| Willow Springs | |
|---|---|
 Big Willow (1953–present) | |
| Location | Kern County, nearRosamond,California, United States |
| Coordinates | 34°52′30″N118°15′52″W / 34.87500°N 118.26444°W /34.87500; -118.26444 |
| Broke ground | 1952 |
| Opened | 23 November 1953; 71 years ago (1953-11-23) |
| Former names | Willow Springs Raceway (1953–1982) |
| Major events | Former: Trans-Am West Coast Series (2017) AMA Superbike Championship (1983–1985, 1990, 1998–2000) Ferrari Challenge North America (1994, 1999) Atlantic Championship Series (1983–1985, 1989) Can-Am (1987) NASCAR Winston West Series (1955–1956, 1984–1986) NASCAR Southwest Series (1986) NASCAR Grand National Series (1956–1957) |
| Big Willow (1953–present) | |
| Surface | Paved |
| Length | 2.500 mi (4.023 km) |
| Turns | 9 |
| Race lap record | 1:15.900 ( Al Lamb,Frissbee GR2,1987,Can-Am) |
| Streets of Willow Extended Course (2003–present) | |
| Length | 1.800 mi (2.897 km) |
| Turns | 16 |
| Streets of Willow Long Course (2003–present) | |
| Length | 1.500 mi (2.414 km) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Streets of Willow Long Course (1988–present) | |
| Length | 1.300 mi (2.092 km) |
| Turns | 9 |
| Horse Thief Mile (2003–present) | |
| Length | 1.000 mi (1.609 km) |
| Turns | 9 |
Willow Springs International Motorsports Park (commonly referred to asWillow Springs) is located inWillow Springs nearRosamond,California, about 80-mile (130 km) north ofLos Angeles. It is the oldest permanentroad course in the United States.[1] Construction began in 1952, with the inaugural race held on November 23, 1953.[2] The main track is a 2.500 mi (4.023 km) long road course that is unchanged from its original 1953 configuration. The elevation changes and high average speeds make it a favorite of many road racing drivers.
Willow Springs hosted twoNASCAR Grand National Series races in 1956 and 1957 on the original road course (then known simply as Willow Springs Speedway), won byChuck Stevenson andMarvin Panch, respectively.[3] The track also hosted fiveNASCAR Winston West Series events, the first two in 1955 and 1956 and the other three between 1984 and 1986. Willow Springs also hosted oneNASCAR Southwest Series race in 1986.
Efforts by fans resulted in the State of California declaring Willow Springs International Raceway as a California Point of Historical Interest in 1996.[4]
The original intent was to create a replica of theIndianapolis Motor Speedway oval, but space constraints resulted in its final configuration.Ken Miles was among several people involved in planning the layout. The first event was held on November 23, 1953.
The course was very fast from the outset and quickly earned the nickname "The Fastest Road in the West."
In 1962, the course was sold to Bill Huth, who paid $116,000 for the facility and hoped to use the main straight for drag racing. Huth purchased the lease outright in 1980 and soon began expanding the facility. The initial 230 acres (93 ha) expanded to 600 acres (240 ha) with the purchase of adjacent land. A second track, the Streets of Willow, was constructed next, and a third track, Horse Thief Mile, was added in 2003.
Huth died in 2015 at the age of 91.[5]
In June 2024, the venue was listed for sale.[6][7] In April 2025,CrossHarbor Capital Partners purchased the facility and announced plans for renovations, in collaboration withSinger Vehicle Design,Wurz Design, Hart Howerton, andSonoma Raceway.[8]
There are seven tracks at Willow Springs. The largest and most well known track is Willow Springs International Raceway (commonly referred to as Big Willow). Other racing facilities include The Streets of Willow (1.800 mi (2.897 km) road course), The Horse Thief Mile (road course), The Speedway at Willow Springs (0.250 mi (0.402 km) paved oval), Willow Springs Kart Track (a 0.625 mi (1.006 km), nine-turn paved sprint track), The Playpen (a 0.250 mi (0.402 km) paved training track), and the Walt James Stadium (Clay Oval and Paved Oval).
Willow Springs Raceway (commonly calledBig Willow or sometimes The Big Track) is a 2.500 mi (4.023 km) paved road course consisting of 9 turns.[9]
The Streets of Willow Springs (commonly calledThe Streets of Willow or sometimes Streets) is a 1.800 mi (2.897 km) paved roadcourse.[10] The track was repaved in late 2021 after numerous complaints of the deteriorating quality of the track.[11]
Opened in 2003,[12] the Horse Thief Mile (sometimes calledThe Mile) is a 1.00 mi (1.61 km) paved roadcourse featuring 11 turns as well as numerous elevation changes.[13] It was designed to simulate a winding mountain road.
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Willow Springs has been featured in numerous forms of media including movies, television, music videos and video games.
Willow Springs has been used for filming for motion pictures such as1:42:08: A Man and His Car, the 1969Disney filmThe Love Bug andFord v Ferrari (Le Mans '66).
Willow Springs has been used for several TV shows including British BBC programTop Gear,[14] several episodes ofWheeler Dealers andJay Leno's Garage.[15]
The track was featured in the JapaneseBest Motoring International "American Touge" video special.
The track is in the 1985 Christopher Cross music video "Charm the Snake",[16] as well as "It's the Things You Do" byFive.
Willow Springs International Motorsports Park was the venue of a photoshoot session byPlayboy for itsPlaymate pictorial and centerfold featuringAlyssa Arcè as Miss July 2013. The photographs were featured in the magazine's July–August 2013 issue.[17]
Willow Springs tracks have been featured in video games includingNeed for Speed: ProStreet,Need for Speed: Shift,Gran Turismo 6,Gran Turismo Sport,Gran Turismo 7,Project CARS,Asseto Corsa, andiRacing.
The overall unofficial track record is held byMichael Andretti in a 1987CART Indycar. Andretti completed a lap of the 2.500 mi (4.023 km) main track in 1 minute, 6.050 seconds for an average speed of 136 miles per hour (219 km/h).[18]
As of March 2017, the fastest official race lap records at Willow Springs International Motorsports Park are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Permanent Road Course ("Big Willow"): 4.023 km (1953–present)[19] | ||||
| Formula One | 1:06.300[20] | Nigel Mansell | Lotus 91 | 1982 Lotus F1 Testing |
| IndyCar | 1:08:568[21] | Eddie Nahir | Lola T95/00 | 2003 Formula Festival at Willow Springs |
| Can-Am | 1:15.900[22] | Al Lamb | Frissbee GR2 | 1987 Willow Springs Can-Am round |
| TA | 1:20.839[23] | Greg Pickett | Ford Mustang Trans-Am | 2017 Willow Springs Trans-Am West Coast round |
| Group 4 | 1:37.100[24] | Frank Monise | Lotus 23 | 1966SCCA Regional Willow Springs |
Option hosted an early exhibitiondrift event in 1996.
During the early 1980s, the factory-backedRenaultFormula One team often used Willow Springs to test their cars before the early seasonUnited States Grand Prix West held atLong Beach inLos Angeles.
ChampCar Endurance Series hosts a double-8+7-hour endurance race on Big Willow.[25]
Willow Springs was a regular venue for theAmerican Indycar Series (AIS), in some seasons hosting the season opener and/or the season finale.
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