| “House of Drift”, “LA’s 1/2 Mile Super Speedway” | |
|---|---|
 Irwindale Speedway in 2016 | |
| Location | Irwindale, California |
| Time zone | UTC-08:00 (UTC-07:00 DST) |
| Coordinates | 34°6′34″N 117°59′17″W / 34.10944°N 117.98806°W |
| Capacity | 6,500 without portable seating |
| Owner | Lindom Properties, Arcadia |
| Operator | Tim Huddleston |
| Opened | March 27, 1999 |
| Closed | December 21, 2024 |
| Former names | Irwindale Event Center (2012–2017) Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (2008–2011) Irwindale Speedway (1999–2007, 2018–2024) |
| Major events | SRL Southwest Tour Toyota All-Star Showdown (2006–2010, 2020–2024) ARCA Menards Series West West Series races at Irwindale (1999–2011, 2014–2017, 2019–2024) Global Rallycross (2013) NASCAR Southwest Series (1999–2006) ASA National Tour (2001–2002) |
| Website | http://www.irwindalespeedway.com |
| Oval (1999–2024) | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 0.500 miles (0.804 km) |
| Turns | 4 |
| Banking | 6°, 9°, 12° (progressive) |
The Irwindale Speedway & Event Center (a.k.a. Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale Dragstrip, or "The House of Drift") was a motorsports facility located in Irwindale, California, United States. It opened on March 27, 1999, under the official name Irwindale Speedway. Toyota purchased the naming rights to the facility in 2008, and from that time until 2011 it was also known as the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.[1]
The speedway featured banked, paved 1⁄2- and 1⁄3-mile oval tracks and a 1⁄8-mile drag strip. The property was primarily used for NASCAR races such as ARCA Menards Series West and Whelen All-American Series events. In late 2011, NASCAR announced it was dropping Toyota Speedway from its schedule. The company that managed the track, Irwindale Speedway LLC, filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy on February 13, 2012.[2]
In January 2013, it was announced that the track would be re-opening as the Irwindale Event Center, and would operate as a Whelen All-American Series venue for the 2013 season.[3] For the past decade, the Formula D Championship Series had featured sold out events at the venue.
In 2015, plans were made to demolish Irwindale Speedway and build an outlet mall on the site of the track. On August 9, 2017, it was officially announced that Jim Cohan, CEO of Team 211 Entertainment, who operated the track under the name of Irwindale Event Center, would cease operation.[4] On December 29, 2017, it was announced that the track would not close in January 2018 as former Irwindale Late Model driver and track champion Tim Huddleston, along with K&N West team owner Bob Bruncatti, took over management of the speedway to have it remain open.
On October 29, 2024, it was announced that the speedway and the drag-strip would officially close on December 21, 2024.[5]
- ^ Lair, Keith (March 17, 2008). "An optimistic outlook". San Gabrial Valley Tribune. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
- ^ Haddock, Tim (February 14, 2012). "Irwindale group files for bankruptcy". ESPNLosAngeles.com. ESPN. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
- ^ Peltz, Jim (January 4, 2012). "Irwindale Speedway to again host minor-league NASCAR racing". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, CA. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
- ^ "Irwindale Speedway Announces Final Date of Operation".
- ^ "Farewell to Irwindale Speedway: The Final Chapter for SoCal's Racing Icon". Motociclismo. 2024-12-22. Retrieved 2024-12-24.