Sad News

[tb]

David Napp, Way, Way to young

Englishtown’s David Napp passes away

David Napp, a member of the family that ran Old Bridge Township Raceway Park for decades and helped launch the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League, passed away on Dec. 22. He was 49.

www.nhra.com

 

[ironpony]

RIP, condolences to the family

 

[none]

Don't remember ever seeing Davd when he wasn't smiling, he looked for and found the good in everything and everyone.

I told the story thousands of time over the years about the Jr. Drag Racing league existing because a kid in New Jersey couldn't catch a football.
But when he and his dad invented a sport that he loved and had a talent for. It took off.

How many Champions today might not be there, had it not been for the Jr. League.
RIP my friend, you changed the sport for the better on a scale not many ever have, or will.

Alan

 

[stitcherbob]

Sad news indeed. Dad Vinnie was always in the staging lanes when I ran in the Mopar Nats. Condolences to the entire Napoliello family

DAVID NAPP KEEPS THE MEMORIES OF E-TOWN ALIVE IN HIS SUPPORT OF DRAG RACERS | Competition Plus

From time to time, the Napp Brothers Racing logo will appear on a drag racing car. In the interest of fair reporting, the Napp Brothers Racing really aren't

competitionplus.com

 

[Litefoot]

Don't remember ever seeing Davd when he wasn't smiling, he looked for and found the good in everything and everyone.

I told the story thousands of time over the years about the Jr. Drag Racing league existing because a kid in New Jersey couldn't catch a football.
But when he and his dad invented a sport that he loved and had a talent for. It took off.

How many Champions today might not be there, had it not been for the Jr. League.
RIP my friend, you changed the sport for the better on a scale not many ever have, or will.

Alan

Thanks Alan, I did not who he was, R I P, you will be missed

 

[Tim]

A few years ago at Bristol, my daughter and I were just chilling before the evening qualifying session for the pros. Had a couple empty seats beside us which wasn’t out of the norm for that section of the suite area. Just as the pros start, here comes a fella with a frohawkish type hair cut with perfectly matched attire. Hat, shirt, shorts, shoes….impeccably matched. He sits down and just starts rambling and I was like well here we go. Going to be a long weekend if he keeps this energy. He turns around and asks out of the blue for a phone charger which I had. I gave it to him and that started one of the most fun weekends I have ever had at a race. The guys name was David Napp. Believe my daughter was 14 at the time and they spent more time chatting about everything under the sun while I just sat back and let it happen. Genuinely a truly nice person and always checked with my daughter if she needed anything when he got up to get something.

I’m not claiming to be best friends here…just sharing a story as to what kind of guy he was. He had a passion for drag racing and the people in the sport. His stories from the first junior dragster to other racing stories were great.

So sorry to hear this news. Praying for his family and friends, may David rest in peace.

 

[Butch]

Sorry to hear that he passed away. Now it makes me wonder if this was in the forecast and played a hand in
shutting down Englishtown. Remember that decision came very rapidly, and I thought it was odd knowing the family background owning the track.

 

[Jim]

I am sorry to see this news. I covered every NHRA national, division, and sport compact race at E'town from 2001 until they shut down the drag strip. David was always extremely friendly and accommodating to me during the events. He made sure I always had what I needed to do my job. Besides that, he was always very friendly. It was always good to see him whenever I was at the track.