Irwindale Speedway to close

[Will Kalman]

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2012021 ... /120219966" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"This past week, the rumor began circulating through the short-track racing community in Southern California that Irwindale Speedway, inarguably one of the best short tracks in the country, was closing.

Sunday, an executive closely associated with the half-mile paved oval track confirmed it: “Sadly,” he said, “it’s true.”

The track, built in an industrial east of Los Angeles, hosted major events like the Turkey Night Grand Prix for USAC midgets, and the Toyota Showdown for NASCAR late model drivers. The 6,500-seat track, built next to an already-existing eighth-mile drag strip, was state of the art, with top-quality lighting that not only was expected to attract fans and major racing events, but movie and television work, and indeed, Irwindale saw its share of show business, especially TV commercials.

It opened in 1999, then hosted now NASCAR champ Tony Stewart the next year in the Turkey Night, which Stewart won. Plenty of top NASCAR drivers, including Joey Logano, have raced and won there.

While rumors have included the possibility that the track could be sold, at present, it appears Irwindale will join other storied Los Angles-area tracks such as Ascot, Saugus and the Orange Show as an entry in the motorsports history books.

A formal announcement could be made Monday."

[Michael Oest]

There are rumors going around that Lucas Oil might pick it up. I work up there and everyone's talking about it, but still just a rumor. Maybe we will all know on Monday...
The Irwindale PD had a pretty cool program with the drag strip. They will take kids that were street racing, give them free admission and give them a safe place to race. Would be sad to see a race track and good programs like that go away.

[Davin Swanson]

I think they said on the radio this morning that they're already taking down the grandstands and that it was very sudden. If there's an immediate plan for the land it might be hard to go back if construction moves forward...

[Bob Beamesderfer]

Irwindale update from the track's PR guy:

STATEMENT FROM NU-WAY INDUSTRIES, INC.

There have been numerous rumors regarding Irwindale Speedway. Please permit this statement to provide clarification:

1) THE PERMANENT TRACK GRANDSTANDS ARE NOT (NOR ARE THEY IN ANY DANGER OF) BEING TORN DOWN. There was a report that the portable, temporary bleachers outside the first turn were being dismantled. That is correct. Those temporary stands were rented and the company that owned them was simply removing their property.

2) THE TRACK WAS NOT BUILT OVER A POTENTIAL MINING SITE, IT WAS A SAND AND GRAVEL MINING SITE, AND AFTER MATERIALS EXTRACTION, BECAME A MINING RECLAMATION PROJECT. THE SITE CANNOT BE MINED. There are a set of very strict rules about the use and development of this sort of property, which are being carefully followed. In 1993, the City of Irwindale approved the site to be used as a Swap Meet, and in 1997, approved its use as Irwindale Speedway.

3) NU-WAY INDUSTRIES, INC. OWNS THE LAND, THE RACE TRACK, AND THE EQUIPMENT TO OPERATE THE TRACK. An entity called Irwindale Speedway, LLC. leased the facility from Nu-Way Industries, Inc. On February 13, 2012, Irwindale Speedway, LLC filed for protection from creditors under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code.

4) BECAUSE OF THE CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY FILING BY IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY LLC, THE COURT IS IN CONTROL OF THE PROPERTY AT THIS POINT. HOWEVER, NU-WAY INDUSTRIES, INC. IS ACTIVELY SEEKING A POTENTIAL BUYER FOR THE COMPLETE FACILITY. A hearing will be held soon in order to return the facility to Nu-Way Industries, Inc. control.

THANK YOU

[Bill Schenker]

Irwindale update from the track's PR guy:

STATEMENT FROM NU-WAY INDUSTRIES, INC.

There have been numerous rumors regarding Irwindale Speedway. Please permit this statement to provide clarification:

1) THE PERMANENT TRACK GRANDSTANDS ARE NOT (NOR ARE THEY IN ANY DANGER OF) BEING TORN DOWN. There was a report that the portable, temporary bleachers outside the first turn were being dismantled. That is correct. Those temporary stands were rented and the company that owned them was simply removing their property.

2) THE TRACK WAS NOT BUILT OVER A POTENTIAL MINING SITE, IT WAS A SAND AND GRAVEL MINING SITE, AND AFTER MATERIALS EXTRACTION, BECAME A MINING RECLAMATION PROJECT. THE SITE CANNOT BE MINED. There are a set of very strict rules about the use and development of this sort of property, which are being carefully followed. In 1993, the City of Irwindale approved the site to be used as a Swap Meet, and in 1997, approved its use as Irwindale Speedway.

3) NU-WAY INDUSTRIES, INC. OWNS THE LAND, THE RACE TRACK, AND THE EQUIPMENT TO OPERATE THE TRACK. An entity called Irwindale Speedway, LLC. leased the facility from Nu-Way Industries, Inc. On February 13, 2012, Irwindale Speedway, LLC filed for protection from creditors under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code.

4) BECAUSE OF THE CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY FILING BY IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY LLC, THE COURT IS IN CONTROL OF THE PROPERTY AT THIS POINT. HOWEVER, NU-WAY INDUSTRIES, INC. IS ACTIVELY SEEKING A POTENTIAL BUYER FOR THE COMPLETE FACILITY. A hearing will be held soon in order to return the facility to Nu-Way Industries, Inc. control.

THANK YOU

"...And so God created lawyers, and saw that it wasn't good, but hey, what else could He do?" ;)