Drag Racing in So Cal

by Michael Satterfield - 04/13/15

Drag strips are a bit of a rarity here in Southern California, with word coming out a few weeks ago that the city of Irwindale is moving to close the last public drag strip in LA County (read about it here) and replace it with an outlet mall, racers are running out places to race legally. This while police captains and city leaders bemoan street racing with the cry "there are plenty of legal places to race" sadly in Southern California it's just not true. 

Pomona (while still in LA County) is not open to the public for drag racing and is limited to a few NHRA pro events a year, so for 1/4 mile drag racing Fontana is all that is left. The next closest 1/4 drag strip is either Inyokern or Bakersfield both about three hours from Los Angeles. 

But Auto Club Dragway, which is tucked behind the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana is the last 1/4 mile drag strip that is regularly open to the public and draws a steady flow of racers looking to test their machines.  For $20 bucks to race and $10 bucks to watch you can see everything from bone-stock street cars to fully built dragsters take on the clock. 

Check out more pictures from the races below and for the current calendar visit www.autoclubdragway.com