New Jersey Motorsports Park facts for kids
 
Thunderbolt (top) and Lightning (bottom) circuits
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| Location | 8000 Dividing Creek Road, Millville, Cumberland County New Jersey |
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| Time zone | GMT-5 |
| Coordinates | 39°21′32″N 75°03′42″W / 39.35897°N 75.061628°W |
| Capacity | Open seating without capacity limitation |
| Opened | 2008 |
| Major events | AMA Superbike Championship (2009–present) ARCA Racing Series (2008–2016) American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association 2013 SCCA (2008–present) Trans-Am Series (2010, 2012, 2014–2017) CCS (2010–present) 24 Hours of LeMons (2011–present) |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 2.25 mi (3.62 km) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Race lap record | 1:10.211 (Carl Skerlong, King Taco Pacific Coast Motorsports, 2008, Atlantic Championship[1]) |
| Lightning Raceway | |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Length | 1.9 mi (3.06 km) |
| Turns | 10 |
New Jersey Motorsports Park is a huge place in Millville, New Jersey, where exciting road races and other fun events happen. It's like a big playground for cars and motorcycles! This "Motorsports Entertainment Complex" opened in 2008 and has been hosting races ever since.
You can see all sorts of events here, from professional motorcycle races like MotoAmerica Pro Road Racing to fun endurance races like the 24 Hours of LeMons. There are also events for classic motorcycles and sports cars.
Contents
Discover the Tracks and Fun Facilities
Thunderbolt and Lightning Raceways
New Jersey Motorsports Park is built on 500 acres of land right next to the Millville Municipal Airport. This airport was super important during World War II, known as America's First Defense Airport.
What's really cool about NJMP is that it has two main race tracks that can be used at the same time! Both tracks have lots of ups and downs, making them exciting to drive on. They also have long straight sections where vehicles can go super fast. One famous part of the Thunderbolt Raceway is called "the Jersey Devil."
Visitors can explore the park freely because there's open seating everywhere. You can also find grandstands in different spots. If you want to stay overnight, there are camping areas, a hotel, and even condos. The park also has a restaurant and bar called The Finish Line Pub right in the middle of all the action.
Go-Karting Fun at Tempest Raceway
Besides the two big race tracks, NJMP also has a special place for go-karts called Tempest Raceway. It's about 1.1-mile (1.8 km) long. Just like the main park, Tempest has two tracks that can be used at the same time.
You can go for a quick go-kart ride with their "arrive-and-drive" programs. They also offer special experiences for groups. Plus, Tempest Raceway hosts serious go-kart competitions for different racing series.
A Look Back: World War II History
Millville Army Air Field's Legacy
The area where New Jersey Motorsports Park now stands has a rich history. The Millville Army Air Field opened in 1941. It was a training school for fighter pilots who flew the Republic P-47 "Thunderbolt" planes. About 1,500 pilots learned to fly these powerful planes here during World War II.
New Jersey Motorsports Park remembers this history by naming its main 2.25-mile racetrack "Thunderbolt Raceway." The other 1.9-mile track, Lightning Raceway, is named after another famous World War II fighter plane, the P-38 Lightning.
The park also has other nods to its past. The condos next to the track are called "The Villas at Breighton." Breighton was an airfield in Great Britain where many of the Millville-trained P-47 pilots served during the war.
Even the buildings at NJMP have a World War II feel. The clubhouse looks like an English Tudor building. The Officers Club has a "Q-Hangar" design, which is a type of aircraft hangar. The Timing Tower looks like an old World War II air traffic control tower. Even the safety and security vehicles at NJMP look like World War II military Jeeps!
Discovering History
When the park was being built, workers found many old World War II items. These items are now on display at the Millville Army Air Field Museum. This museum is located on the other side of the Millville Airport.
There's also a place called the Bore Site range near Thunderbolt Raceway. This was used by Thunderbolt pilots to practice aiming their machine guns. Today, a real P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft, named "No Guts, No Glory," is based at Millville Airport. It's one of only nine working P-47s left in the entire world!
Exciting Race History at the Park
Major Events and Records
New Jersey Motorsports Park has hosted many famous racing series. The very first big race was the Grand-Am Road Racing's Rolex Sports Car Series in 2008. Oswaldo Negri and Mark Patterson were the first to win trophies on the Thunderbolt track.
Other big races include the ARCA Racing Series and the AMA Superbike Championship. These series have held annual races here. The Trans-Am Series also started racing at Thunderbolt Raceway in 2010 and has returned many times since.
The park also hosts a challenging 12-hour endurance race called "Devil in the Dark." This race is put on by the South Jersey region of the SCCA. Many other sports car and motorcycle clubs also use the tracks for practice and fun events throughout the year.
Notable Race Winners
Over the years, many talented drivers and riders have won races at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
- American Superbike: Josh Hayes has won many times on his Yamaha motorcycle. Other winners include Blake Young and Josh Herrin.
- NASCAR K&N Pro Series East: Young drivers like Noah Gragson and Will Rodgers have won races here.
- ARCA Racing Series: Andrew Ranger from Canada has won this race multiple times. Other winners include Justin Allgaier, Patrick Long, Casey Roderick, Kyle Weatherman, and Parker Kligerman.
- Rolex Sportscar Series: Teams driving Ford, Chevrolet, and BMW cars have won this endurance race. Winners include Oswaldo Negri & Mark Patterson, Niclas Jönsson & Ricardo Zonta, Jon Fogarty & Alex Gurney, Scott Pruett & Memo Rojas, and Max Angelelli & Ricky Taylor.
- Trans Am Series: This series features powerful sports cars. Amy Ruman has been a frequent winner in the TA class. Other winners include Tomy Drissi, Pete Halsmer, Cameron Lawrence, Jason Berkeley, Ernie Francis Jr., Adam Andretti, Andrew Aquilante, Paul Fix, Tony Buffomante, Tim Kezman, Gar Robinson, Brian Kleeman, and Neal Walker.
