Popular Atco Dragway unexpectedly announces closing July 18

courtesy photo

ATCO—Owners of the Atco Dragway stunned racing fans around the region on July 18 when they abruptly announced they were closing for good.

The announcement was made on the operation’s Facebook page early in the evening last Tuesday.

“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,” the announcement said.

Atco Dragway opened in 1960 and was the first official drag strip in New Jersey, originally called Atco Raceway.

An Illinois company submitted an application to the New Jersey Pinelands Commission in 2020 seeking to redevelop the property into an auto auction facility. According to several published reports, that application was signed by Atco Dragway’s owner, Leonard Capone Jr.

Call to the Raceway last week were not answered or returned. Later last week, the grandstands at the raceway were being advertised as on sale for $390,000.