After 63 Years in Business, Atco Dragway in New Jersey Closes Its Gates
In a state without a lot of options for drag racing tracks, New Jersey took an unexpected hit on Wednesday afternoon, as word spread quickly that Atco Dragway was closing the gates permanently and ceasing all racing activities.
Although many speculated it could be a hack of Atco Dragway’s and other’s Facebook pages at first, several sources, including the track’s starter, confirmed the track was indeed closing.
The Facebook post just before 6 pm EST stated:
“Effective immediately: Atco Dragway is permanently closed. We will not be open from this point on. The remainder of our schedule for 2023 will be canceled. Thank you all for your patronage and memories over the years.
Special thank you to our 29th annual Pan American Nationals racers & crowd for making Atco Dragway’s last event the biggest and best one ever. This isn’t the end for import racing in the northeast!
To all of our staff, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for sticking it out with us and being the best in the business!”
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Originally opened in 1960, Atco Dragway played host to thousands of races and series. The drag-and-drive community visited the storied facility two times, as Atco hosted day three on the 2019 Hot Rod Drag Week event, and recently hosted day two on the Summit Racing Midwest Drags just last week.
Rowdy Radial class runner Rick Steinke sits outside Atco Dragway’s gate on day three of Hot Rod Drag Week 2019.
This closure doesn’t come as a big surprise to some locals and regulars, as a possible sale of the track was rumored in late 2020 that would’ve also closed the facility to racing activities.
This marks the second major track in the state to close its doors to the drag racing community in five years. Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, which opened in 1965, announced that the venue will cease hosting all drag racing events in early 2018.
With the shuttering of Atco Dragway, only one National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) sanctioned drag racing facility remains in New Jersey: Island Dragway in Great Meadows.
Two-Time Sick Week Freaks class winner Tony Niemczyk scored his first-ever racing win at Atco Dragway several years ago, with a victory in the Junior Dragster class.
It was not confirmed at press time, but rumors are the property was purchased by a land developer. It is unknown if the property will become a different business venue, or possibly be used for a housing development.
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Atco Dragway, Rick Steinke and Tony Niemczyk.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com