how many of us were impacted by this  

Me too.  Went once.  Saw enough.  Wasn't for me.

Go figure... now I go to Wall (asphalt) as much or more than I do dirt tracks.

I think for me, especially at the time.... it wasn't only that it was done (paved), but how it was done.  Really feel like the loyal dirt fans were suddenly stuck holding the stinky end of the stick if you now what I mean.  I was really bitter about it at the time.  Not so much now..  (Well, maybe not quite as much... still a work progress!)  Still remember where I was when I heard the news - Mike Senna's Auto Repair Shop over near Bound Brook/Somerville area.  Mike told me and I thought he was putting me on.  Didn't believe it until I saw it in the paper, and even then thought, No Way....)

As was stated somewhere in a post above, it was inevitable, but sure seemed like it had some more years as a dirt track.  I was in the pits for the 1990 season and still remember good crowds and tons of race cars.

I still think that somewhere in the decision process was "out with the old (us dirt guys) and in with the new" which would mean a more upscale fan base/upscale show/and maybe eventually upscale  pricing, making the whole facility worth more than just an ol' dirt track.

I'll never know and I guess 32 years later it doesn't really matter.  But 32 years later, it still sucks though...