New Jersey Motorsports Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
New Jersey Motorsports Park

Thunderbolt Raceway (2008–present)
Lightning Raceway (2008–present)
Location	8000 Dividing Creek Road, Millville, Cumberland County New Jersey
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (UTC−04:00 DST)
Coordinates	39°21′32.29″N 75°3′41.86″W / 39.3589694°N 75.0616278°W / 39.3589694; -75.0616278
Capacity	Open seating without capacity limitation
FIA Grade	3
Broke ground	2007
Opened	31 August 2008; 16 years ago (2008-08-31)
Major events	Current: MotoAmerica (2009–present) FR Americas (2018, 2022–present) Formula Atlantic (2008–2009, 2012, 2015–2018, 2024–present) SCCA (2008–present) Former: Trans-Am Series (2010, 2012, 2014–2017) NASCAR K&N Pro Series East JustDrive.com 125 (2016–2018) ARCA Racing Series NJMP ARCA 150 (2008–2016) Rolex Sports Car Series (2008–2012) Pirelli World Challenge (2008–2009, 2014) Indy Pro 2000 Championship (2008–2010, 2020–2021)
Thunderbolt Raceway (2008–present)
Surface	Asphalt
Length	2.250 mi (3.621 km)
Turns	13
Race lap record	1:10.469 ( David Grant, Swift 016.a, 2024, Formula Atlantic)
Lightning Raceway (2008–present)
Surface	Asphalt
Length	1.900 mi (3.058 km)
Turns	10

New Jersey Motorsports Park is an exciting place in Millville, New Jersey, where all kinds of racing happens! It's a huge "Motorsports Entertainment Complex" that opened its doors in 2008. Since then, it has hosted many thrilling races. You can see MotoAmerica Pro Road Racing, 24 Hours of LeMons (a fun endurance race), and events from the SCCA. It's a popular spot for both professional and amateur racers.

Awesome Tracks and Fun Facilities

Thunderbolt and Lightning Raceways

New Jersey Motorsports Park is built on a massive 500-acre area. It's right next to the Millville Executive Airport. This airport was once a military air field during World War II.

What's really cool is that NJMP has two main race tracks. They are called Thunderbolt Raceway and Lightning Raceway. These tracks can even be used at the same time! Both tracks have lots of ups and downs, making races more challenging. They also have long straight sections where cars and bikes can go super fast. One famous part of the Thunderbolt track is called "the Jersey devil."

Visitors can sit anywhere they like to watch the races. There are grandstands in different spots. You can also camp there or stay in a hotel or condo right at the park. If you get hungry, there's a restaurant called The Finish Line Pub. It's right in the middle of all the action.

Go-Karting Fun

Besides the big race tracks, NJMP also has a special place for karting. It's called Tempest Raceway and is about 1.1 miles long. Just like the main park, Tempest Raceway has two tracks that can be used at the same time.

You can try "arrive-and-drive" programs, which means you can just show up and race a go-kart for fun! They also host big go-kart competitions. It's a great way to experience racing yourself.

Fastest Lap Records

Racers at New Jersey Motorsports Park are always trying to set new speed records. These records show how fast a car or motorcycle can complete one lap around the track. As of September 2024, here are some of the fastest official race lap records:

History of Exciting Races

Past and Present Events

Many famous racing series have visited New Jersey Motorsports Park over the years. The very first big race was the Rolex Sports Car Series in 2008. Drivers Oswaldo Negri and Mark Patterson won the first-ever trophies on the Thunderbolt track.

Other popular events included the ARCA Racing Series and the AMA Superbike Championship. The Trans-Am Series also started racing at Thunderbolt Raceway in 2010. These events brought lots of fast cars and skilled drivers to New Jersey.

Besides professional races, the park also hosts fun endurance races. One example is the "Devil in the Dark," a 12-hour race organized by the SCCA. Many local and national clubs also use the tracks for practice and track-day events.

What's Happening Now

New Jersey Motorsports Park has a busy schedule of events. Here are some of the exciting races you can see:

Current Events

• June: National Auto Sport Association
• July: Sports Car Club of America
• August: Formula Regional Americas Championship NJMP SpeedTour, Formula 4 United States Championship, Atlantic Championship Series, F2000 Championship Series, F1600 Championship Series, Sportscar Vintage Racing Association, National Auto Sport Association
• September: MotoAmerica MotoAmerica Superbikes at New Jersey
• October: National Auto Sport Association
• November: American Endurance Racing AER at NJMP Thunderbolt - 14 Hour Enduro

Past Events

• AMA Superbike Championship (2009–2014)
• ARCA Racing Series (2008–2016)
• Formula Lites (2015)
• Global MX-5 Cup (2008–2010, 2020)
• IMSA Prototype Lites (2009–2010)
• Indy Pro 2000 Championship (2008–2010, 2020–2021)
• NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (2016–2018)
• Pirelli World Challenge (2008–2009, 2014)
• Rolex Sports Car Series (2008–2012)
• Trans-Am Series (2010, 2012, 2014–2017)
• USF2000 Championship (2010, 2020–2021)