Fantasy NASCAR Racing

Navy.  The Wildcat was manufactured in Linden, NJ and towed across the street to the Linden Airport for test flying and delivery.  After the war, from 1949 through to 1954 a road race circuit was laid out at the Linden Airport.  NASCAR did hold a Cup event here in 1954.  The track covered a distance of two miles as it converted the runways into a road course layout; and was the first road course for NASCAR to race on. Buck Baker would start on the pole and lead the first eleven laps.  Herb Thomas would also lead before Al Keller would take the lead with 28 laps remaining, beating Joe Eubanks.  Baker was third.  Al Keller was a great driver in Midget Cars, Sprint Cars, Indy Cars and was the first driver to win a NASCAR race in a foreign car, a Jaguar.  This would be Keller's second and final Cup win.  He had won previously in 1954 at Savannah driving a Hudson.  After NASCAR vacated the airport, Drag racing was introduced with events held through until 1955.  The original airport with its intersecting runways and large hangar remained intact until 1998 when the City of Linden, needing more tax-ratable property decided to divide up the underutilized airport to create a shopping center called Aviation Plaza on the north side of the field.  A new airport was built on the south side complete with new taxiways, hangars and parking areas.  The airport is the only non-towered (no control tower) airport in the New York City