The track had opened for the 2002 season as it had since the mid 60's.  People would like to remember the big crowds and the full fields of cars that once were commonplace at the former great speedway, but dwindling crowds and fewer and fewer competitors each week became the norm.  Nearing the end of the 2002 season, (during the last week of August, with a couple of more races on the schedule and championships to be decided), it was announced that the speedway was closing.

The reason given by the owners of the speedway were that under the advisement of their legal team, they were closing the season early in order to strengthen their case against the builder of the homes that now bordered the south and east sides of the property.  Specifically, the issue was that because of the recent building, the area of the parking lot near the ticket office became prone to flooding.   All written indications (published quotes from the owner that appeared in AARN 9/2/04) were that they would open the following year on schedule.

During the off season it was announnced that speedway ownership was now considering paving the clay speedway.  They also announced a new promoter.  While fans and teams waited for futher clarification, the 2003 season was upon us, and the speedway never opened.

This past spring, the rumors flew, but the track remained silent.  A story was released by speedway ownership that they were looking at opening up later in the year, but that a recent act of vandelism had put the effort to reopen in jeopardy.  (I believe that case still remains unsolved....)

There were attempts from a few parties who had interest in leasing the facility to enter into an agreement with current ownership to hold racing events, however, all were rejected.

Most recent rumors include:

1.  "The place was sold last year and that they were not in a hurry to build on it...."

2.  "The place is being bought by the township to put up soccer fields."

3.  "Disagreements within the owning principals have prevented the track from reopening."

AS STATED... THESE ARE RUMORS AND AS RUMORS, THEY HAVE NO SPECIFIC QUOTABLE SOURCE.

We can blame the houses and the yuppies all we want, but the bottom line is that for many reasons, East Windsor Speedway was on a downward trend.   What was always considered one of the best places to watch a race, with one of the better clay surfaces to be found anywhere, had lost it's ability to attract full fields of cars and with it, also lost the fans, friends and families of those once full fields of cars.

I choose to remember the great days with Pee Wee and Ploski... and Chic and Carmen, but the very last week that I was there in August of 2002, there were only a handful of people in the stands, and I counted a total of 14 "Modifieds".  With heat races consisting of 4 and 5 cars... no need for a consi....  the few in attendance there that night new what they were witnessing....

And you can't keep blaming the yuppies and their big fancy houses for a total draw of only 14 modifieds and empty stands.... 

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