Ontario Motor Speedway broke ground in September of 1968 at the cost of $25.5 million dollars and opened 2 years later in August of 1970. Ontario Motor Speedway’s seating capacity was 180,000. This track to best describes it as the west coast version of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Ontario Motor Speedway’s first race was held on September 6, 1970, called the California 500 featuring the USAC Series (Now the Verizon Indycar Series) which was won by Jim McElreath. Other winners of the California 500 during its 10-year run were Bobby Unser, who won four times while Al Unser won two times, A.J. Foyt, Joe Leonard, Wally Dallenbach Sr., and Roger McCluskey all won one race.
The last race for the USAC Series was held on August 31, 1980, and was won by Bobby Unser. Formula 1 made a one-time appearance on March 28, 1971, for the Questor Grand Prix raced on the road course which was won by Mario Andretti.
NASCAR officially made its debut at Ontario Motor Speedway on February 28, 1971, with the Miller High Life 500 which was won by A.J. Foyt in the Wood Brothers Racing #21 Mercury car. A.J. Foyt would go on to win the following year on March 5, 1972.
NASCAR did not have a race at OMS in 1973 due to an ownership change. In 1974, NASCAR returned to the Los Angeles 500 which was booked as the last race of the NASCAR season held on November 24, 1974. Bobby Allison would go on to win the race while Richard Petty won his 5th NASCAR Cup championship. On November 23, 1975, Buddy Baker won the LA 500 while Richard Petty once again won his 6th NASCAR Cup championship.
On November 21, 1976, David Pearson won the LA 500 while Cale Yarborough won his 1st NASCAR Cup championship. On November 20, 1977, Neil Bonnett won the LA 500 while Cale Yarborough won his 2nd straight NASCAR Cup championship.
On November 19, 1978, Bobby Allison would once again win the LA 500 while Cale Yarborough won his 3rd and final NASCAR Cup championship. On November 18, 1979, Benny Parsons took home his first LA 500 win while Richard Petty won his 7th and final NASCAR Cup championship.
The final race of the Los Angeles 500 was held on November 15, 1980, with Benny Parson winning his second straight LA 500 race while Dale Earnhardt won his first NASCAR Cup championship.
Ontario Motor Speedway would also hold the first NHRA Supernational that was sponsored by Hot Wheels that was held on November 21st and 22nd of 1970. Hot Wheels made a toy race track called the Ontario Trio race track that was 20 feet long. It was the longest toy race track that Hot Wheels ever made.
Ontario Motor Speedway would officially close on December 17, 1980. The track was sold to Chevron Land Company in the late 80s and began demolishing the track at the cost of $3 million dollars.
Parts of the track like the grandstands and ticket booths were sold or relocated to other places. Now, businesses and condos sit on what was known as Ontario Motor Speedway. Ontario Motor Speedway may be gone but it will never be forgotten.
What tracks that are no longer around do you miss? Leave a comment below.
