About the Venue
Since opening in July of 1965, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, then known as Madison Township Raceway Park, has been one of drag racing's premier facilities. In 1971, the NHRA and Raceway Park announce plans for the return of national event drag racing to Raceway Park with the NHRA Summernationals to be held in July. Fan response was tremendous with more than 85,000 people jamming the track for the record setting event. The Summernationals now take place in May to accommodate race fans with more pleasant spring weather. In the 2000 season the event was renamed the Matco Tools Supernationals.
Venue Pictures
City Guide
Englishtown and Monmouth County, NJ
The earliest record we have of Englishtown is that James Johnston, an Englishman, owned property in the area in 1688. Sometime before 1730 the English family came to Monmouth County and purchased a large tract of fertile land which was named Englishtown after the family.
During the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778, Englishtown was the headquarters for the American Army. The Village Inn (pictured here), which was built in 1726, was headquarters for General Charles Lee who commanded the army of nearly 5,000 men. In the dining room of this inn, General Washington and Lord Stirling drew up the court martial papers citing Lee for his conduct during and after the battle. The inn served as a stage-coach stop offering food and lodging to the weary travelers between the cities of New York and Philadelphia. In later years it was renowned for it's excellent cuisine.
The night after the battle General Washington and his officers were invited to the home of Moses Laird to partake of a special "collation" prepared by his wife and daughters. This house is now the Hulse Memorial Home, Main Street, which was built by Moses Laird as a two room tavern before the revolution.
In 1777 one of the Monmouth County's main roads ran from Monmouth Court House, now Freehold, to Englishtown and on into Middlesex County. Because Englishtown was on a main highway it became a trading center for the surrounding country side.
Monmouth County
Monmouth County offers a world of activities. With 27 miles of pristine ocean beaches, an array of historic sites, two of the nation's best racetracks, deep sea and fresh water fishing, shopping and numerous upscale restaurants, Monmouth County is definitely the place you want to be.
Whether you like to pick your own fruits and vegetables, go antiquing, visit amusement parks or simply dig your toes in the sand as your read a book, it's all here in Monmouth County. There's also a number of annual events such as the county fair, food and jazz festivals, concerts and a wealth of cultural and ethnic affairs.
Getting to Englishtown
Englishtown is serviced by only municipal airports with no access by the major or regional carriers. However, there are several major airports within a short drive from Englishtown including:
Newark, NJ - Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) 29 miles
New York, NY - New York J F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) 39 miles
New York, NY - New York La Guardia Airport (LGA) 42 miles
Philadelphia, PA - Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) 55 miles
Atlantic City, NJ - Atlantic City International (ACY) 59 miles
Driving to Englishtown
Englishtown is within driving distance from several major cities; below are just a few:
Baltimore, MD, 150 miles
Denver, CO, 1,800 miles
Dover, DE, 130 miles
Harrisburg, PA 150 miles
Hartford, CT, 165 miles
New York City, 45 miles
Scranton, PA, 140 miles
What to Do
The Village Inn
Located on the corner of Main and Water Streets, this historic site is where General George Washington signed the order to have General Lee court-martialed. Doors are open to the public every 4th Saturday of the month from 10-1pm.
Monmouth Battleground Park
This state park, located off Rte. 33W, features the annual reenactment of the Battle of Monmouth, when historians from across the country setup camp and turn the rolling hills of Manalapan into a fiery artillery range.
Battleview Orchards
One of several fine neighborhood Orchards, Battleview Orchards offers visitors an assortment of apples, peaches, strawberries and pumpkins to pick-right off the tree. Located on Wemrock Rd, off Rte. 522 in Manalapan.
Cream Ridge Winery (www.creamridgewinery.com)
Located in the beautiful countryside of Cream Ridge New Jersey. Cream Ridge Winery opened in 1988 and is owned and operated by the Amabile family. They produce premium award winning wines, including our specialty fruit wines. For six years they have attained the distinction of winning the NJ Governor's Cup, which is the highest rated wine in the state. They have won the Governor's cup four times for the Cherry wine, one time for the cranberry and one for the plum. They have recently received 14 awards at the NJ wine competition. Located at 145 Route 539, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514; (609) 259-9797.
Lakewood BlueClaws Baseball Club (www.lakewoodblueclaws.com)
The BlueClaws, part of the Philadelphia Phillies farm system, have the best fans in minor league baseball and we will make a continued effort to make FirstEnergy Park a fun and exciting place to visit. We are anxious to offer you the best entertainment and the most enjoyable experience you can possibly imagine. We look forward to seeing you at FirstEnergy Park! Check website for game schedule and ticket prices. Located at 2 Stadium Way, Lakewood, NJ 08701; (732) 901-7000.
Lake Weamaconk
Lake Weamaconk was restored in 2002 to its past environment where boating, fishing, and picnicking attracted visitors from miles around. Mayor and Council are proud of the restoration that took place and are committed to keeping this lake a beautiful part of the borough.
Freehold Raceway Mall
Located on Rte. 9, south of the borough and opposite Freehold Raceway, the mall features over 150 enclosed stores, anchored by Sears, Macy's, JC Penny and Lord & Taylor. You'll find hours of shopping pleasure, with a wide variety of dining choices in the food court. Don't forget to ride the "Giant Carousel" before leaving.
