Irwindale Speedway, a Southern California landmark and a cherished destination for car enthusiasts, racers, and spectators, will close after its 2024 season, bringing to an end more than half a century of unforgettable races, events, and gatherings. Known for its exhilarating NASCAR races, drag strip events, and street-legal showcases, Irwindale has been a cornerstone of car culture on the West Coast. Speedway President Tim Huddleston expressed his gratitude, saying, “Irwindale has been more than just a track — it’s been a home and gathering place for racing enthusiasts worldwide.” Huddleston and his team, including partners Bob and Maureen Bruncati, shared thanks for the fans, racers, sponsors, and the City of Irwindale, whose dedication has fueled the track’s success for decades.
The future of the 63-acre speedway site has been uncertain since the property was purchased by IDS Real Estate in 2021. Situated along Live Oak Avenue, surrounded by Irwindale’s historic gravel quarries, the land will be repurposed into a commercial and industrial development, a transformation that has been in planning stages for years. The development proposal calls for dividing the property into two zones, with 56 acres designated for an industrial business park and 7.3 acres along the Live Oak frontage intended for commercial use. The city council has announced that public hearings on the environmental impact of the project will begin in January 2025, marking the final steps in this significant land-use change.
Irwindale’s story, however, dates back much further than its racing heyday. In the early 20th century, the land where Irwindale Speedway now sits was part of the Pacific Rock Quarry, a bustling site for sand and gravel mining that supported construction throughout Southern California. The area was backfilled from the 1970s through the early 1990s, allowing for the development of Irwindale Speedway, which first opened its gates to car enthusiasts and racing fans in the late 1960s. Originally known as the San Gabriel Valley Speedway, it quickly became a cultural hub, hosting events that have drawn fans from across the country for over five decades. While the track has evolved, its purpose has remained constant: to unite fans, drivers, and car lovers in a shared appreciation for the thrill of racing.
This isn’t the first time the track’s future has been in jeopardy. In 2015, a proposal was approved to transform the speedway into a 700,000-square-foot retail center. Although city officials unanimously approved plans to demolish Irwindale Speedway to make way for a shopping mall, community opposition and logistical challenges ultimately kept the track alive. Racing continued, even as plans shifted toward an industrial business park. The current development plan, known as the Speedway Commerce Center Specific Plan, envisions an 11-building complex designed to capitalize on the property’s location along major transportation routes. According to city officials, environmental and geotechnical studies have been underway, with recent reports highlighting efforts to assess soil and subsurface conditions to ensure the development meets safety and structural standards.
In the meantime, Irwindale’s 2024 season will offer fans a full schedule of racing and entertainment, providing one last chance to experience the track’s legendary events. “Thursday Night Thunders” and “Night of Destruction” will be among the season highlights, showcasing the track’s unique blend of high-speed competition and thrilling spectacle. Fans can also look forward to “Nitro Revival” and the long-running “SevenStock 26” in November, which will draw car enthusiasts for nights of racing and celebration. In December, the dragstrip will host its final events, with the last “Thursday Night Thunder” on Dec. 5, giving fans a final chance to hit the strip or enjoy the crowd-favorite “burnout box.” The farewell season will culminate in the “legendary” Mooneyes Christmas Party on Dec. 7, a fan-favorite event combining drag racing, a classic car show, and live entertainment. For its final night on Dec. 21, Irwindale Speedway will host a special “Night of Destruction,” including trailer races and NASCAR short-track battles, a fitting tribute to a track that has defined Southern California’s racing scene for more than 50 years.
Even as Irwindale prepares for its last lap, plans are underway to ensure its racing legacy endures. Speedway officials have announced that Irwindale’s motorsports assets and traditions will transition to Kern Raceway in Bakersfield, allowing Southern California’s racing culture to live on in a new location. With this transition, fans and racers will continue to experience the spirit of Irwindale, even as the original track prepares to close its gates.
The closure marks a bittersweet end for the Irwindale community and a significant shift for Southern California’s motorsports landscape. For generations, Irwindale Speedway has been more than a venue; it has been a gathering place for fans, a proving ground for racers, and a cultural touchstone for car lovers. Its closure not only marks the end of an era in Irwindale but also signals a changing landscape in the region’s car culture. As the final race approaches, fans, racers, and the community are left to reflect on the many memories made, the friendships formed, and the deep legacy that Irwindale Speedway leaves behind.
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