The Illinois dirt track first opened in 1947
LaSalle Speedway is a dirt track located in LaSalle, Illinois. The track is promoted by the Izzo family.
In 1947, the facility opened doors to race fans for the first time. At the time, it was a 1/5-mile dirt oval called Tri-City Speedway. It was also used as a drive-in theater.
In 1992, the Izzo family purchased the property. They re-opened the race track under a new name, LaSalle Speedway. Skyboxes and grandstand were added and the track was converted to the current 1/4-mile racing surface with new clay on top.
On Thursday morning, LaSalle Speedway announced that an official announcement regarding LaSalle Speedway was pending.
Around 6pm Thursday, the closure of the speedway was announced. That statement can be seen below. The promoters didn’t give much incite into the closure but they did note “current personal events and unfortunate circumstances.”
Back in 2018, LaSalle Speedway canceled the upcoming Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event just weeks ahead of the scheduled event. The LOLMDS did not schedule a return for 2019.
The track hosts a wide range of dirt track racing events on a specials only basis. The biggest event hosted at the track each year is the Thaw Brawl.
The future of the track is uncertain. Track equipment has gone up for sale. However, it doesn’t appear that the track is yet listed on the market, though it could be in the future.
LaSalle Speedway joined a list of a least two other dirt tracks to announce it’s immediate and sudden closure, this week alone. Other tracks included Swainsboro Raceway in Georgia and Friendship Motor Speedway in North Carolina.
LaSalle Speedway announces closure
FROM THE DESK OF KERRY M. IZZO-DAUBER LaSalle, Illinois:
“It is with an extremely heavy and broken heart that I must report that
due to the current personal events and unfortunate circumstances in my own life, I am forced to cease any and all operations at the LaSalle Speedway.”
“I am totally unaware of what the future may hold for the speedway or the property but for now and the foreseeable future, the track is closed. I alone have had to make this decision and I refuse to comment or discuss the circumstances around this heartbreaking decision. At this time, I am asking for privacy for myself and my entire family.”
“I’d like to thank all the fans for their loyalty and support over the past 26, years. To each and every racer, it truly has been a pleasure to have worked with you. Some of your friendships will always remain dear to me for a very long time. I’d like to thank all of our sponsors who have been with us all these years. To my employees, from the bottom of my heart I thank you for all your hard work and dedication. I will miss you all.”
“If anyone has a refund coming for purchased tickets please call the office. Arrangements for refunds are in the process already. The office will remain open until June 7th. Thank you for your patience.”
LaSalle Speedway
Equipment for sale
Beginning on May 24th, track co-promoter Tony Izzo Jr began listing a wide range of track related equipment for sale on the Facebook marketplace. Water trucks, tracks packers and ever a grader were included. Other non-track related items included a Corvette.
Here are some of those items:
2004 John Deere 772 ch awd
$65,000
1994 Chevrolet truck
$2,500
1901 bush hog 2175 Legend
$8,000
Weeble wobble packer
$1,250
1986 Chevrolet Corvette · Hard Top 2D
$12,000
2003 Ford F350 Super Duty Regular Cab
$1,250
2001 International 4170
$11,000
2012 Case Puma 125
$50,000
1901 Ford 9000
$4,000
1993 Chevrolet Kodak
$4,000
More: LaSalle Speedway
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event at LaSalle Speedway has been canceled
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LaSalle Speedway DIRTcar conflict explained by Tony Izzo Jr
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