A Historic NASCAR Venue Could Soon Become Housing Land
NASCAR is in the middle of a nostalgic revival—resurrecting tracks like North Wilkesboro and Mansfield, and exploring new venues like a San Diego street course. But in New Jersey, the sport is facing a heartbreaking loss.
Raceway Park in Englishtown, a staple of Northeast motorsports since 1965, may soon shut down to make room for over 600 affordable housing units. The proposal comes as Old Bridge Township scrambles to meet New Jersey’s state mandate to build 146,000 affordable homes by 2035.
Town documents reveal a massive redevelopment plan that includes retail, commercial spaces, and housing—potentially wiping out large sections of the iconic track. While some areas of the airpark may be preserved, racing as we know it at Raceway Park could disappear.
“One of New Jersey’s oldest motorsport raceways could be redeveloped to make way for hundreds of affordable housing units.” — @NJDotCom via Adam Stern
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Community vs. Compliance
The township is caught in a bind. Planning board member Erik DePalma didn’t hold back:
“If it were up to me, I’d put up a ‘closed for building’ sign. It’s disgusting. If we don’t comply, we get sued.”
That lawsuit threat comes from New Jersey’s Mount Laurel Doctrine, which legally requires towns to provide fair housing. Old Bridge must deliver 673 affordable units or face legal penalties. And Raceway Park, with its 534 acres, is in the crosshairs.
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The Napp Family Fights Back
For the Napp family, who founded and maintained Raceway Park for decades, the track is more than land—it’s heritage. In 2023, they sued the township to challenge zoning changes that allow residential construction on the property.
They argue the track is still vital to the town’s identity and economy. Businesses that thrive on race weekends — motels, diners, auto shops — could all feel the sting of the closure. Their lawsuit is now a symbol of small communities pushing back against state-driven mandates.
This isn’t just about Raceway Park. The case could set the tone for other motorsport landmarks under threat in New Jersey and beyond. A win for the Napps may inspire other owners to defend their land. But if the township wins, Raceway Park may just be the first domino to fall.
With NASCAR looking to the future while honoring its past, this fight underscores the tension between progress and preservation. Whether the engines roar on or fall silent, Raceway Park’s legacy remains cemented in the sport’s history.
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