Tripleheader Replaces Portland, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
PALMETTO, Fla. – With the recent cancellation of the September NTT INDYCAR SERIES and Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires events at Portland International Raceway and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Andersen Promotions today announced the addition of New Jersey Motorsports Park to its 2020 schedule. The 500-plus acre motorsports entertainment complex will host tripleheader rounds for the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship on October 9-11.
Located in Millville, N.J., – an hour south of Philadelphia – the sprawling complex includes two world-class road courses that can be operated simultaneously, two motorsports country club membership programs for cars and motorcycles and one of the top outdoor karting complexes. Both series will utilize the Thunderbolt Raceway circuit, a 2.25-mile, 12-turn road course with a one-half mile straightaway.
Indy Pro 2000 and USF2000 last raced at New Jersey Motorsports Park over a decade ago in 2010 with some familiar names on the timesheets including NTT INDYCAR SERIES drivers Conor Daly, Sage Karam and Zach Veach.
The “Fall Thunder at Thunderbolt” event will include rounds of the Battery Tender® Global Mazda MX-5 Cup series, which also was scheduled to be on deck for the West Coast swing.
“I would like to thank Brad Scott [President and Chief Operating Officer at New Jersey Motorsports Park] and his team for welcoming us with open arms to their first-class facility,” said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions. “These are fluid times with the pandemic, and we are grateful to be able to reschedule the Portland and WeatherTech Raceway rounds. With all these changes we are now looking at 17 races per series, and unless we determine a reasonable way to add another race onto existing events, this will be the season race count.
“We look forward to working with Brad and his staff to build an exciting event not only for our teams and drivers, but fans who will be introduced to the future stars of our sport. Plus, as a New Jersey native, it’s fun to finally have an event at a track in my home state.”
The remainder of the 2020 schedule for both series is unchanged with two race outings at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on July 29-30 and August 7-9, the Carb Night Classic at Lucas Oil Raceway on August 21, World Wide Technology Raceway August 29-30 (Indy Pro 2000 only), Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 3-4 and the season finale on the Streets of St. Petersburg October 23-25.
“All of us here at NJMP are excited to once again feature both Indy Pro 2000 and USF2000 at the world-class Thunderbolt Raceway in October,” said Scott. “With the inclusion of the Mazda MX-5 Cup rounds, this should be an exciting event that NJMP is happy to be a part of."
More information regarding scheduling and ticket information for the Fall Thunder at Thunderbolt event will be announced in the coming weeks.