Atco Raceway, located in Atco, New Jersey has been sold to its current ownership partners to Len Capone Jr, a New Jersey native with a long history with drag racing and the historic drag plant itself. Opened in 1960, Atco stands as one of the longest running strips on the East Coast. With the recent news of Island Dragway’s closing, this announcement has been met with mixed emotions. The Sway family, along with partner Ned Katuran have done a great job operating the track and it is widely known as one of the traction capitols of the east. During the heyday of big dollar bracket racing in the mid-2000s, no track did it better, richer, or more frequently than Atco. Racers from far and wide would travel to compete in multiple races during typical weekend with prize money often exceeding $50,000 when all was said and done.
The buyer of the track is Len Capone Jr and as it says in the release from the track below, the parties have been in talks for 16 months to get the deal done. Capone’s father was actually an employee in the tech department when Atco opened in 1960. Jr was an alky funny car racer in the 1980s and 1990s campaigning a car called, “The Bear” that saw action at many tracks in and out of the region, including Atco.
Joe Sway will stay involved with the track as the operations manager for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Following those two years he has two more contract options he can pickup to retain his position. The news that Sway will be around to keep things on the track rolling is welcome by racers as they know that there will be consistency in the racing program and race day operations that they have come to expect over the years under Sway’s leadership.
Why did the track get sold? What is going on with the lawsuit that has the track getting sued for $50-million by the widow of a racer who died there? What changes will be made at the facility going forward? We have answers to none of those questions as of yet, but we’re working on it. It is always good news when a track lands in the hands of someone familiar with the sport from the competition side, especially on the level of a semi-professional/professional level like an alky funny car racer. An announcement like this sure beats the hell out of the news from Island last week.
Scroll down to read the statement published by Atco Raceway on their Facebook page last night –
Atco Raceway Sold
Atco, NJ Wednesday December 19, 2012 –Atco Raceway was sold in its entirety to Mr. Len Capone Jr. of Berlin, New Jersey. The negotiation for the oldest continually operating drag strip on the East Coast took over 16 months and has concluded on a Win light for all…the track will continue to operate as it has in the past.
The Capone families are very familiar with the racing scene and have a great passion for the sport of drag racing. Len Capone Sr. a racer himself who was present for the 1960 opening day of Atco Raceway worked in the tech department on Memorial Day weekend. Len Capone Jr. started as a sportsman racer and is very well known for his Top Alcohol Funny Car “The Bear” that raced the strip in the late 80’s and 90’s.
Joe Sway has been retained as Director of Operations and is under exclusive contract for 2013 and 2014 with 3-1 year options to follow.
The 2013 tentative schedule will be posted on the web site AtcoRaceway.com mid January. There are no major changes to the race schedule for 2013~a couple of new races will be added but for the most part you will see our lineup has not changed.
Atco Raceway would like to thank everyone for their participation in the 2012 race season. We are positive that the continued support of all racers, fans and patrons will continue to make this a racing destination and the #1 track on the East Coast.
Atco would like to address all gift cards that have been previously purchased and all purchased with the holiday deal…All gift cards must be used by November 30, 2013.
Hi Performance CARS magazine (August 1978) featured a great shot of ‘Dyno Don’ Nicholson’s match race Mustang II at the starting line at Atco and proclaimed in big letters ‘DYNO GOES 8.18’ .