Southern California’s Irwindale Speedway has been brought back to life once before, but now, thanks to the Irwindale City Council, it looks like the Speedway’s days are truly numbered.  Built in 1999, the Irwindale Speedway has gone through various naming incarnations, including a run as the Toyota Speedway from 2008 until 2012 when NASCAR announced that it was going to drop the Toyota Speedway from it’s schedule.  Soon after that, the original owners filed bankruptcy.  The property re-opened in 2013 as the Irwindale Event Center, hosting the Whelen All-American NASCAR series, along with NHRA events on the 1/8 mile drag strip, drifting events, and a stock car driving school.  Itwas purchased by Irwindale Outlet Partners in 2013 and in March 2015, the Irwindale City Council voted to demolish the track to make way for a large outlet mall.

The Speedway has been an iconic part of Southern California racing culture with its ability to support multiple types of racing and family events. And while the economic boon promised with the building of an outlet mall will help invigorate the tiny town of Irwindale and the surrounding regions, the loss of the speedway for local residents will deifnitely put a damper on those racing dreams held by many.

It’s a shame to see so many small tracks and local venues being closed down or turned into other types of properties. CEO and President Jim Cohan sent out a letter to track fans and supporters confirming that the 2015 racing season will continue uninterrupted, but the 2016 season is up in the air. The speedway will not be demolished until a certain number of outlet retailers have signed on for the mall, but demolition is schedule for no later than 2017.

So if you’ve been putting off a trip to the races at Irwindale, now is the time!