Insider takes a vicious dig at remorseless people amid NASCAR’s ‘lost’ historic piece

NASCAR insider Matthew Dilner recently criticized race fans who were present as the demolition of Irwindale Speedway began. Dillner, who is a Senior Producer at FloRacing and the co-host on television documentary Lost Speedways with Dale Earnhardt Jr., expressed that people present were not very respectful, and were rather remorseless at the track's closure.

Irwindale Speedway, established in May 1999 in Irwindale, California, was a key venue on NASCAR's ARCA Menards Series schedule. Known for its versatility, it also hosted numerous National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) events. A highlight of its schedule was the popular Thursday Night Thunder, which became a staple event for fans and racers alike.

In October 2024, it was announced that Irwindale Speedway would shut down its operations, marking the end of an era. As a crane began dismantling the track, several onlookers were seen laughing. NASCAR insider Dillner shared a clip of the scene on X, condemning the spectators' behavior and expressing disappointment at the lack of respect for the historic site.

"People celebrate with no remorse as they don’t understand how painful these sights and sounds are.The Los Angeles racing scene, once as vibrant and fruitful as many, is now Lost. @Irwindale_Spdwy is a track that should never have fallen. @LostSpeedways."

Moreover, the facility's manager Tim Huddleston also shed light on the closure of the former NASCAR and NHRA track (via the track's official press release).

“Irwindale Speedway and Dragstrip will close following the 2024 season, ending a quarter-century as a beloved motorsports hub in Southern California. After years of narrowly escaping closure, the Speedway is now going to be bulldozed for an industrial park. The city has started reviewing plans for a mix of warehouses and commercial spaces to replace the track.”

The final day of the race track was held as a commemorative event called the Farewell Extravaganza, which was scheduled on Saturday, December 21. The day started at 10:00 AM and featured a diverse list of events including a 75 lap ARCA race, Junior, Super, and Pro Late Model races along with several drifting events.

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"They weren’t just fans": NASCAR driver snaps back at Matthew Dilner for his comments amid Irwindale's closure

NASCAR driver Dean Thompson, who pilots the #5 Chevrolet Silverado for Tricon Garage in the Truck Series did not hold back from responding to FloRacing's Dilner for his comments as mentioned above. Thompson cleared the fog for the FloRacing producer, telling him how the people laughing and cheering have 'years of memories at this track'.

"Dude the only people that were here to see this were people that DO understand how painful these sights and sounds are. They weren’t just fans these were people that have made a livelihood and years and years of memories at this track. This was a private deal and not for the fans," Thompson wrote on X.

After exchanging a few comments, both Thompson and Dilner came to a mutual understanding about the events that took place at Irwindale Speedway's demolition.