NASCAR Truck Series: 5 tracks to add to the Truck Series schedule

Kern County Raceway Park

Kern County Raceway Park is located in Bakersfield, California. It is a 0.5-mile oval track that sits right off of Interstate 5. It currently hosts two K&N Pro Series West races, so NASCAR already has a relationship established with track management.

As far as seating, the track only has 5,000 seats, but it can expand to 15,000. To prevent fans from waiting too long in line, the track has 18 concession stands. If NASCAR sold out a race here, it would look aesthetically pleasing for TV networks. From a marketing standpoint, NASCAR could boast of a sellout, especially with the current decrease of attendance at NASCAR races.

The track currently hosts two K&N Pro Series West races. If the track loses one of these race dates, like I previously suggested, then perhaps one of the sponsor companies of one of these races would be willing to sponsor a Truck Series race.

Many wealthy people live in California, whether they live in Hollywood, Silicon Valley, or on the West Coast in general. Kern County Raceway Park has 21 suites in the grandstands, so there are perks for a corporation to sponsor the race.

NOTE: Discussing the length of a drive to a specific race track, I will use the NASCAR Hall of Fame when I talk about Charlotte to reference teams’ starting points.

During the “West Coast Swing”, NASCAR races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada, ISM Raceway in Avondale, Arizona and Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. The Truck Series only races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Allow me to explain where Kern County Raceway Park could fit in the Truck Series schedule.

The Truck Series season begins with a race at Daytona International Speedway. The following week, it races at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Both of those race weekends are tripleheaders in conjunction with the Cup Series and Xfinity Series. Auto Club Speedway then hosts the next Cup Series and Xfinity Series race.

I propose that Kern County Raceway Park hosts the Truck Series race the Friday night of the weekend of the Auto Club Speedway Cup Series and Xfinity Series races.

That said, the distance from Charlotte to Kern County Raceway Park is 2,431 miles. Two weeks later, the Truck Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which requires a 2,214-mile journey.

Bob Pockrass perfectly summarizes the problem of the high cost for the teams, especially those that have issues with any of their trucks.

The other key downside to adding a Truck Series race at Kern County Raceway Park is its proximity to the Auto Club Speedway. Kern County is three hours away from Auto Club Speedway. Is the distance considered too far between tracks for a race weekend? Would the media be able to cover two different tracks in one weekend?

TV networks want to save money, which is the reason for companion races with the Cup Series and/or Xfinity Series. Teams and the media don’t need to travel. Not only would TV networks need to move equipment, but often times Truck Series teams will use drivers, pit crews, spotters, etc. from either Cup Series or Xfinity Series teams. Travelling three hours adds up.

The last downside is the size of the crowd. Somewhere between 5,000 and 15,000 seats will be available for the race, but because of the cost, what will the ticket prices be? To regain the money needed to cover the sanctioning fees along with the purse and other expenses, will the track owners establish high ticket prices? After all, the race track is a business, so it needs to make money.

At the end of the day, Kern County Raceway Park is a West Coast short track, so perhaps West Coast drivers such as Kevin Harvick may be enticed to enter that race. That alone adds to the race’s marketability. I agree with Matt Weaver. Kern County Raceway Park is more than capable and deserving of hosting a NASCAR Truck Series race.