What Happened to Atco Dragway? Is Atco Dragway Closing Down? Why is Atco Dragway Closing?
by Ayisha
Updated Jul 19, 2023
What Happened to Atco Dragway?
Atco Dragway, which opened its doors in rural Camden County in 1960, suddenly announced its permanent closure without providing any explanation. The announcement was made through posts on Atco Dragway's Facebook and Instagram pages, both of which had comments disabled.
The abrupt closure meant that all scheduled events for 2023 were canceled, leaving fans and participants surprised and disappointed. The drag strip, originally known as Atco Raceway, held the distinction of being New Jersey's first official drag strip and had been a prominent venue for drag racing enthusiasts for many years.
In 2020, there were reports that an Illinois company had submitted plans to redevelop the site for a different purpose, but it remains unclear if this played a role in the eventual closure.
Despite various attempts to reach the owner, Leonard Capone Jr., and local officials for comments on the matter, there was no response. The sudden and unexplained shutdown marks the end of an era for Atco Dragway, leaving its loyal patrons with cherished memories and a sense of nostalgia for the iconic drag racing location.
Is Atco Dragway Closing Down?
Yes, according to the information provided, Atco Dragway is closing down permanently after 63 years of operation. The announcement was made on their Facebook page, stating that they will no longer be open and all events scheduled for 2023 have been canceled.
The drag strip, which has been a beloved destination for car enthusiasts in South Jersey, expressed its appreciation for the support and memories shared by their patrons over the years.
Despite hosting the 29th annual Pan American Nationals recently, Atco Dragway has made the decision to cease operations, leaving the racing community and fans surprised and saddened by the news. The specific reasons behind the closure have not been disclosed at this time.
Attempts to reach the owner, Len Capone, for further details or comments on the situation were unsuccessful. The abrupt shutdown marks the end of an era for Atco Dragway, which has been a prominent location for drag racing events since its official opening in 1960.
While the announcement mentioned hope for the future of import racing in the northeast, it remains uncertain what will happen to the site or if there are any potential plans for revival in the future.
Why is Atco Dragway Closing?
The specific reasons behind the closure of Atco Dragway have not been disclosed. The announcement was made on their Facebook page, stating that the dragway will be permanently closing after 63 years of operation, but no explanation was given for this decision.
The statement expressed appreciation to their patrons and acknowledged the memories shared over the years, but it did not provide any further details regarding the factors that led to this abrupt shutdown.
While there were concerns in 2020 about the possibility of the track being converted into a storage facility and auction site, it is not confirmed whether this played a role in the closure.
As of now, no additional information has been released regarding what prompted the decision to cease operations. Both Atco Dragway and its owner, Len Capone, were unavailable for comment on the matter.
The sudden closure leaves car enthusiasts and the community in South Jersey puzzled and curious about the future of the iconic drag strip. Until any official statement or further details are disclosed, the reasons behind Atco Dragway's closure remain unknown.
Atco Raceway Closing for Good
It has been announced that Atco Dragway, formerly known as Atco Raceway, is permanently closing its doors, marking the end of its operation for good. After serving as a beloved destination for race fans and car enthusiasts for an impressive 63 years, the drag strip shared the sad news through a social media post on July 18, 2023.
The announcement came as a shock to many, as no specific reasons were provided for the sudden decision to close. The post expressed gratitude to the patrons for their valued business and support over the years, leaving fans with a sense of nostalgia and sadness as they bid farewell to this iconic 1/4 mile drag strip located in Atco, NJ.
With the closure, all events scheduled for 2023 have been canceled, leaving the racing community disappointed. However, amidst the sorrow, there was a glimmer of hope mentioned in the announcement:
"This isn't the end for import racing in the northeast!" The statement left the future of racing in the region open-ended, hinting that there may still be opportunities for enthusiasts to enjoy their passion elsewhere.
As of now, further details about the reasons behind the closure have not been disclosed, leaving race fans and car enthusiasts to wonder about the circumstances surrounding the end of this long-standing and cherished racing venue.
Did Atco Raceway Close
Yes, Atco Raceway, which later became known as Atco Dragway, has permanently closed its doors. After 63 years of serving as a beloved destination for car enthusiasts in South Jersey, the race track made the announcement on its Facebook page.
The statement declared that the dragway will no longer be operational, and all events scheduled for 2023 have been canceled. The closure came as a shock to many fans who have cherished their experiences at the iconic 1/4 mile drag strip located on Jackson Road in Atco, New Jersey.
Despite the closure, the statement offered hope for the future of import racing in the northeast, indicating that the spirit of racing might continue elsewhere. However, the specific reasons behind the sudden decision to close Atco Dragway were not disclosed in the announcement.
Further details on what prompted the closure have not been released, and attempts to reach the owner, Len Capone, for comment, were unsuccessful. With the end of this legendary racing venue, car enthusiasts and the racing community in South Jersey bid farewell to a place that has held a special place in their hearts for over six decades.
What Happened to Atco Dragway? - FAQs
Yes, Atco Dragway, which has operated for 63 years, is permanently closing its doors.
The announcement of Atco Dragway's permanent closure was made on Tuesday night through their Facebook page.
No, the announcement did not provide any explanation for the abrupt decision to close the drag strip.
Yes, all remaining events scheduled for 2023 were canceled as a result of the permanent closure.
The 29th annual Pan American Nationals was held at Atco Dragway before the announcement of its closure.
Yes, the post expressed hope, stating that the closure does not mark the end of import racing in the northeast.