Sears Point

When Riverside closed in 1988, Sears Point replaced it as NASCAR’s annual California road race. As only one of two road races on the NASCAR calendar, many drivers find it hard to adapt, but Jeff Gordon won three races in a row from 1998 to 2000, his road course prowess was confirmed by a similar run at Watkins Glen from 1997-99. Sears Point was built in 1968, but closed within two years. However, it soon reopened to house the Bob Bondurant racing school. Long Beach promoter Chris Pook bought it in 1980 and repaved the track five years later, before selling it to Bruton Smith in 1996. Infineon acquired the naming rights in 2002 and it has officially been known as Sonoma Raceway since that deal expired in 2012.