Locals Divided Over Plans To Demo Irwindale Speedway For Shopping Center

IRWINDALE (CBSLA.com) — On Thursday nights you'll find Dave Davenport, 65 years young, burning rubber and time at the Irwindale Speedway.

Dave's got thousands of dollars and hours invested in his '63 Nova.

Now he's racing against the clock in more ways than one. The 16-year-old speedway's final days are on the approach.

"If this track here goes away that's horrible," he said. "That's what keeps me young. That's what I love to do. It's kind of my life."

The property owner plans on building an outlet mall at the location as soon as 2016.

City leaders gave the official green light for the mall Wednesday, boasting jobs and millions in revenue.

Some neighbors are rallying behind a new shopping center.

"If I was back in high school I think I would've gone to the speedway a lot more but unfortunately I have a family now I think it would be more beneficial as a mall," local resident Kevin Lee said.

Others have safety concerns.

"We don't need an outlet mall.  The kids are gonna start running em in the street," said speedway supporter Angel Luna.

When the sun finally sets for the last time on the drag strip, Davenport plans on high-tailing it out of state for good.

"California used to have the most drag strips there was and they don't have nothing no more," he said. "I do hope they keep this place!"

Racing will continue here through this year.

The developer is waiting to get more outlet stores on board before deciding when to officially break ground on the outlet mall.