Back in the early part of the year I remember reading that Copart basically gave them a bunch of money and the drag racing portion at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park was done for. My uncle was racing this weekend and saw a racer that visited there a good bit and said that Copart ended up backing out of the deal. Anyone know anymore about this? I looked online but didn't find anything yet, but am going to look some more. Just curious if they plan on drag racing in the future or are done with that for good.

All the timing equipment, as well as the track dryer, have been sold.
They even took the dragster out of their logo.
There will not be drag racing there again.

Perhaps the Copart company was a decoy for them (the track) to fall head over heels for the deal and pretty much ice their whole drag racing program in advance of sealing it all through. Bait and switch?
There by once the pull out happens, then the developers can swoop in on parachutes and buy the land rights or in whole for just below market value.

I would like think NEVER say NEVER.What else can they do there if the town won't allow the salvage/auction thing?? I have hope there and for a new track on Long Island!

Pic from 2008

I never like to see drag strips close as they rarely reopen. My hometown track fought the neighbors for YEARS and gave up alot of stuff they didn't need to. He only did so because he trusted his lawyer and that's the advice he gave him. Turns out his lawyer was being paid under the table by the neighbors so everything he gave up (like running multiple times a week, etc) he really didn't have to. He operated the track as long as he could until his wife became ill and ended up selling it to a guy that well didn't have a clue about racing. Fortunately the track has since changed hands again and remains open. Kind of makes me wonder if someone help get Copart to set the deal up just to back out after the drag racing portion was already done. I thought it was odd originally that they would still have everything but the drag racing part. Don't know how some people sleep at night being so evil...

C'mon. No one ever does anything underhanded or unethical in New Jersey.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to visit and spectate for the mopars at englishtown event so long ago it seems like a different lifetime.....
late 80s I think it was...definitely pre-internet. Pre-moparts. It was also was pre-GPS and I got lost two or three times wandering around in that area. But really had a blast spectating and talking with a couple racers. The people in the bleachers gambling on each race were hilarious. Really had a great time there.

No pinks here in these parts, it's all about the green. LOL.

Just ask the Mutt brothers....

Oh yeah, they were in the GREEN while showing everyone their RED tail lights.

There's all kinds of rumors going around, I've heard a few different ones about it re opening. I don't see why they would have to do a bait and switch to develop the land though. It has been expected for years, to close and be developed like the rest of the area. I never expected it to close for junk cars though.

Rumor has it, the deal was signed with the insurance company, before they got the ok from the town, or the EPA....

Well, people always like a comeback kid.
Question is for how long will a reopening be popular if the planning boards do not do their do diligence to keep people coming back.

We still need a drag strip on Long Island though.

Whoops. Looks like bye bye big, easy money.

Lol. That’s a shame

Its been a few months now and it still angers me how it went down. Although not my home track I raced at every Mopar Atlantic Nats( except a few that rained out ) either in my Dart or D150. I raced the 11.50 index class there for the last couple years , winning the Championship in 2014 with my friend driving my Dart, as well as getting to compete at the NHRA National Meet there in 2014. I was planning on racing this year also. I have heard a lot of rumors and have gotten info from some very good sources but nothing has happened as of yet. I myself am still holding on to a glimmer of hope that it will reopen, who knows / you never know.

The one on the right is from 2008

Not sure how NHRA would respond to them opening back up. I think they may have burned that bridge. I always enjoyed going there, mostly. It was OK after they paved the lower pits. And after we got motorhomes and didn't have to leave the property. I don't miss going to New Jersey.

One of the mary rumors was that NHRA wants the track open but without the Napp family as management. And that NHRA has filed a lawsuit against them for breach of contract….. Just something i heard awhile back

I dont think the track was much of a NHRA fan. I used to see Vinny Napp from time to time when he was still alive. He told me about how NHRA used to pay the track for national events years ago. Over the years it changed to them getting nothing to NHRA wanting cash to even them wanting a part of the concessions. I also know that they have bin battling the town for years. I think they even still have a case pending with the town rezoning to have a mosk as there neighbors and changing the noise restrictions. I dont see it reopening but if it does I'll be there.

From what I read the lawzuit was breach of contract because the track already had a national event scheduled and then closed the track.

Yep. NHRA wanted that National in the NY/NJ market. They don't care about and aren't involved in anything else as far as the track is concerned. The Franklin family has done such a good job at VMP, and with New England and the Grove, I'm not sure NHRA would even care about a big race at Englishtown now.

Take this with a gain of salt if you must,
the whole thing was to get out of the NHRA contract, CoPart had no intention of using the facility ,they have enough storage space(and EPA/local Gov issues) in the NY/NJ/PA market area.
Contract with CoPart was never signed, was never going to be signed.
If it re-opens, great don't expect it to be anything more than Test & Tune 1/8 mile with a few car shows.

The deal was never with copart. It was with IAA.

I have a friend that does the auctions when I told him about this be was looking forward to going, but he asked me a couple times where I heard about it because it wasn't being advertised that there was a new yard or anything.

I'm with you Bill! That was the closest track to Long Island.I still hold hope for a track here some day before I check ouy

Englishtown is done. There will never be drag racing there again. Coparts is moving in.

That stinks. I'm at least glad that I got a chance to race there.

Hi Rich
Hear anything good for Long Island?

It’s been 8 months, and the track is still empty. Weeds taking over the pits.
The deal also wasn’t with coparts, it was with IAA.

The town zoneing dept. would not let the property be used for salvage car storage.

KAR owneed Iaa and CoPart and few other , Iaa was spun off in Feb?Mar. The deal was NEVER ABOUT salvage auction or storage it was all about getting away from NHRA.

Whatever happens at E Town, it won't be drag racing. I haven't heard anything definite about Long Island but I will keep my hopes up. I bought raffle tickets to support the cause.

It's funny how many different stories there are as to what happened, and all of you are adamant that your version is the correct one.

Only one?? Or one book? I bought a book and hope to have the winning tickey!!

[b][/b]The SHADOW knows.......LOL

Either way us long Islanders have to travel 100 miles or more to get to a track.The last 30 miles getting through NYC takes at least 2 hours!!

I bought a whole book Al. I hope a lot of other racers did too!

Its done , the end has come as they started parking junk cars there this past week. very sad!!! It appears making money and not having to work for it are more important to the offspring than the feelings of a bunch of drag racers and Vinny and Richards legacy.

Forget it, man. Move down by me. There are tracks within an hour of driving in any direction, and they are pretty much open almost year round. I'm pretty sure that cost of living in Charlotte is slightly cheaper than Great Neck. LOL! And you will fall over hysterical when you find out what they consider a major snowfall.