It didn’t take long for a statement posted to the drag strip’s social media account to make its way throughout the drag racing community. Atco Dragway announced its permanent closing on July 18, 2023.
A beloved destination for car enthusiasts in South Jersey, Atco Dragway ends a 63-year run of operation. And it came to an abrupt end.
“Effectively immediately, Atco Dragway is permanently closed,” said a statement on the track’s social media channel. “We will not be open from this point on. The remainder of our schedule from 2023 will be canceled.
“Thank you for all your patronage and memories over the years.
“Special thanks to our 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!”
Atco Dragway had a rich history, with its drag strip being constructed on Jackson Road in 1959 and officially inaugurated on Memorial Day of the following year. Throughout its existence, the venue served as a hub for countless racing events, attracting both local and international participants. The facility played on a reasonably big stage in 1988, hosting the Billy Meyer-owned IHRA and its Summernationals event.
Atco also held a part of doorslammer drag racing history at that 1988 event, as Tommy Howes drove his radical, supercharged 300ZX to drag racing’s first full-bodied six-second pass while racing in the pre-Pro ModTop Sportsman division.
While specific reasons behind the closure were not disclosed in the statement, it is believed the facility was sold to a company specializing in the resale and remarketing of used wholesale and salvage title vehicles.
According to 6abc.com, concerns about the future of Atco Dragway had been raised even before this recent development. In 2020, a Change.org petition emerged in response to reports suggesting that the track might be transformed into a storage facility and auction site. However, it remains unclear whether this played a role in the decision to close the venue, which had several events scheduled for the remainder of the 2023 season.
Atco Dragway owner Len Capone was unavailable for comment.
The loss of Atco Dragway represents the end of an era for the South Jersey racing community, leaving them without a cherished local venue that has been an integral part of their automotive culture for over six decades. Despite the closure, the legacy of Atco Dragway will undoubtedly endure in the memories of drivers, spectators, and participants who made the track a significant part of their lives.
