Pop Secret 500
Did it live up to the hype? You can bet your Jeff Gordon hat, Dale Earnhardt Jr. T-shirt, and Jimmie Johnson slippers it did. The inaugural "Pop Secret 500" weekend was a resounding success on many different levels. Not only did it give NASCAR fans the opportunity to see their favorites and spectacular racing a second time this year, it gave the city of Fontana a chance to show off their new downtown civic center.
With new fountains, landscaping, bike and walking trails, it was great to see the city work together with the speedway to bring local non-racing fans out and get their first taste of the world class racing excitement that is right in their own backyard. With Thursday night's block party down Sierra Ave. and Friday night's hot-rod cruise night, it was a lot of fun to see old friends, make new ones, and talk racing, while walking around cool old cars and a renewed downtown area.
What made this race weekend all the more fun was the fact that there were at least thirty cars that had a legitimate chance to win the race. With previous California Speedway winners Mark Martin, Jeremy Mayfield, Rusty Wallace, Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, and three-time winner Jeff Gordon in the field, it was hard to pick a favorite. During Friday's qualifying, the fan's response to the drivers was amazing. Longtime NASCAR fans got a chance to see perennial favorite Bill Elliott almost get the pole, and Mark Martin show he still has a very heavy right foot. The ovation for Dale Earnhardt Jr. left no doubt as to whom today's most popular driver is.
Saturday's "Target House 300" was outstanding with Casey Mears and Greg Biffle fighting it out for the better part of 300 miles, bringing back memories of Casey's Indy Lights days here. The Saturday night post-race concert by Camp Freddy was a hard-rockin' example of how a great sound system, super talented musicians, and a fun crowd can add up to give fans a second wind after a long day at the track.
The topper was the much-heralded "Pop Secret 500" finish under the lights. I don't know about you, but the most magical time for me at the speedway is when the sun starts to set, the temperature drops, and race cars are still flying around the track. You get different reflections off the cars, differentsounds, and for me a healthy dose of goose bumps. Seeing the lights kick on and the track come to life under the new three million watt-per-hour lighting system was a major piece of Southern California motorsports history that I hope all race fans got a chance to enjoy.
The race to the checkered flag between winner Elliot Sadler, Kasey Kahne, and Mark Martin had flash bulbs popping around the grandstands lap after lap. Everyone I talked to couldn't get over how the cars were so much easier to see down the backstretch under the lights.
If you liked this, get ready for the Indy Racing League weekend Oct. 1st-3rd, including the Craftsman truck race under the lights Oct. 2nd.
International Speedway Corporation, California Speedway, and San Bernardino County Supervisor Paul Biane should be commended for getting this lighting project completed, and for their vision of what this can do for the speedway and surrounding communities. Musco Lighting did an incredible job with a tough project.
This was the start of a great Labor Day tradition. To start a tradition, you have to have a beginning. What a fun beginning!