Raceway Park - ceasing racing operations.
01-17-2018, 07:14 AM
#1
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Raceway Park - ceasing racing operations.
Sad.
Bangshift has an article on raceway park renting out the track to copart for vehicle storage. The motocross operation is supposedly being expanded but racing is done there. The long time announcer also conformed this on facebook along with all the recently fired employees.
https://bangshift.com/bangshift1320/...ng-operations/
BangShift.com has learned that Raceway Park will cease racing operations in 2018. This is unhappy news to say the least. At this point our understanding is that there will not be a 2018 drag racing season at Raceway Park and an announcement regarding the track’s future, or lack thereof is forthcoming. In conversations with various parties close to the track’s operation we have learned that the Napp family who owns the facility has effectively leased some or all of the property to a company who plans to use it as some sort of vehicle storage area. We have not spoken directly to track ownership or management at this point but are confident with the information that we have gathered from those we have spoken to. We cannot speak to the other facets of the track (i.e. the motocross course, etc) but we can speak with a level of confidence that drag racing is over at one of the nation’s most well known and longest running facilities.
Bangshift has an article on raceway park renting out the track to copart for vehicle storage. The motocross operation is supposedly being expanded but racing is done there. The long time announcer also conformed this on facebook along with all the recently fired employees.
https://bangshift.com/bangshift1320/...ng-operations/
BangShift.com has learned that Raceway Park will cease racing operations in 2018. This is unhappy news to say the least. At this point our understanding is that there will not be a 2018 drag racing season at Raceway Park and an announcement regarding the track’s future, or lack thereof is forthcoming. In conversations with various parties close to the track’s operation we have learned that the Napp family who owns the facility has effectively leased some or all of the property to a company who plans to use it as some sort of vehicle storage area. We have not spoken directly to track ownership or management at this point but are confident with the information that we have gathered from those we have spoken to. We cannot speak to the other facets of the track (i.e. the motocross course, etc) but we can speak with a level of confidence that drag racing is over at one of the nation’s most well known and longest running facilities.
01-17-2018, 08:17 AM
#3
Team Owner
Thread Starter
01-17-2018, 09:39 AM
#4
Team Owner
Member Since: Jul 2004
Location: NJ
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St. Jude Donor '05-'08
its real. Announcement from the Napp family on their facebook site.
Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, the Napp family owned and operated business announced today a reorganization of the company’s business operations. To achieve this goal, Raceway Park will no longer conduct quarter mile or eighth mile drag racing events effective immediately. Raceway Park will retain and use the “stadium” portion of the facility including the VIP hospitality tower and grandstands and continue most of its operations including the spring and fall auto swap meets, numerous car shows, both motocross racing and practice, kart racing, as well as drifting, a full schedule of road course activities, mud runs, monster truck shows, musical concerts, & festival events and more. The long standing Old Bridge Township Airport, owned and operated by Raceway Park will also continue to operate as normal.
The new reorganization reflects the company’s plan moving forward beginning in 2018 while allowing Raceway Park to still continue to operate as it has in the past with the exception of drag racing. The Napp family wishes to express their most sincere gratitude to the NHRA, and the many thousands of racers and fans, without whom would have never allowed Raceway Park to become the iconic and nationally recognized drag racing facility it has over the past five decades.
The Napp family would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the employees that have served our drag racing customers so well over the previous years. It is with a great sadness that the Napp family is discontinuing drag racing, however the family looks forward to continuing to provide the best outdoor events in this new era of Raceway Park.
The new reorganization reflects the company’s plan moving forward beginning in 2018 while allowing Raceway Park to still continue to operate as it has in the past with the exception of drag racing. The Napp family wishes to express their most sincere gratitude to the NHRA, and the many thousands of racers and fans, without whom would have never allowed Raceway Park to become the iconic and nationally recognized drag racing facility it has over the past five decades.
The Napp family would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the employees that have served our drag racing customers so well over the previous years. It is with a great sadness that the Napp family is discontinuing drag racing, however the family looks forward to continuing to provide the best outdoor events in this new era of Raceway Park.
Last edited by Wicked Weasel; 01-17-2018 at 09:41 AM.
01-17-2018, 10:13 AM
#6
Melting Slicks
Well with all the housing development that has taken place in that area over the past 30+ years it was only a matter of time. From what I understand close by residents were always complaining about the noise, even thought the track was there way before they ever moved in.
I have a lot of good memories from that place. Going to watch the Summernationals, Camaro/Firebird days (had a '73 Camaro RS at the time) and Corvette Challenges and well as the Friday night drag racing events. Oh well life goes on
I have a lot of good memories from that place. Going to watch the Summernationals, Camaro/Firebird days (had a '73 Camaro RS at the time) and Corvette Challenges and well as the Friday night drag racing events. Oh well life goes on
Last edited by MYCoupe; 01-17-2018 at 10:28 AM.
01-28-2018, 10:27 AM
#9
Race Director
I also believe ATCO will benefit some. I live near RP, just a couple of miles up from the end of the strip. Developers have been after every square inch of property around here. I only have a couple of more years here until I retire and move South. I expect to see demolition of the whole facility before I'm gone. I'm betting someone made the family an offer they couldn't refuse.
02-02-2018, 12:32 AM
#11
Racer
15yr lease to Copart
02-10-2018, 10:23 AM
#14
Team Owner
Thread Starter
The current owners of Raceway part aren't even racers, they dont care. Having to deal with racers and their ilk is thankless and doesn't pay well. Making millions of dollars to allow someone to park cars there is a much better deal.
02-17-2018, 01:27 PM
#17
Race Director
For what it's worth, there is a petition going around, over 11K people signed it, only to air their grievances, but it won't change anything.
https://www.thepetitionsite.com/143/...bbfb=379366066
https://www.thepetitionsite.com/143/...bbfb=379366066
02-18-2018, 09:49 AM
#18
Racer
Thanks for the link
06-03-2018, 04:48 PM
#19
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Heard that the town isnt approving the variance needed for the CoPart deal, neighbors are now worried about the 24x7 big rig traffic.
Racing might be coming back, supposedly the guy who owns the ZMax tracks is interested in E-Towns track operations.
Racing might be coming back, supposedly the guy who owns the ZMax tracks is interested in E-Towns track operations.
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66 Double B (06-03-2018)
06-04-2018, 09:59 AM
#20
Team Owner
So people move to next to a race track and airport then complain about noise, what else is new 