Drift
★★★★☆
The spiritual home of American drifting — a half-mile banked oval with a technical infield road course in the San Gabriel Valley. Iconic host of the Formula Drift season finale, where champions are crowned under the lights before thousands of fans.
Formula DriftDrift EventsSpectator EventsOval RacingTest & Tune
Watch: Irwindale Speedway
Know Before You Go
- Open drift days
- Public drift sessions run $50-150 for 2-3 hours of seat time. Helmet, fixed-back seat, and 4-point harness are typically required. Loaner gear is often available.
- Tire reality
- Plan on burning a complete set of rear tires per session. Used 200-treadwear tires from a tire shop are the cheap path; staggered sizes are common.
- Car prep that helps
- Hydraulic e-brake, welded or locked rear differential, and 60+ degrees of steering angle make a huge difference. Stock cars CAN drift — they just don't last.
- Coaching
- Most events pair newer drivers with a coach who rides along or radios from the side. Take advantage — drift technique is much faster to learn with feedback.