Record Crowds, Praise For the Community Highlight
New Jersey Motorsports Park Season Opener
Millville, N.J. (May 6, 2009) - New Jersey Motorsports Park opened its 2009 season with a record crowd at the Verizon Wireless 250 presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16, featuring the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.
The weekend saw a 30 percent gain over last season's event, despite steady rain falling on Sunday's race day.
"Under these conditions, this was a hearty showing by dedicated race fans," said Kevin Wittman, General Manager of New Jersey Motorsports Park. "The entire Mid-Atlantic region, including South Jersey, is really embracing road racing and this facility. This weekend's attendance is a testament to that."
Many of the Grand-Am Rolex Series drivers competing in the event remarked on the size of the crowd despite the conditions.
"I was really surprised at the turnout," said David Donohue, winner of the 2009 Rolex 24 At Daytona and fourth-place finisher Sunday in the No. 58 Brumos Porsche Riley. "Under the yellow flag, I was looking around at the people in the stands with umbrellas, waiting it out in the rain. That was pretty amazing, and my hat's off to them."
The weekend included a capacity crowd for the autograph session, featuring all of the Rolex Series drivers, and a 30-minute Fan Walk where the pre-race grid was open, free of charge, to all spectators.
"The crowd was great," said Brian Frisselle, driver of the third-place finishing No. 10 SunTrust Racing Ford Dallara. "I couldn't believe it when we were driving around under yellow, the grandstands were completely full. I thought, 'These people are crazier than we are.' I love the track, I love being here, and I'm happy we put on a great show."
Patrick Dempsey, who finished a career-best seventh in the No. 40 El Grado Tequila Mazda RX-8, was pleased by the response of the Millville/Vineland communities.
"I'm seeing a difference in the community itself," said the star of ABC's Grey's Anatomy. "There's a whole new confidence downtown. I know some people don't like the noise, but I think it's a great thing for the community. I think the fan support is really great here. A lot of people came out. I was very happy to sign a lot more autographs, and we ran out of pictures. I think the future for this track is very strong."
The next event at the Millville, N.J. facility is the New Jersey Vintage Grand Prix Festival May 29-31, featuring the Cumberland County Community Festival on Saturday, May 30. Children 12 and under are admitted free to all events at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Sitting on over 500 acres in Millville, N.J., New Jersey Motorsports Park is conveniently located to Philadelphia, the Jersey Shore, New York and Baltimore, and offers diverse and dynamic motorsports attractions. The facility includes two world-class road courses (Thunderbolt and Lightning), an exclusive motorsports country club known as the Drivers Club, the Breighton Room Restaurant open to the general public, and F1 New Jersey, one of the top karting facilities in America. Opened in July 2008, New Jersey Motorsports Park hosts eight major motorsports events in 2009, beginning with the Verizon Wireless 250 presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 May 1 - 3. The 2009 spectator schedule also includes the Formula X weekend featuring the Atlantic Championship powered by Mazda and a host of Mazda-powered race series, as well as All Revved Up; the debut of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Pro Road Race Series, including the American Superbike class and the new Daytona Sportbike program; the return of the ARCA/ReMax Series as the only road course visit on the series schedule; a Ferrari Challenge event and the excitement of two separate Vintage race weekends.
For more information on New Jersey Motorsports Park, F1 New Jersey, Breighton Room, or to purchase tickets, visit www.njmp.com or call 856-327-7217.