Raceway Park tunes up track for coming season Upgrades include special concrete portion of racing surface BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer JEFF GRANIT staff Rich Napp, co-owner of Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, checks out the new concrete surface on part of the track. The drag strip has been making a number of upgrades as the new racing season approaches. See story, page 8. OLD BRIDGE - Raceway Park has changed a lot since 1965, when the thenmodest racing venue was realized on a plot of farmland in the middle of nowhere. More than 40 years later, the township landmark is still evolving. "There was nothing there," said Alex Napp, vice president of Raceway Park. "This was out in the boondocks. It was just a constant work in progress, and it still is." Though the racetrack, once known as Madison Township Raceway Park, has come a long way from the days when it was founded by elder Napp family members, the younger generation keeps the tradition on track with continuing improvements. In gearing up for the March 1 opening day, the facility is seeing various upgrades. The largest aspect of the project consists of the addition of several hundred feet of concrete to the track's racing surface. The change became necessary because of the wear and tear endured by asphalt on the track, which wore down as race cars grew more powerful over the years, Napp said. JEFF GRANIT staff Rich Napp walks along the racetrack's ultrasmooth concrete surface, which now covers the first 700 feet of the track. Now, the first 700 feet of track is made up of an ultrasmooth, flat concrete that is created through a special process withmachines brought from Texas. Also used on airport runways and highway bridges, the surface allows cars to run faster on the track, an obvious plus in the sport, Napp said. "It's so flat, when you drive your car on it, you're suspension doesn't do anything," Napp said. "It's flat as a pool table." In order to further improve the track for racers, the burnout box has received a face-lift. An integral part of any car race, the burnout box is where vehicles rev up in preparation. The cars drive through a wet trench, which aids in the next step of spinning the tires. Heat generated on the tires through the process helps them to better adhere to the track. An expanded parking area will help to accommodate the increased number of trailers brought to the venue's biggest annual event- the NHRA Super Nationals. The four-day competition in June is the largest motor sports event in the state, Napp said. "It's when all of the big dogs come into town," he said. Among the big names in racing featured this year, from June 19-22, will be John Force, whose reality TV show on A&E titled "Driving Force" gave viewers a close look at the life of a major race car driver. Force and other racers competing in the event are sponsored by major corporations. Each racing team typically comes in with two tractor-trailers - one carrying cars and equipment; the other dedicated to corporate sponsor hospitality, Napp said. "The sport has seen some growth," Napp said. "You just have to do more for the corporate sponsors now. I could always use more space." As the sport grows, so does the fan base. Roughly 100,000 people flock to the area each year for the track's trademark event, according to Napp. While the temporary congestion could make for annoyance on the part of some locals, Napp said the benefits far outweigh the costs. "It has a huge economic impact," Napp said. "No question, there are millions of dollars pumped into the local economy." Seeing Raceway Park today, one would be hard-pressed to imagine the time when Vincent Napp joined with his brother Louis, and sons Vincent Jr. and Richard to make their dream into a reality. "They did something that they loved to do," Napp said. By following their passion, the track's founding fathers paved the way for their offspring to do the same. Despite themany changes, what remains the same is the Napp family's dedication to continuing to improve the facility. The original foursome in charge has been replaced by Alex and his brother David, along with their cousins, brothers Michael and Richie. Formore information on Raceway Park and its events, visit etownraceway.com, or call (732) 446-7800.