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The Irwindle Speedway & Event Center, home to NASCAR races, demolition derbies and festivals and a mainstay of Southern California’s street racing scene, will close by the end of the year.
“Irwindale is more than just a track, it’s a home and gathering place for racing enthusiasts from around the world,” Irwindale Speedway & Event Center (ISEC) President Tim Huddleston said in a statement. “We are grateful for every moment and memory we have shared as a community.”
For 25 years, the speedway has been a gathering place for car enthusiasts. Also, with concerns about illegal car events such as street hijackings and street races, city and law enforcement officials are encouraging car enthusiasts to visit ISECs to legally improve their speeds.
Six-month-old Ralph Macias Jr. wears earmuffs while being held by his father, Ralph Macias Sr., during a race at Irwindale Speedway.
(Michael Blacksher/Los Angeles Times)
On Tuesday, Huddleston announced that Irwindale Speedway & Dragstrip will hold its final event on Dec. 21.
In his announcement, Huddleston did not provide a reason for the speedway’s closure after a quarter-century of racing history. ISEC officials did not respond to requests for comment.
The center has been at risk of closure for years.
In 2017, Irwindale City Council approved plans to demolish the racetrack. A 700,000 square foot outlet mall was to be built in its place.
That plan was postponed without notice and the race continued.
Then, in 2022, the city again proposed demolishing the racetrack and building an industrial/commercial facility on the land, with the goal of promoting jobs in the city.
In September 2022, after the industrial park proposal was approved by the city, the racetrack was acquired by IDS Real Estate Group, a commercial real estate company with offices in California and Washington. City officials said IDS Real Estate Group plans to demolish the racetrack and build an industrial zone, but Huddleston said there is “no imminent threat” to the racetrack.
A spokesperson for the city of Irwindale did not immediately respond to inquiries about the industrial park plan or whether the city is considering plans for the racetrack site.
For now, Irwindale Speedway and Dollars Gus Strip still have activities and events scheduled before closing, including Thursday Night Thunders, Night of Destruction on November 2nd, Events include Nitro Revival on November 8th and 9th.
Spectators watch a car race at Irwindale Speedway.
(Michael Blacksher/Los Angeles Times)
The racetrack’s final Thursday Night Thunder, an event where enthusiasts can bring their cars to race on the drag strip and burn some rubber in the burnout box, is scheduled for Dec. 5.
The final event will be the Farewell Extravaganza on Dec. 21 at Irwindale Speedway, featuring NASCAR short track racing, the Drift Invitational and the ARCA Menards Series West race.
Tickets for “Farewell Extravaganza” are scheduled to go on sale on November 8th.
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