Track PR Report
Photo by: Sal Sigala Jr./3WideAnd1ToGo.com

Irwindale, CA(January 4, 2013) — Irwindale Speedway and NASCAR announced today that the half-mile oval will re-open in 2013 as a NASCAR Whelen All-Amercian Series track.

“We’re very happy, No…better than that, we’re quite proud to announce our 2013 NASCAR racing schedule for Irwindale Speedway,” said Irwindale Event Center President and CEO Jim Cohan.

“We met with Bob Duvall from NASCAR yesterday at our offices in Irwindale,” said Cohan.  “He really understands our mission to bring great short track stock car racing back to southern California and he’s very supportive of that goal.  Bob made his presentation, answered all of our questions, we signed the sanction agreement, and he got back on a plane and took the papers back to Daytona Beach.”

“NASCAR is pleased to bring our Home Tracks program back to Irwindale Speedway,” said Duvall, NASCAR’s Senior Director of Business Development.  “This facility hasn’t changed physically in any way; it’s the same great race track.  What has changed is the management group and spirit of teamwork that Jim Cohan’s people bring to the effort, they’re all top pros, and I’m really looking forward to working with them.”

“There were a few doubts out there that this day might not come, not on our part of course.  Our team has worked very hard for this day, and to finally be able to tell the world that Saturday night stock car racing is back at Irwindale,” Cohan added.

The 2013 racing season will begin on Saturday night, April 6 with a “Grand Re-Opening Night” of racing featuring NASCAR Super Late Models, Late Models, Super Stocks, Mini-Stocks and an evening-ending fun-for-all Demolition Derby.

Late last year Speedway management announced an alliance with Kern County Raceway Park, the new half-mile oval racetrack that’s just completing construction near Bakersfield.  Both tracks are working together to co-ordinate schedules and competition rules to allow teams in a number of divisions to compete at both tracks during the upcoming season.

Irwindale Competition Director, Mike Atkinson, will soon be announcing divisional meetings at the track for car owners and drivers. Applications for 2013 NASCAR licenses for drivers and crewpersons are now available at the Speedway office during regular business hours.