- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Gaming
PALA, Calif. — A tribally-owned gaming enterprise has secured naming rights to a historic final NASCAR Cup Series race.
On February 26, 2023, the Fontana, Calif.-based Auto Club Speedway's final race on its 2-mile track will be named the Pala Casino 400 after the Pala Casino Spa Resort, which is operated by the Pala Band of Mission Indians.
The event will be the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season and the highly anticipated follow-up to the Daytona 500.
The Auto Club Speedway hosts more than 320 days of track activity each year, including a NASCAR Cup Series weekend. The two-mile D-shaped oval is one of the fastest tracks on the NASCAR circuit. The Speedway is also home to numerous movie, television, and commercial productions, photo shoots, new car testing, club racing, and various racing schools.
The Palo Casino Spa Resort has a standing partnership with the Auto Club Speedway as its official casino sponsor.
For the race, Chris Buescher’s No. 17 RFK Ford will carry Pala Casino colors when the field takes the green flag for the historic event.
“Our fans will notice right away the enthusiasm Pala Casino brings to the table,” Auto Club Speedway President Dave Allen said in a statement. “They are determined to create an unforgettable experience for our fans, and we look forward to working with them to make this final race on the 2-mile oval an event for the ages.”
Pala Casino Spa Resort includes a Las Vegas-style casino with an expansive gaming floor that includes more than 2,000 slot and video machines, 78 table games, nine restaurants and two lounges. The resort also includes the 2,000-seat Pala Events Center, outdoor Starlight Theater and luxury hotel.
“As a casino that greatly appreciated competitive racing, Pala is thrilled to be the title sponsor of the Pala Casino 400 race in Fontana and this historic final race at the Auto Club Speedway,” Pala Casino spokesperson Coley McAvoy said in a statement. “We value our new partnership with Chris Buescher and RFK Racing, as well as our continued partnership with NASCAR, as we look forward to a very exciting event in February.”
