The owner of Bridgeport Motorsports Park apologized on social media after an unauthorized event descended into chaos, drawing drunk and disorderly crowds and snarling traffic around the South Jersey racetrack.
The gathering prompted authorities to issue an “immediate dispersal alert” to nearby residents’ cell phones, according to officials.
Logan police said the unpermitted “Import Expo” attracted 25,000 people from as far as Virginia and Massachusetts, with drivers speeding, passing unsafely and passengers riding on top of vehicles.
Police in the Gloucester County town said drivers “parked wherever they chose,” got out of their vehicles and walked to the dirt track for the auto and music fest.
Videos posted on social media show traffic was backed up along local roads in Gloucester County, as well as a massive line of cars and at least one motor vehicle accident on surrounding highways, including I-295.
When people arrived at the track, some were drunk and acting disorderly, according to police, who were first called to the scene at about 10:55 a.m. There were multiple fights, public urination, littering and lewdness, police said.
Owner Doug Rose said track officials and police closed Floodgate Road leading to the speedway and informed drivers that no more guests would be allowed inside.
That didn’t stop people, though, according to Rose. People left their vehicles and simply walked to the speedway.
When Rose learned of that, he shut down the rest of the event.
Rose noted that the crowds pictured in photos on social media were confined to less than one acre of the 83-acre facility.
One man was charged with disorderly conduct, Logan police said.
“The overall problem was traffic spilling into our community,” Rose said. “This post is to APOLOGIZE and promise we will be better at what we do because of this.”
He thanked Logan officials but did not address police department’s comment that organizers didn’t have a permit.
Rose couldn’t be reached for further comment.
Police lifted the alert at about 6:45 p.m.