The original concept for the site was a replica of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, but space limitations resulted in the road course configuration that exists today. Ken Miles, later famous for his role at Ford during the GT40 program, was among several contributors to the layout's planning.
The track gained an early reputation for speed, and the combination of sweeping corners, significant elevation changes, and high average velocities made it attractive to a broad range of motorsport disciplines. The facility's first event on November 23, 1953, launched what would become one of American road racing's most enduring venues.
In 1956 and 1957, Willow Springs hosted two NASCAR Grand National Series races on the road course — then known simply as Willow Springs Speedway. Chuck Stevenson won the 1956 event and Marvin Panch the 1957 race. The track also hosted five NASCAR Winston West Series events across two separate periods (1955–1956 and 1984–1986), along with a single NASCAR Southwest Series race in 1986.
In 1962, the course was sold to Bill Huth, who paid $116,000 for the facility. Huth purchased the lease outright in 1980 and subsequently expanded the property from its original 230 acres to 600 acres through adjacent land acquisitions. Under his ownership, Willow Springs grew from a single track into a multi-circuit motorsport complex. Huth died in 2015 at the age of 91.
In 1996, the State of California declared Willow Springs International Raceway a California Point of Historical Interest, acknowledging the circuit's significance to motorsport heritage.
In June 2024, the facility was listed for sale. In April 2025, CrossHarbor Capital Partners acquired the property and announced renovation plans developed in collaboration with Singer Vehicle Design, Wurz Design, Hart Howerton, and Sonoma Raceway.
Willow Springs International Motorsports Park comprises seven distinct tracks.
Big Willow (Willow Springs Raceway) is the flagship 2.500-mile, nine-turn road course that has hosted the highest-profile events at the facility. Its corners carry distinct identities: Turn 1 is Castrol Corner, a high-speed 90-degree left-hander; Turn 2 is The Rabbit's Ear, a double-apex sweeping turn; Turns 3 and 4 form The Omega, an uphill-downhill section with a camber change; Turn 8 is known as The Sweeper, the fastest corner on the circuit; and Turn 9 is a right-hander with a pronounced dip before the apex that feeds onto the front straight.
The Streets of Willow Springs is a 1.800-mile (2.897 km) road course constructed as the complex's second track. It was repaved in late 2021. Horse Thief Mile, opened in 2003, is a 1.00-mile (1.61 km) road course featuring 11 turns with significant elevation changes, designed to simulate a mountain road. Additional facilities include the Speedway at Willow Springs (a 0.250-mile paved oval), the Willow Springs Kart Track (a 0.625-mile, nine-turn sprint track), The Playpen (a 0.250-mile training oval), and the Walt James Stadium with clay and paved ovals.
Beyond its NASCAR history, Willow Springs accumulated a rich motorsport record across multiple eras. During the early 1980s, the factory-backed Renault Formula One team regularly used Big Willow for pre-season testing before the United States Grand Prix West at Long Beach.
Michael Andretti holds the overall unofficial track record on the 2.500-mile course, completing a lap in 1 minute 6.050 seconds in a 1987 CART Indycar at an average speed of 136 mph (219 km/h). The unofficial lap record of 1:06.300 is credited to Nigel Mansell in a Lotus 91 during 1982 Formula One testing.
Willow Springs was a regular venue for the American Indycar Series, at times hosting both the season opener and the season finale. ChampCar Endurance Series has held endurance events on Big Willow. An early exhibition drift event organized by Option magazine took place at Willow Springs in 1996, making it one of the early North American venues to showcase the discipline.
Willow Springs has been featured in several major racing simulation titles, including Gran Turismo 6, Gran Turismo Sport, Gran Turismo 7, Project CARS, Assetto Corsa, Need for Speed: ProStreet, Need for Speed: Shift, and iRacing, cementing its profile within the sim racing community.
The circuit has appeared in films including the 1969 Disney production The Love Bug and Ford v Ferrari (released as Le Mans '66 in some markets), as well as television programs such as Top Gear (BBC), Wheeler Dealers, and Jay Leno's Garage.
As the oldest permanent road course in the United States, Willow Springs occupies a foundational position in American motorsport history. Its unaltered 1953 layout, challenging fast corners, and desert setting have made it a reference circuit for driver development and testing across seven decades, from the earliest days of American road racing through the current era of grassroots track days and sim racing representation.