricky Rudd taking the inaugural victory. The Craftsman Truck Series was added to the schedule in 1995.

In 1998, ýThe Chute,ý a new high-speed straightaway that connects existing Turns 4 and 7 was officially opened during a press conference on May 5. The re-design of the road course shortened the circuit from 2.52 miles to 1.949 and increased the distance from 300 to 350 kilometers. The re-designed course will be used strictly for NASCAR events.

A $60 million modernization plan kicked off in 2001. Improvements completed thus far include the construction of hillside terrace seats above Turns 2-4, 40 garages for competitors, dramatically expanded entrance and access roads to reduce traffic congestion into and around the raceway, and increased run-off on the road course at turns 1, 2, 3, 3a, 4, 6 and 7.

A new permanent grandstand at start/finish, underground pedestrian tunnels, enlargement of pit road to accommodate a 43-car field, new system of shuttle roads and the separation of the road course form the drag strip happened in 2002. Improvements continued in 2003 as the final portions of the road course were repaved (Turns 1-3, 6-8 and 11).

Turns 4-5, 9-10, 12 and the Chute were repaved prior to the 2003 season. Additional runoff was also created at Turns 1 and 6, and the bridge at Turn 1 was replaced, while the Turn 6 bridge was removed permanently.

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Track Facts:

Banking/Turns: --
Distance: 1.99 miles
Shape: Road course

Photos:

Past Winners:

1996

• Rusty Wallace-Save Mart 300

1997

• Mark Martin-Save Mart 300

1998

• Jeff Gordon-Save Mart/Kragen 350

1999

• Jeff Gordon-Save Mart/Kragen 350

2000

• Jeff Gordon-Save Mart/Kragen 350

2001

• Tony Stewart-Dodge/Save Mart 350

2002

• Ricky Rudd-Dodge/Save Mart 350

2003

• Robby Gordon-Dodge/Save Mart 350

2004

• Jeff Gordon-Dodge/Save Mart 350

2005

• Tony Stewart-Dodge/Save Mart 350

2006

• Jeff Gordon-Dodge/Save Mart 350