Yes the run was very short, but without Toyota sponsership and no Nascar races it was time to close the doors. I had some great times there, very sad.

See ya down the road
Bud - Harvey

 

It's sad when they go. My parents got divorced when I was little & my Dad used to take my & my sis to the below. Wish they were still around because my daughters would have loved to see the races.

Islip Speedway
http://www.melaniff.com/speedway/index.html

Freeport Sppedway
http://www.stockcarracing.com/thehis...ium/index.html

 

Sad to say, but the writing was on the wall. It now joins Rockingham, Nazareth, Ontario, Texas World Speedway, North Wilksboro, Langhorne, and so many others.

 

I learned to drive in the parking lot of the old 1/4 mile Irwindale facility. All my cousins raced there and I got to pit with alot of famous racers of the day. Gas Ronda, Charlie Allen, etc. Way cool to be a kid growing up with nitro in the air. That was hard to watch that one close. This is truly sucko stuff.

 

Ah, Gas Ronda...he drove the 64 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt sponsored by Russ Davis Ford in Covina and Charlie Allen and his 66 AFX Dodge Dart sponsored by Saddleback Dodge. I recall seeing them both run at Pomona (before it was called Fairplex), Lions in Long Beach, and Fontana. We never got out to the Irwindalde drag strip very often, which was totally different from the Nascar that is the topic of this thread and closed in 1977. The Miller brewing company took over the land where the old Irwindale drag strip was by the 210 Freeway

 

I never got to go much..but when I did it was fun! I know the drags will be sorely missed. Todd (Uma)

 

Didn't they only have a 1/8th mile dragstrip there? I never went to the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale but I did go to the old Irwindale Raceway which was a 1/4 mile back in the 60s and 70s.

 

I worked there shooting all the Battle of the import races, until
The "Speed" Channel took over and i was replaced by a Large crane.
The beginning of the end. boo!
jeff

 

Just heard from a former driver that Irwindale might open this june 30th.

 

The 1/8 mile drag strip is operating again on thursday nights. I keep hearing rumors about the speedway reopening, but no definite date yet. Miss the great racing there.