A landmark in the racing world may soon be reimagined. Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, a celebrated motorsports venue in Englishtown, New Jersey, is facing possible transformation as part of the state’s affordable housing initiative.
Under state mandates to add affordable housing, Old Bridge Township is scouting sites—and Raceway Park’s southeast section, spanning about half of its 534 acres, has garnered particular attention. Plans suggest constructing up to 600 housing units on that land. While only around half the parcel is deemed buildable due to environmental limitations, developers propose retaining a motorsports area along with new commercial and retail spaces.
Open since 1965, Raceway Park is best known for drag racing—though official drag events ended in 2018 due to rising costs. The park still operates a road course, motocross tracks, karting circuits, and hosts rounds of the Formula Drift Championship. It’s also adjacent to a small airport, further adding complexity to any land-redevelopment strategy.
In 2023, Old Bridge officials first attempted to rezone a portion of the complex for single-family housing, prompting Raceway Park to file a lawsuit. At the time, their lawyer described the move as an attempt to “ordinance is looking to rob them of their use of that property and basically zone it into disuse,” according to MyCentralJersey.
Last month, the township planning board voted to begin assessing whether Raceway Park should be designated an “area in need of redevelopment.” If confirmed, the redevelopment process could move forward more rapidly.
Statewide Housing Goals Pressure Communities
New Jersey’s Fair Share Housing Development Plan requires 146,000 affordable homes by 2035, with Old Bridge expected to contribute 673 units. However, “inclusionary” housing rules allow only 15–25 percent of units in a mixed development to be truly affordable, meaning hundreds of market-rate homes could eventually rise on the site.
Racing Roots and Cultural Impact
Founded by Vincent and Louis Napoliello in 1965 on a 308-acre lot, Raceway Park once boasted multiple drag strips, motocross areas, a quarter-mile drag lane, a 1.3-mile road circuit, kart courses, and more. Its famous slogans—“Ah ha ha ha ha ha Raceway Park!” once echoed across broadcasts. The complex was even recognized as one of the most storied drag strips in America, ranking among the nation’s top five at its peak.
As the fate of the park hangs in the balance, racing enthusiasts, local business owners, and housing advocates are watching closely. Will NJ put rooftops over a historic drag strip or preserve its motorsport heritage for another generation?
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.