For the very last time, thousands of fans flocked to Irwindale Speedway on Saturday.
They gathered to bid a fond farewell to their beloved circuit, where countless memories were made and some people’s dreams of becoming professional drivers came true.
“It’s the last day. I came here 25 years ago for the first day, this is right where I sat,” said Carol Oberst. “I was very excited, but I was also very sad to come here today because we can’t go anywhere now that it’s close.”
Irwindale Speedway opened in 1999 and quickly became a hotspot for all things racing, from NASCAR to drag racing.
“I grew up here,” Tommy Troutner said. “I decided to give my kids one last hurray by seeing it and saying goodbye to the memories a little bit. … I’ve seen people come out of a garage and become professionals.”
Oberst said it wasn’t just the cars that drew the crowds.
“The people,” she said. “The families are always happy when they are here, no one is sad. Even if they lose a race, no one is sad. … We will miss it. The whole Irwindale family will miss it.”
The property’s new owners plan to turn the area into an industrial park, but exact details are not expected to be released until early 2025.
