By Dave Grayson
Christmas 2016 came early for the management, staff and fans of the Irwindale Event Center, (IEC), with the announcement that said there is going to be a 2017, fully loaded, racing season the famed track located in Irwindale, CA. The incredible news came at a time when the track was condemned to execution by bulldozer, set for July of 2016, to prepare the way for a shopping mall.
The news, regarding the IEC's 2017 season, came in late October via a press release fro Jim Cohen, IEC President and CEO, who announced that the track would be scheduling a full 2017 season for their NASCAR sanctioned stock car racing on their oval tracks, the NHRA sanctioned drag strip as well as the LA Racing Experience and Advanced Driving Dynamics.
"Everyone here on the IEC team are very pleased that we've been able to make this announcement today," said Cohen. "We will be continuing with our Thursday Night Drags, NASCAR Whelen All American Series and Nights Of Destruction, along with special events such as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, Hot VW Drags Day, the NHRA Summit Series, Truckin' For Kids, Formula Drift Championship and Mooneyes all being presented on their traditional calendar dates."
The end of racing at the IEC dates back to 2013 when it was announced that the Lindom Company, a real estate investment firm, had purchased the 63 acre site occupied by the IEC with the intent to build a 700,000 square foot shopping mall. The Lindom announcement further stated they expected to break ground and start construction on the project in July of 2016.
Now under the working title of Irwindale Outlet Partners LLC, The Irwindale City Council made very quick work of approving the project's development plans, and necessary permits, during the course of one meeting. It's considered to be very rare for this process to garner approval so quickly, a fact that did not escape the notice of audience observers.
However, in all fairness, it's important to consider the fact that this project represented a win - win scenario for the city at a time when the trickle down effect of California's budget woes was creating financial havoc on its cities. The Irwindale City Council's first obligation is to the city they represent and the residents who live there. It was perfectly understandable that the Council was going to make quick work of approving a project that was going to create approximately 2,000 jobs along with an estimated annual sales tax revenue of $2.6 million per year.
At the beginning of 2016 the IEC prepared a partial schedule, through the month of July, anticipating the start of construction of the outlet mall. The first of two surprises came when Outlet Partners LLC informed the IEC they could go ahead and run a full 2016 racing season. The second surprise came when the IEC learned they would be allowed to schedule a full 2017 season.
Throughout this long process Outlet Partners LLC made it clear that they would not dismantle the track, and start construction on the mall, until they had signed leases from retailers to occupy at least 65 percent of the store fronts. In recent months there has been speculation indicating they may be having trouble reaching that 65 percent goal and that's why they green lit IEC racing for the 2017 season. There is also speculation that says the 63 acre site has been placed on the real estate market again. Outlet Partners LLC has, understandably, declined comment on these two issues.
The IEC treated their fans to a high quality 2016 racing season and, by the looks of their fully loaded 2017 schedule, we can expect more of the same this year. Happy new year IEC, we the fans are looking to the new season.
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IRWINDALE EVENT CENTER 2017 SCHEDULE
March 11th: Night of Destruction - NASCAR Late Models, Destruction Events TBA
March 25th: SPECIAL EVENT - NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Twins, SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series
April 8th: NASCAR Late Model Twins, Irwindale Race Trucks, Spec Late Models, Legend Cars, Bandoleros
April 22nd: NASCAR Late Models, Irwindale Race Trucks, Spec Late Models, Southwest Tour Truck Series, Legend Cars, Bandoleros
May 6th: NASCAR Late Model Twins, Irwindale Race Trucks, Spec Late Models, Legend Cars, Bandoleros
May 20th: Night of Destruction - Golden Empire Supermoto, Destruction Events TBA
June 3rd: NASCAR Late Model Twins, Irwindale Race Trucks, Southwest Tour Truck Series, Legend Cars, Bandoleros
June 17th: NASCAR Late Model Twins, Irwindale Race Trucks, Spec Late Models, Legend Cars, Bandoleros
July 1st: Night of Destruction with FIREWORKS Finale - NASCAR Late Models, Destruction Events TBA
July 15th: NASCAR Late Model Twins, Spec Late Models, Southwest Tour Truck Series, Legend Cars, Bandoleros
July 29th: NASCAR Late Model Twins, Irwindale Race Trucks, Spec Late Models, Legend Cars, Bandoleros
August 12th: NASCAR Late Model Twins, Irwindale Race Trucks, Spec Late Models, Southwest Tour Truck Series, Bandoleros
August 19th: Lucas Oil Modified Series, SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series, Legend Cars
September 2nd: Night of Destruction - Southwest Tour Trucks Series, Destruction Events TBA
September 9th: NASCAR Late Model Twins, Irwindale Race Trucks, Spec Late Models, Legend Cars, Bandoleros
September 23rd: NASCAR Late Models (2x points), Irwindale Race Trucks, Spec Late Models, Southwest Tour Truck Series, Legend Cars, Bandoleros (2x points)
October 28th: Night of Destruction - NASCAR Irwindale Race Trucks (2x points), Destruction Events TBA
November 11th: Fall Spectacular - $5,000 to WIN NASCAR Late Models 100, Spec Late Models (2x points), Legend Cars (2x points)
December 2nd: Night of Destruction - Southwest Tour Truck Series (2x points), Destruction Events TBA
ALL DATES AND DIVISIONS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
