06/01/2026
Remembering Jack Doyle 1935 - 2026
The New England Racing Museum family is saddened to learn of the passing of Jack Doyle, a respected member of our Board of Directors.
Jack received the NHRA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame at the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in 2016, and was inducted into the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame in 2019. He was one of the most influential figures in the history of New England drag racing.
These recognitions reflected what racers throughout New England had known for decades—that few individuals contributed more to the growth, preservation, and success of drag racing in our region than Jack Doyle.
For more than half a century, Jack devoted himself to the growth and success of drag racing in New England. Long before the gates of New England Dragway opened, Jack was helping turn a dream into reality. Jack was among the dedicated enthusiasts who worked tirelessly to create a permanent home for the sport.
Before the first shovel of dirt was turned to build the drag strip, a sign appeared on a piece of land in Epping, New Hampshire, announcing the future home of New England Dragway and listing Jack’s name and phone number as the contact for information. When construction began, Jack was the man on the ground helping guide the project from vision to completion. He later served as General Manager of New England Dragway for many years, helping establish what remains today America’s only club-built drag strip.
Jack would often drive the New England Dragway van to the Museum and park it at the entrance as a promotional display. He and his beloved wife, Mabel, who passed away in April 2025, played an important role in developing our drag racing exhibit. Jack was especially proud of preserving the stories and artifacts that tell the history of New England drag racing. Among those artifacts is the chainsaw used to clear trees during the construction of New England Dragway—a tangible reminder of the determination and hard work that built the sport in our region.
Jack was a competitor, car builder, track operator, historian, and a unique and special individual. He was one of the true giants of New England drag racing—a man whose vision and determination helped make it possible for generations of fans and racers to enjoy the sport at New England Dragway in Epping. Jack was one of the driving forces behind New England’s drag racing movement. He lived it, built it, and carried its history forward through every stage of his life. Even in his later years, his passion for the sport never faded.
When asked if the noise ever bothered him, Jack would give a slight smile and, without hesitation, say, “That’s music to my ears.”
The best way we can honor Jack and Mabel is to carry on their legacy in the drag racing area of the Museum. We see tremendous potential for a growing drag racing exhibit, made possible by the foundation that Jack and Mabel Doyle helped build.
We extend our deepest condolences to Jack’s family, friends, and the countless members of the racing community whose lives he touched. His legacy will continue to live on at New England Dragway, at the New England Racing Museum, and throughout the sport he helped build.
Thank you, Jack, for everything you gave to New England racing. You will be greatly missed and forever remembered.
