The closing of Irwindale Speedway, the most permanent site the Nitro Revival event has had, comes as no surprise. It likely won’t be a surprise if Steve Gibbs's fine creation of a tribute to the vintage days of nitro racing ends up at Bakersfield’s Famoso Dragstrip. 

On October 19, track operator Tim Huddleston revealed the Irwindale Speedway will cease operations at the end of 2024. 

“Although it was an announcement we’ve been expecting for some time, the reality of losing another racing facility will have a major impact on motorsports...and in particular, Nitro Revival,” Gibbs said in a prepared statement. “While it obviously means that our upcoming event will be our final production at Irwindale, Cindy and I have every intention of producing future Nitro Revival events.  

“Talks are now in progress regarding alternative sites and plans for 2025, and we expect to make a detailed announcement very soon.  We are absolutely dedicated and committed to continue our efforts in presenting events that celebrate the unforgettable cars and unique individuals from the golden ages of hot rodding and drag racing.”

And one last point made by Gibbs in his statement regarding the event, he offered, “Nitro Revival is not going away.”

But to the chagrin of multitudes of Nitro Revival fans, Irwindale’s eighth-mile dragstrip is. 

Since its opening in 1999, Irwindale has been home to NASCAR races, demolition derbies, street-legal drag racing, and the iconic Formula Drift events at “The House of Drift,” along with numerous car culture festivals. Its final event, Irwindale Speedway’s Farewell Extravaganza, is set for December 21, marking the close of a significant chapter in racing history.

“Irwindale has been more than just a track—it’s been a home and gathering place for racing enthusiasts worldwide,” said Tim Huddleston, President of Irwindale Speedway & Event Center Inc. “On behalf of my wife Lisa and our partners Bob and Maureen Bruncati, we extend heartfelt thanks to our fans, racers, sponsors, and the City of Irwindale for their unwavering support over the past 25 years. We’re grateful for every moment and memory we’ve shared as a community.”

Despite hosting the successful event at multiple venues since  2017, Gibbs acknowledged the importance of finding a new home for the Nitro Revival to ensure its survival. 

“For Nitro Revival to survive, we need to look elsewhere, and Bakersfield’s going to be here a long time, and one way or other, I think we’re probably destined to try to work out something to keep it going,” Gibbs told CompetitionPlus.com in an interview at the California Hot Rod Reunion, where Nitro Revival had a display on the midway. 

Bakersfield provides a natural home, considering Gibbs views it as the Mecca when it comes to vintage racing.

“Nitro Revival really focuses a lot on the cackle cars,” Gibbs said. “Now, they’re not race cars, and some people think it’s a demeaning thing to have a car like that, but these guys are preserving history. They’re taking cars that were the kings of the sport in the day. You name them. Those cars have been resurrected and those guys have spent a lot of money to present that to the folks out there. And so there needs to be a centerpiece for those kind of cars to go.”
 
Gibbs has also said that the number of seasons he will be at the head of the Nitro Revival table remains unclear. He’s turning 85 in April and will eventually hand the reins over to his daughter Cindy. 

“I’ve been blessed with good health, and I’ve taken pretty good care of myself,” Gibbs said. “I guess I’ve inherited some decent genes. And so yeah, I’m fortunate. Hell. I’m getting married next month. I’ve been fortunate and I’m lucky to have a daughter. I got three great daughters, but Cindy’s the oldest and she’s eaten up with this stuff. She grew up with these people. She grew up around racing. And for her sake, I want it to endure. We don’t do it for a living. This is something we do out of the passion for history, the legacy. You can add whatever adjectives you want to it. 

“It’s trying to preserve the history of the sport and present it to people that are coming up. This is what it used to be like. These are the people, the ones that are still there..”

There’s no doubt that Blake Bowser, operator of Famoso Dragstrip, would welcome the Nitro Revival back to Bakersfield. He believes it could fit perfectly into the long-term vision he has for the California Hot Rod Reunion [CHRR]. 

Bowser took over the CHRR from the NHRA, and made great strides in repairing some of the burned bridges along the way. A key part of Bowser’s vision includes ensuring the CHRR is a viable drag race, and in the second year of his leadership will focus on the reunion aspect.

“The next step is to bring back the reunion elements, which is like the cackle cars and that atmosphere,” Bowser said.

Knowing the positive relationship Gibbs and Bowser have maintained over the years lends credence that there could be a reunion at the Reunion. 

The final Irwindale-hosted Nitro Revival is scheduled for November 8-9, 2024.

"We invite our loyal participants and fans to join us on November 8th and 9th for our farewell to Irwindale," Gibbs said. "With your continued support, we look forward to future Nitro Revival events for years to come.".