034 | Willow Springs Raceway: How to Drive the Track + Insider Secrets (Kevin Hart Interview)

In this episode of Cool Cars with Chris, we take you inside Willow Springs Raceway, one of the most iconic racetracks in California, for an exclusive interview with Kevin Hart, who runs sales, events, and business development at the track. If you’ve ever wondered how a real racetrack operates, how to attend track days, or how to drive your own car on a professional circuit, this episode breaks it all down.

We cover everything from open track days and racing events to lap times, track layouts, and the six different courses at Willow Springs, including Big Willow. Kevin also shares insider details on renting a racetrack for film productions, why Willow Springs is a popular location for movies like Ford v Ferrari, and how YouTubers and brands use the track for automotive content.

Whether you’re into car culture, motorsports, racing, or track day driving in California, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most legendary racing facilities in the U.S.—plus how you can get on track yourself.

🏁 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How Willow Springs Raceway operates day-to-day
• The difference between track days, racing events, and private rentals
• How YOU can legally drive your own car on a real racetrack
• The 6 different tracks at Willow Springs (including Big Willow)
• Lap times, speeds, and what counts as “fast” on track
• How movies like Ford v Ferrari used the track for filming
• What it costs (and how it works) to rent a racetrack
• The return of major events like Willow Springs Reimagined

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00:00 🚗 Intro – Welcome to Cool Cars with Chris
00:07 🎥 Audio vs Video Experience (Watch This Episode)
00:22 🏁 Willow Springs Overview + Guest Kevin Hart
00:57 🎙️ Sponsor: Podtastic Audio
01:51 🎧 Interview Begins at Willow Springs
02:24 👨‍💼 Kevin Hart’s Role at the Racetrack
02:46 🛠️ Daily Operations at Willow Springs Raceway
03:27 📅 Track Schedule & When It’s Open
03:53 🏎️ How to Drive Your Car on the Track (Track Days)
04:23 🔊 Noise Limits & Location Advantages
05:02 🏆 Racing Events & Track Certification Explained
05:47 🗺️ All 6 Tracks at Willow Springs
06:47 ⚡ Lap Times, Speeds & What’s Considered Fast
07:17 🎬 Filming Movies at the Track (Ford v Ferrari)
08:37 🎥 Renting the Track for Productions & YouTubers
08:51 🏁 Quarter Mile Track & Drag Racing History
09:32 🚫 Why Open Testing Has Changed
10:15 🎉 Willow Springs Reimagined Event Details
11:13 🙌 Outro & Wrap-Up

n this episode of Cool Cars with Chris, we explore Willow Springs Raceway, a legendary California racetrack known for track days, racing events, and motorsports history, with an exclusive Kevin Hart interview covering how to drive your car on a racetrack, open track days in California, and what it takes to run a professional racing facility. We break down the Big Willow track layout, lap times, racing speeds, and all six tracks at Willow Springs, while also diving into car culture, automotive content creation, and filming locations like Ford v Ferrari. Whether you’re searching for a car podcast, motorsports podcast, track day driving tips, or how to get on a race track in California, this episode delivers insider knowledge on racing, track rentals, automotive events, and performance driving at one of the most iconic race tracks in the United States.

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