Track Size: 1/2-mile paved
History - Irwindale Raceway is a late-model short track that looks like a mini NASCAR facility. It is the host of major midget races, the MOPAR Twin 25's and Turkey Night. ...Casey Diemert was killed in the first ever sprint car race there.
From Bobby Gerould's Positivity column, April 2004: ......MOPAR Twin 25 NOTES: The companion USAC Ford Focus Midget 25 lapper at Irwindale Speedway in Southern California took place on the inner third-mile track. Josh Lakatos stomped the field that included Champ Car driver, Patrick Carpentier. Also suited up for action was Michel Jourdain Jr. However a mechanical failure never allowed Jourdain to get up to speed, and he scratched from the 25-lap race. …Before the start of the second Twin 25, California Highway Patrol squad cars escorted a Loomis Fargo armored vehicle around the track, stopping at Bobby East's 25th starting spot on the pre-race grid. The MOPAR Twins, Kylie and Katie Huffman then hopped out of the truck and reminded East of the $50 grand waiting for him if he could pull off the job. The twins held a mockup of the winners check while East was interviewed by SPEED Channel pit reporter Dave Argabright. The event was called "live to tape" by SPEED's Ralph Sheheen, and Larry Rice. ...Only 20 minutes from Hollywood, Irwindale Speedway visits allow for some sightseeing the day after. We hit Melrose for some shopping, and happened to walk into the Von Dutch factory store. I gasped and promptly left the joint after inquiring about the cost of a tee-shirt (for wifey). "$42 to $56" said the Ashton Kutcher wannabe store guy. ...The Sunset Strip seemed like a good idea after the races Saturday night. I went about ten blocks in an hour the traffic was so bad. ...The Irwindale concessions included a sausage vendor. We went for an Andoulle Cajun (mild) and found it mushy and not the way we wanted it to taste. If you frequent this column you now that it is mostly positive material but concession stands are always subject to the bare-naked truth. Irwindale certainly had many other selections to choose from and hopefully, the sausage I ate half of was not an indication of the overall cuisine at the track named after a place it doesn't reside in. Irwindale Speedway is in Baldwin Park, CA.
Irwindale Raceway
Baldwin Park, CA.
"plant the root, get the fruit."