It’s going to be a lot quieter in San Tan Valley soon. After decades of hosting fans and races, the Arizona Speedway and ET Motopark will close for good on April 4.

The Arizona State Land Department says the special land use permit for the racetrack was due to expire in 2021, as agreed to by both parties in 2019.

Recent land sales and projected development around the park make it unsuitable for racing in the future. The decision to cease racing operations was made by the racetrack’s owner.

The official announcement was released on the racetrack’s Facebook page, which left many fans and racers heartbroken.

Steven Duffy, who has raced there for the past 10 years, said losing the track feels like losing a family member.

“The racetrack was there first. People who had moved in the area knew that there was a racetrack,” Duffy said. “They’re not asking for Mesa Gateway Airport to shut down. I lived right across the street from there and you get just as much if not more noise pollution from the military jets that fly in and out of there.”

Duffy also said that the track did everything it could to reduce the noises from the cars.

“Any car that ran headers for their exhaust system was actually required to run a muffler on it,” Duffy said. “That muffler was even stricter than the national standard that all of the major sanctioning bodies would use.”

The track will still hold its remaining events in the next few weeks and Duffy said it is the perfect opportunity for fans to come out and support it one last time.

Remaining Events

• May 27: Mud Bogs and Sand Drag Finale. 
• May 28:  Motocross.
• April 3: Motocross.
• April 4: The Last Dance with sprint cars, modifieds, sport mods, stock cars and bombers.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The story has been modified to correct why the track is closing.