Since opening in July of 1965, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, then known as Madison Township Raceway Park, has been one of drag racing's premier facilities. Conceived by Vincent and Louis Napp and Vincent's sons, Vincent Jr. and Richard, in order to introduce major league drag racing to the New York Metropolitan area. After devoting many hours to the search for an ideal location and being met with negative responses from numerous northern New Jersey communities, the Napp family turned their attention to the rapidly expanding central New Jersey area. It wasn't long afterwards that the perfect location was discovered nestled in the scenic countryside of Madison Township, known now as Old Bridge Township. The progressive township governing body responded to the proposed racetrack in a very positive manner, welcoming the idea and its founders. The proposed site was on a 308-acre farm on Pension Road, which was purchased as soon as the plan was approved. Work began immediately thereafter on what was to become the super track of the East. Long days of moving earth to obtain a level racing surface 60 feet wide and 4,150 feet long followed by construction of permanent grandstands, refreshment stands, and a timing tower. By late spring of 1965 the immense project was nearing completion.
Opening day was set for a hot, humid Sunday in July and the scene that greeted the owners that inaugural day is now history. Racer and spectator enthusiasm was overwhelming and the founders of this new quarter mile track immediately realized that their creation was a winner! Sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association, Raceway Park was selected in 1968 by the NHRA as the site of the NHRA Springnationals. After a major revamping of the facility, which included shifting the pit area to the spectator side and vice versa to accommodate the anticipated huge crowd. Once again, hard work paid off and the championship event was a huge success. The Napp family continued to reinvest in the property, improving and renovating the track.
Nineteen hundred seventy one saw the NHRA and Raceway Park announce plans for the return of national event drag racing to Raceway Park with the NHRA Summernationals to be held in July. Fan response was tremendous with more than 85,000 people jamming the track for the record setting event.
The rest is history as the Summernationals continued to grow, as did Raceway Park. So much so that the Summernationals were moved to the month of May permanently in 1993 to accommodate race fans with more pleasant spring weather. In the 2000 season the event was renamed the Matco Tools Supernationals. Open for 40 weeks of the year from March to November, the owners strive to present a family oriented form of entertainment featuring a variety of motorsport events. With the addition of a first-class motocross track in 1975, sanctioned by the AMA, the one-mile man made motocross course has proven itself as popular with area fans. The motocross track hosts an 11-race schedule highlighted by championship events sponsored by Suzuki, Yamaha, and Kawasaki motorcycle manufacturers.
In 1996, a second drag strip was added. This miniature Eighth Mile strip houses the weekly competition of the NHRA Junior Drag Racing League, a children's racing program created in 1992 by one of the tracks founders, Vince Napp Jr. The most recent addition to the ever-expanding grounds are the motocross practice tracks. These intermediate courses allow riders to improve their riding skill away from the competition held on the AMA motocross track. Also, these tracks are ideal for novice riders looking for a safe and legal place to ride. Riders may choose from three different courses: motorcycle, quad and the children's course.
The future looks upbeat for the progressive complex. After overcoming environmental issues such as noise pollution suits and the loss of founders Vincent Sr. in 1969, Louis in 1982, and more recently Vincent Jr. in the fall of 2000 and his brother Richard in the winter of 2001, the facility continues its tradition of growth and improvements. Now run by the third generation of Napp family members, this constant re-investment into the facility has kept Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in the forefront of Championship Drag Racing and solidifies its reputation as the type of first-class racetrack its founders envisioned in 1965.