ering support over the past 25 years. We’re grateful for every moment and memory we’ve shared as a community.”

For years, the site, which straddles Live Oak Avenue, among the city’s gravel quarries, has been the subject of discussion about what it could become.

The land on which it sits changed ownership two years ago, with developers looking to convert the speedway into an industrial park.

The 63 acres were purchased by IDS Real Estate Group.

It has gone through many changes. In the early to mid 20th century, the site was home to the Pacific Rock Quarry, where it was mined for sand and gravel, according to city documents. It was backfilled from the 1970s through to the early ‘90s. Fans and students of the site’s history recalled early incarnations of the speedway dating back to the ‘60s and ‘70s. Early official programs called it the San Gabriel Valley Speedway.

It had long been said to be destined to become home to a 700,000-square-foot outdoor mall, creating thousands of jobs and millions in tax revenue for the city. A plan to convert the racetrack to a retail destination was solidified in March 2015 when city officials unanimously approved plans to demolish Irwindale Speedway to make way for the mall. The approval involved a zone change, site plan and design review and certification of a final environmental impact report.

But since then, the Speedway Commerce Center Specific Plan, an initial study of potential environmental impacts, envisioned the speedway’s demolition to make way for an industrial and business park, the goal being to “take advantage of the site’s location in proximity to major transportation arterials and the regional transportation network,” according to the plan.

Last month, Irwindale city officials said public hearings on the environmental impact report for the project to repurpose Irwindale Speedway were tentatively set to begin early next year.

The Irwindale City Council on Sept. 25 received a brief update on the project from members of city staff.

The project would split the site into two planning areas. The first area, 56 acres on the south portion of the property, would become an industrial business park development. The second area, 7.3 acres on the north portion along the Live Oak Avenue frontage, would be developed into commercial properties.

The plan calls for a commercial and industrial business park consisting of 11 buildings with a maximum of 1,378,000 square feet of development.

The timeline from the report estimates the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the impact report on Jan. 15 and the City Council on Feb. 5.

Director of Engineering Eddie Chan said in September that the city is in the third round of review for the geotechnical investigation work plan. The applicant submitted the latest plan in April.

The work plan includes proposed field investigations, laboratory testing and settlement analysis.

“The purpose of this GWP is to evaluate the physical properties of the soil, fill materials, and subsurface conditions at the project site,” the staff report read. “This information is crucial for designing safe and efficient foundations and other structural components while ensuring safety, addressing environmental concerns, and complying with building codes.”

The track was slated to close on Jan. 31, 2018, before Huddleston took it over in December 2017.

Huddleston’s team said events will continue through 2024. Highlights include Thursday Night Thunder, Night of Destruction, Nitro Revival and SevenStock 26 on dates during November.

The drag strip will host its final events in December, with the last Thursday Night Thunder on Dec. 5, when the track will give fans one last opportunity to race down the drag strip or enjoy the “burnout box.”

To finish it all off, the drag strip will host its “legendary” Mooneyes Christmas Party on Dec. 7. The gearhead event features drag racing, a classic car show and live entertainment.

The last day of the track, Dec. 21, will feature Night of Destruction events including trailer races and NASCAR short-trace races, all a “fitting tribute to the legacy of a track that has defined West Coast racing for 25 years,” organizers said.

Speedway officials said the assets from the speedway’s motor sports legacy will transition to Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in Bakersfield for 2025, “ensuring that Southern California’s racing spirit endures,” according to a statement.