The answer is…maybe!
The Irwindale Speedway, a quarter-mile road racing track in Irwindale, California, has been a fan favorite on the NASCAR circuit since it opened in 1957. But the track has never officially announced whether it will be open on Thanksgiving Day—which is a popular day to attend driving schools and practice—so it’s tough to plan your weekend around it.
Thanksgiving is a federal holiday in the U.S. that was first established in the 19th century to give American workers time off work so they could spend time with their families. While many businesses will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 22, some might still be open, depending on the nature of their business.
Here’s a breakdown of whether the Irwindale Speedway will be open on Thanksgiving Day:
Seasonality
The track has never officially announced whether it will be open on Thanksgiving, but its website does list the holiday as one of its “special occasions” when it’s open, so there’s a chance the track could be open on Thanksgiving Day. In order to determine whether the track will be open on Thanksgiving Day, you’ll have to call or email the track directly; there’s no official way to find this information online.
On the other hand, the speedway typically closes down in the winter due to the cold weather. Despite its name, the track actually opens in the spring and closes in the fall. Because of this, it’s unlikely the track will be open in the winter.
School Holiday
Another possibility is that the school holidays—which run from early September to early June—could pose as an opportunity to get some race-related activities done at the Irwindale Speedway. Due to class schedules and other commitments, students might not have a lot of time for fun activities during the school year, leading them to make up for it in the summer. If this is the case, the track could be open on school holidays when the students are off work and have more time to practice.
In addition, some NASCAR teams will be on tour in the U.S. during the school holidays, which would also mean the track could be open. Due to the nature of the sport, many of these teams will be driving on Thanksgiving—making it a perfect day for some speedway action!
Other Weekend Roles
Another thing to consider is the Irwindale Speedway‘s annual “Big Air” race on Saturday, July 4. This is a three-day event where drivers attempt to set personal bests in various racetracks around the community. These personal bests are then used to determine an overall winner of the competition. But aside from the Big Air race, the track is closed on other weekends.
The same pattern holds for most short tracks across the nation, making it a possible opportunity to race on a holiday. However, you should always check with the track directly to make sure it will be open on the weekend you intend to race. Many tracks will close down on major holidays, so check with the track website or call the phone number listed on the site to get the latest information.
Also, some smaller tracks will only be open on certain days each week due to staffing issues or other commitments, which you should research before making plans. If this is the case and you want to attend a track that is closed on weekends, you will have to make arrangements to either attend on a weekday or find an alternative route to your location.
No matter what, if you’re looking for an excuse to go to the track, you’ll have to make plans very carefully. You can find a calendar of races and other activities at the Irwindale Speedway website or by calling the number listed on the website.