Build It and They Will Come

“Build it and they will come” makes a hit movie inspiring, but as the folks at the New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville will attest, it doesn’t really work that way.

Opened amid the economic chaos of 2008, the world class motorsports facility just 45 minutes from Philadelphia soon faced harsh realities.

Emerging from bankruptcy last summer, New Jersey Motorsports Park has built an impressive comeback program. This weekend the track hosts the prestigious Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series — one of more than 40 racing, rallycross, karting and motorcycle events on the 2012 schedule.

Not all the events are as prestigious as the big money Grand-Am Rolex series. The recent 24 Hours of Lemons and the June 2nd Chump Car World Series are endurance races for clunkers worth no more than $500.

Music to the ears of gear-heads — there’s a roaring schedule of SCCA, ARCA and EMRA sportscar throwdowns, vintage racing, the wild Rally America Rallycross and the American Motorcyle Association Pro Road Racing Series.

To make race days more family friendly the track is emphasizing off-track activities like Food Eating Contests, Monster Truck Rides, Mechanical Bull Riding, Fire Pits, Food and Drink Specials and Kids’ Activity Zone.