Fireworks caught attention. Dignitaries’ speeches were overwhelming. But the race-thirsty crowd of 7,500 craved for adrenaline-pumping competition at the re-christened Toyota Speedway at Irwindale.

How grand was the opening of the race track? Whittier Daily News has this to say: "On a warm day, with snow-capped Mount Baldy visible in the background, gasoline in the track's pits at $7 a gallon, race fans, non-race fans and racers clamored to get started. Channel 5 newscasters dropped in via helicopter, fans received Toyota Speedway baseball caps, a schedule lanyard and magnet schedule and racing celebrities took part in opening ceremonies."

Celebrities rush to witness the event. Matter of fact, Parnelli Jones and Danny Sullivan, Indianapolis 500 winners were in attendance in the track's 20th sellout in 10 seasons of racing. To note, the event was the second consecutive sellout on opening night.

"It's opening night, we decided we wanted to come," said Glendora resident Eric Hall, who arrived with his 11-year-old son, Jed. "I like the demolition derbies and Figure-8's," Jed said. The kid got his wish later in the evening with a Figure-8 race.

Also on the track were the ACDelco Super Late Model series, the King Taco Super Trucks series, the Automobile Club of Southern California Late Model series, and the Legends.

"We've driven by this place numerous tines and thought this would be a good time to check it out," said Steve Merrill of Claremont. "We always wanted to come." Merrill was with his wife, Lacy, and their 4-year-old son, Parker.

It seemed that the audience was very much excited. But racers were just as keyed up. "You get burned out at the end of the season, but those three, four months between seasons go by so fast and you're ready to race again. Getting back here is fantastic," Super Late Model racer Scott Conaway of Upland said.

At Saturday’s race, over 110 cars participated. Some drivers were just from Irwindale while others were from as far as Indiana or Iowa.

"I didn't miss it until I got back into the car," said Late Model rookie Colin Fleming of San Diego, who raced in the open-wheel Toyota Atlantics series two years ago. "But once I got back in, a race car is a race car."

There will be 29 more nights of racing at the track owned by the maker of Toyota OEM parts. "This is what you hope for. This is it," track chief executive officer Jim Williams said.

Separately, the annual Toyota All-Star Showdown was rescheduled on January. The race will be held the weekend of Jan. 23-24, a week prior to the 2009 Daytona 500.