NJMP releases 2009 schedule

New Jersey Motorsports Park Releases Schedule for 2009 Season Calendar Features Seven Major Spectator Events, Opening with Grand-Am Weekend

Millville, NJ -- December 8, 2008 -- New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) announces the 2009 season schedule featuring a full slate of seven major spectator races over the course of its second season of operation. The Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series returns to NJMP this year as a marquee race, on April 30 -- May 3. A new highlight on the schedule this year will be the 2009 AMA Superbike Championship series, September 4 -- 6. In addition, NJMP will be booking over 400 club and driver school events, featuring some of the biggest names in amateur racing including SCCA, EMRA, Porsche Club of America, BMW Club of America and New York Sport Bike Club.

More than 100,000 spectators will visit the Millville, NJ-based complex over the course of the season, as the facility welcomes some of America's top racing series. Tickets for all Spectator Events as well as two types of Season Tickets will be available beginning Wednesday, December 10. The first type of Season Ticket, allowing access to Spectator Events only is $275. The second type of Season Ticket, allowing access to both Spectator Events and all Club Events is $350. Tent and RV camping passes are also available for purchase as are gift certificates in increments of $25. Visit http://njmp.com for details on how to order or call the NJMP Ticket Office at (856) 327-7217.

2009 New Jersey Motorsports Park Spectator Calendar

April 30 -- May 3 - Grand-Am - Thunderbolt Raceway
May 29 -- 31 - New Jersey Vintage Grand Prix Festival - Thunderbolt Raceway
June 12 -- 14 - Mazda Formula X - Thunderbolt Raceway
Sept 4 -- 6 - AMA Superbike - Thunderbolt Raceway
Sept 11 -- 13 - ARCA RE/MAX Series - Thunderbolt Raceway
Sept 18 -- 20 - Ferrari Challenge - Thunderbolt Raceway
Oct 1 -- 4 -- SVRA - Thunderbolt Raceway

Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series: April 30 -- May 3
Returning for a second season at NJMP, the Grand-Am Series looks to build on the excitement of 2008's race. Featuring two classes of prototype and production-based cars, the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series teams feature top-class Daytona Prototypes from teams including Chip Ganassi Racing, Penske Racing and 2008 winners Michael Shank Racing. The GT-class features production-based racers from Pontiac, Porsche, Mazda and others. Additionally, more than 100 competitors are expected in the KONI Challenge Series, and the Ford Mustang Challenge and Skip Barber Series will be in attendance as well.

2008's Grand-Am race was NJMP's biggest spectator event and biggest national media event. NJMP forecasts more than 40,000 spectators will come to see the 2009 event.

New Jersey Vintage Grand Prix Festival: May 29 -- 31
The Vintage Sports Car Club of America (V.S.C.C.A.) - is the oldest automotive preservation club in America that offers a complete race program in addition to rally and other automotive conservation events. The emphasis is on rare and unusual sports & racing cars including pre-war and certain post war cars through December 31, 1959.

Mazda: June 12 -- 14
Destined to become one of NJMP's largest annual events, Mazda returns to South Jersey in mid-June to showcase different classes of racing within its ladder series, including open-wheel racing at its most exciting in Star Mazda Series and Atlantic Championship. Through the years, current stars including Graham Rahal, Danica Patrick and AJ Allmendinger have contested the Atlantic Championship, making it one of the foremost racing series on the planet. In 2009, Mazda will shift its focus to include more activities for the street-tuner scene, including Time Attack and Drifting exhibitions, and a tuner car and audio show.

AMA: September 4 -- 6
In what is anticipated to be the largest spectator event of the year at NJMP, the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) will bring their thundering two-wheelers to town over Labor Day weekend, as the Superbike Series makes its' first appearance in South Jersey. New class structures for the 2009 season include the premium Daytona Superbike class, with legendary riders like Jake Zemke, Mat Mladin, Tommy Hayden, the Bostrom brothers, and Miguel DuHamel. Also, a new Literbike class will be featured in 2009, as well as the MOTO-ST Series, and Red Bull U.S. Rookie's Cup.

ARCA: September 11 -- 13
ARCA's first foray to a road course in over a decade -- 2008's visit to Thunderbolt Raceway at NJMP -- was deemed a major success for the series and fittingly, the 800-hp stock cars will make a return to Thunderbolt in 2009. 2008 Loud Energy 250 winner Justin Allgaier was crowned ARCA RE/MAX Champion in the season finale, and has since signed with legendary Penske Racing to contest the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Ferrari Challenge: September 18 -- 20
One of the most spectacular one-make racing series in the world, the Ferrari Challenge North America visited NJMP as part of the Grand-Am Series weekend in 2008. For 2009, the series gets its own date in South Jersey, bringing dozens of exotic Italian machines to race twice in one weekend. In addition, Historic Ferraris will race in a separate feature, giving fans the chance to see everything from early Ferrari sportscars to former Formula One machinery.

SVRA: October 1 -- 4
The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) will return for a second year to NJMP. Historic cars as diverse as the Ferrari Formula 2, Porsche 356, Jaguar E-Type, McLaren M8D Can-Am and Shelby GT350 participate in SVRA events, and will grace the Thunderbolt track.

-credit: njmp