Eugene Drew and the googly eyes car.

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

The East Coast racing community is grieving the sudden death of Eugene Drew, an Oakland resident and longtime Legends racer who competed at tracks across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

The East Coast Legend Series announced Drew’s passing on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

According to the East Coast Legend Series, Drew raced both dirt and asphalt Legends for several years, making two East Coast starts in 2025, one at Wall Stadium in June and another in the Dirt Series at Big Diamond Speedway in July. Drew competed in the 2024 Dirt Series at Linda’s Speedway, ECLS said.

Drew attended West Milford High School and had been living in Oakland, according to Facebook. He had built a wide network of friends and fellow racers who described him as a generous and loyal presence both on and off the track.

Tributes from family, friends, and fellow drivers poured in as news of his passing spread.

“Words cannot express how I’m feeling. I can’t wrap my head around this,” wrote Inez Calcagno, recalling their childhood together and calling Drew “an amazing dad.”

Joey Przybylinski Jr. said Drew helped spark his own love of racing, writing that Drew “has to be the one that started my interest in me racing myself,” and shared memories of ice cream at the track and racing together years later.

Bonnie Glebocki said she was heartbroken by “the sad call I got yesterday,” writing, “You are loved by so so many and are going to be missed by all.”

Fellow racer Anthony Bello called Drew “a good person on and off the racetrack,” and Bellboy Motorsports remembered him as someone who “would do anything and everything they could do to help.”

Funeral arrangements had not been released as of Wednesday.