i have always been under the impression the build up around existing tracks is the root cause of tracks closing, even if those tracks are old. too many people encroaching on proven establishments with greed being their main concern in life, and to hell with the integrity of those that were there first !

I don't get it.

I've read that they signed a 15 year 75 million lease with copart auctions.

Money brother...it's all about the $$$$$$.

So cab...am I still a "hater"? just checking....If I didn't know I was right, I wouldn't have posted it...

Of course it's about money. But why the drag strip only? Hard to imagine that little rinky-dink airport is more profitable than drag racing, especially having a National event every summer. Or the road course. I've never seen much of anything going on there. At least keep the National event and have some limited drag racing during the season?

Guess the economics are such that when you own that much land and can make zillions if you lease it out while at the same time ridding yourself of all the headaches associated with drag racing...

What would everyone here do when presented with this choice? Continue running a largely disliked drag strip in a crowded, politicized area or take $75 million a year for 15 years for doing nothing?

Just sucks that all of the people into this stuff around here are directly affected by this choice. Hope L.I. can get it done!

Same here. It don't make sense to me to kill the drag racing and keep the other crap. I live close to etown and I see the cars going there for these big drag racing events.

I heard that the airport is on some kind of fema evacuation thing or something like that can't be shut down

"We're going to do all goofy stupid crap except drag racing" - Makes sense since when someone says "Englishtown" you assume the drag strip.

Let the street racing begin. STREET OUTLAWS CT,NY,NJ,PA,DE,MD. NOW WE WILL ALL HAVE A CHANCE AT FAME AND SOME FORTUNE! Street outlaws with Mopars, who can ask for more.

And knowing the State Police Gestapo here in NJ, lots of tickets too...

Leah Pritchett did a hashtag today that said.... #DontMoveByaTrackIfYouDontLikeRaceCarNoises

That's 5 mil a year. Were the tracks making that much after expenses, time, headaches, lawsuits, etc?

Sucks. Kick in the gut is right. I don't know whether to be grateful they kept it going all these years or pissed that the drag racing is the only thing they ditched. Probably a lot we don't know. Noise restrictions coming and they decided to take the money now? The track is short; insurance balking at covering fuel cars at the national event? New Jersey is a strange place. They don't operate like everyone else.

Who would drive to a track on Long Island other than people who live there?

Kalitta's crash and passing was probably a factor.



It's a good question.

I used to live on L.I. but now I live in Southern CT. The Island is physically 5 miles south but it takes well over an hour to get down there since we have to drive around the water. Having a track way out east would be like 2 1/2-3 hours one way for me. Taking a ferry across the sound takes just as long (if not longer) and is ridiculously expensive, especially if you have a trailer.

All the people in Jersey, PA and even upstate NY would have to get through the city which is an absolute nightmare, trailer or not. Then depending on the time of day, 3 more hours out to the track? Forget it.

On a good day, it would take me 1hr 45 minutes from my house in Huntington to ETown. Atco is like 3 hours. Lebanon Valley isn't too bad, it's 2 1/2-3 hours. Island is pretty far for me now, probably 3 hours. Either way, I'll go to these places until I can't anymore. Atco and the Valley are fun tracks.

IMHO in order to replace a facility like that you would have to go to Pocono Motor Speedway. Straight out 80 about 40 miles past the water gap. No way either ATCO or Island could support the nitro cars.

Its sad to see. I remember going there in the mid 90's to watch the big boys. It was the 1st track I went to that had that much of the pits paved and what not. I do find it fishy they are only closing the drag racing part, but keeping the rest of the stuff open...makes you wonder what the back story relly is...(drag races wasn't worth all the headaches and such for the profit, or is there something of $$ that help the closing?)

It's very simple...5 million a year on the lease and no overhead or staff needed to collect...Occam's razor my friend.

I'll never forget the look on my kids face when we went to see the Top Fuel cars run. She was about 5 or 6 and my friend had a booth above the track. When the Dragsters lined up I told her to put her hand on the glass. When the tree came down and they took off her eyes were as big as saucers.

Lots of good times there.

You had the straight scoop and I was hoping you weren't correct
Another one bites the dust, I HATE IT
Being a pilot and a former airplane owner and drag racer I get hit both ways, small private airports and drag strips closing up nation wide
Maybe I should buy a smart phone and learn how to entertain myself that way on that deal, NOT

In my area there was an indoor/outdoor shooting range. A developer put in a bunch of houses then these new buyers tried to close down the range. The range spent a ton of money on legal fees to avoid a shutdown , but they managed to put time restraints on outdoor shooting