NASCAR committed to Southern California market 'long term' despite no date in 2025

The 2025 NASCAR schedule came out today and there is no date in Southern California with The Clash moving and Fontana flattened. Despite that, the sport is committed to that market in the long term, according to Ben Kennedy.

Kennedy, the executive VP of NASCAR, is adamant that the sport is committed to Southern California. In the past, Fontana acted as the annual trip to the region. In the last three seasons, NASCAR has had The Clash at LA Coliseum.

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Going into 2025 without a date in Southern California is not ideal. But it is what it is at this point. Ben Kennedy confirmed that NASCAR is looking at how to remain in the market long term.

“Our goal is really to be in Southern California long-term,” Kennedy told the media, via Claire B Lang. “We’ve continued to work on our plans for Fontana. We have a number of different configurations and variations the team has been working on for what that track might look like, what are kind of the other activities that could happen on that parcel of land that we have there, but also exploring all of our opportunities the southern California market.

“It’s a massive market for us, number two in terms of the quantity of NASCAR fans, a huge media market for us, in FOX’s backyard. Strategically as a sport it makes a lot of sense for us to be in southern California.

“What that looks like in the future remains to be seen. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to have it on the 2025 schedule, but bullish about getting it back on the schedule here in the future.”

NASCAR does have a diverse and varied schedule for 2025. Even without NASCAR in California, it will be a fun season.

NASCAR not going to Southern California, headed to Mexico

Of course, Sonoma gives NASCAR a date in California, although it is not in the southern part of the state. But without the Los Angeles or LA-adjacent date on the schedule, NASCAR has given fans a lot to look forward to.

Mexico City is hosting NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series next summer. Bowman Gray Stadium is hosting the Cup Series for The Clash. North Wilkesboro and Bowman Gray? That is unheard of and is giving back to those diehard fans in the Carolinas in a big way.

Then there is the other great news for those local fans. Rockingham. Over the years, the track has been updated and the facility is in much better condition. Both the Truck and Xfinity Series will take to the track next season at The Rock. Imagine that.

Motorsports are healthy right now. From grassroots to the pros. There are tracks returning to the NASCAR schedule no one ever expected to return. Then there are races internationally, like Mexico City, that are both new and a bit of a return. The Cup Series has never raced there, but the Xfinity Series has. What race are you most excited about?