New Racing Complex Opens in South Jersey
By Bill Fleischman
Philadelphia Daily News
philly.com

Millville, N.J. (August 14, 2008) – When I first heard years ago about the planned motorsports complex in this area, I was skeptical. Such proposed racing venues often are run up the scoring tower, only to vanish, sometimes in a garage of red ink.

Following a recent journey to South Jersey, it's nice to report that the New Jersey Motorsports Park is up and running. There are two primary road courses, plus an F1 karting track on the 700-acre facility adjacent to the historic Millville Airport.

The 1.9-mile Lightning track is for weekend sports-car and motorcycle racers. The 2.25-mile Thunderbolt Raceway will host such races as the Rolex Grand Am series event on Aug. 31 (to air on the Speed TV channel at 1 p.m.) and an ARCA series race Sept. 28.

Members of the motorsports park also may race on the Thunderbolt track.

During a visit last month no grandstands had been erected, but Rob Armbruster, chief marketing officer and knowledgeable tour guide, said seating will be available for the Grand Am race.

Mid-Atlantic-area sports-car racers have embraced the track. Before it opened, they had to travel to racing facilities such as Pocono Raceway or in Watkins Glen, N.Y.; Lime Rock, Conn.; Summit Point, W.Va.; and Danville, Va.

"I was blown away when I saw the [Millville] tracks," said Dr. Paul Sedacca, a Cherry Hill resident and BMW owner. "There are a lot of BMW and Porsche clubs that need track time."

Sedacca and his sons, Matthew and Jared, will race at NJMP.

Chris Karras, a Philadelphia lawyer and NJMP member, owns a Porsche and a Miata. Speaking by phone yesterday from Edinburgh, Scotland, Karras said he knows Philadelphia-area residents who plan to buy real estate near NJMP.

"[NJMP] also is a tremendous boon to the economy of that area," Karras said.

NJMP owners are real-estate developers Lee Brahin and Harvey Siegel; R.J. Valentine, a go-kart track owner in Boston; and Joe Savaro, project manager for the Millville complex.

Brahin is based in Philadelphia. Siegel, from New York, owns Virginia International Raceway near Danville. Siegel and Brahin are vintage-car racers.

Savaro, from Blue Bell, says the group has spent $42 million to $45 million on NJMP's Phase 1. Plans for Phase 2 include a three-quarter mile oval similar to Richmond International Raceway, an ATV course and a research and development center.

Armbruster said NJMP hopes eventually to land a NASCAR Nationwide or Craftsman Truck Series race for the three-quarter-mile oval. Since Sunoco is the official fuel of NASCAR and NJMP, there could be a connection for future races.

"We needed mavericks who are passionate about racing to do this," Savaro said, seated in the NJMP clubhouse. "Five years ago, it was a dream. A year ago, we broke ground. The community was willing to take the risk [because] it creates job opportunities and keeps the younger people here."

Armbruster said yesterday that NJMP has 180 members. The initiation fee is $15,000; annual dues are $2,400.

The NJMP owners have maintained a military theme in honor of Millville Airport's being the nation's first defense airport in World War II. P-47 Thunderbolt pilots trained at the airport before heading overseas. The Millville Army Air Field Museum is at the airport.

'Angels' in Philly

Two Philadelphia residents are the focus this week of a "NASCAR Angels" autos makeovers.

Philadelphia police officer Ray Diaz will be presented his restored 1990 Nissan ZX 2X2 coupe today at District 24 headquarters. Betsy Betancourt drove off yesterday in her restored '99 Chevy Blazer.

Diaz' late father introduced him to restoring cars. After his father was slain, Diaz decided he wanted to be a police officer to help make the city safer.

Former Sprint Cup series driver Rusty Wallace and Shannon Wiseman, of NASCAR.com, host the weekly "Angels" show. The segments will air later on the Hallmark Channel.

Remarkable run at Glen

Australian Marcus Ambrose won his first NASCAR race Saturday in the Nationwide Series event at Watkins Glen. The next day, he finished third after starting 43rd, or last, in the Sprint Cup race. Ambrose gave Wood Brothers its first top-five finish in more than 3 years.

"I'm just so proud of the Wood Brothers for giving me a [car] that I could get out there and give it my best . . . It was great fun running with those guys at the front. It would be easy to send me off into the weeds with that rookie stripe on the car . . .

"You don't get many chances in life to do something special like this, and I'm going to look back at very fondly - the whole weekend, to be honest with you."