Full Throttle

The second of three political tsunamis that have swept America in recent months brought in conservative and Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who was sworn in this past week.

As is the case in all turnovers of power the incoming administration sets up a butt load of committees and subcommittees as part of their transition team.

Governor Christie is keeping with that tradition, but with a twist that is of interest to NASCAR fans.

On Friday the governor’s transition team issued a report on Gaming, Sports, and Entertainments that included the New Jersey Sports & Exhibition Authority and the Meadowlands (NJSEA).

Meadowlands is one of the most popular harness racing tracks in the country, if not the world, however despite gambling being so popular the track is wading through a sea of red ink that’s reached a depth of $38 million.

The Transistion team has stepped in and issued the following Executive Summary on the NJSEA and horse racing at the Meadowlands:

As budgeted for 2010, horseracing on track is projected to lose $22 million; the business model is broken. The agreements with the various Horsemen Associations will ensure continued losses; during 2010 these agreements need to be reopened and renegotiated. It is time to review options for racing in New Jersey. THE STATUS QUO IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. We encourage consideration of all the options to make horseracing self-sustaining, including consolidation of racing state-wide.

The ultimate goal is to continue to have live racing at a venue where the Sports Authority and its OTW system can operate without a subsidy. (NJSEA budgeted total deficit for 2010 is $38 million). Another option to be considered is a feasibility study for the commercial redevelopment of the Meadowlands, including examining other potential uses such as NASCAR.

“These reports are full of bold ideas and recommendations for change from a bipartisan group of individuals from the private and public sectors,” said Christie. “They came to the task with a wide range of knowledge and expertise and gave us unvarnished assessments of our state government, its strengths, weaknesses and failures. I want to thank them for their hard work and dedication. In the coming weeks, my Cabinet and I will be consulting with subcommittee members, reviewing each of the reports, and carefully considering these recommendations for improvement and change.”

Bold ideas indeed, but you have to guess despite the suggestion Meadowlands won’t be seeing Jimmie Johnson shooting for his sixth or seventh consecutive (Oops, did I let the cat out of the bag?) Cup championship there.

But give credit where credit is due at least they are thinking outside the box, or the paddock considering all the horse flesh on the premises.

It should be noted the Jersey Shore isn’t without its connections to NASCAR. Wall Stadium is located there and has seen some of NASCAR’s stars get their start at the 1/3-mile short track.

Martin Truex Jr., a two-time Busch Series champion and current Michael Waltrip Racing driver, cut his teeth on the high-banked track. Martin’s brother Ryan raced a Bandolero at Wall then transitioned to Legends and in 2007, won a speedway championship.

However the Stadium’s most successful alumni is Ray Evernham, whose Evernham Motorsports became one of the premier organizations in NASCAR during its time of operation.

“Wall Stadium is different,” Evernham said of his Big Block Modified days. “Maybe a mini Bristol. (30-degree banking in the corners and16-degree banking in the straights) It’s fast. It’s only a third. It was always pretty narrow on the straightaways, so you could haul ass coming off the corner.”

In addition to Wall Stadium New Egypt Speedway and Bridgeport Speedway are located in New Jersey with both tracks running a combination of Modifieds, Super Late Models and Crate Late Models.

In summation, New Jersey has a history in NASCAR but I seriously doubt the sport will write a new chapter at the Meadowlands.

If I were a betting man, and sometimes am, I’d lay a couple bucks on New Jersey Motorsports Park being a future site for a NASCAR event. There are plans to construct 3/4 mile tri-oval on site and the ARCA Racing Series makes a third visit to the 2.25-mile road course in August this year.

So loud rumbling V8 stock cars aren’t unheard of at the track but at this point a severe uptick in the economy is required for any new events there or Meadowlands.