CAROLINA’S PERFECT STORM
Thu, 2008-09-11 16:28
Two events, one weekend, promoter’s nightmare or race fans dream?
Drag racing’s perfect storm is descending upon the Carolinas, but this one is not of meteorological proportions.
This double-whammy is clearly of fantastical proportions.
Within two hours and less than 100 miles apart, two drag racing national events promise standing room only crowds.
Outside of Charlotte, located in the town of Concord, the NHRA will stage its inaugural Carolinas Nationals at Bruton Smith’s new Bellagio of drag strips, the zMax Drag Stip.
To the east, the legendary Rockingham Dragway will stage the fifth annual running of the ADRL Dragstock event; arguably the largest of all fast doorslammer drag racing events complete with blown outlaw and nitrous machines as well as mountain motor Pro Stocks and a class of motorcycles. Two events, one weekend, promoter’s nightmare or race fans dream?
Drag racing’s perfect storm is descending upon the Carolinas, but this one is not of meteorological proportions.
This double-whammy is clearly of fantastical proportions.
Within two hours and less than 100 miles apart, two drag racing national events promise standing room only crowds.
Outside of Charlotte, located in the town of Concord, the NHRA will stage its inaugural Carolinas Nationals at Bruton Smith’s new Bellagio of drag strips, the zMax Drag Stip.
To the east, the legendary Rockingham Dragway will stage the fifth annual running of the ADRL Dragstock event; arguably the largest of all fast doorslammer drag racing events complete with blown outlaw and nitrous machines as well as mountain motor Pro Stocks and a class of motorcycles.
The Carolinas have long been a haven for doorslammer racing and their folks have welcomed this style of racing for as long as man has raced with on wheels. Make no mistake; the ADRL has no plans, present or future of adding nitro to their line-up – except in Pro Modified style doorslammers.
The NHRA apparently has no plans of adding Pro Modified to their full-time line-up as evidenced by the unchanged status as an exhibition category since 2001. They have nitro and the first round of the drag racing playoffs.
Pick your poison.
Reportedly zMax Dragway has standing room only tickets left for Saturday’s qualifying and nearing that status for Sunday.
The ADRL’s free ticket giveaway has made the ADRL Dragstock a hit amongst Carolina fans. In fact, the first year of the event in Rockingham, N.C., previously staged outside of Aiken, S.C., brought one of the largest crowds, in excess of 40,000, in the history of the famed facility.
So why would the promoters overlap their events?
One could argue pride. Others could say principle.
The reality is the ADRL had their date secured in Rockingham while the Concord event was categorized as a T.B.A. event. When the NHRA proudly announced their new event earlier this season, neither Nowling nor Earwood budged, staking their claim to the date.
In reality, the events won’t likely affect one another, since both attract a somewhat different clientele. A drag racing fan can likely attend both events considering the ADRL runs one session on Friday and completes the program on Saturday. ADRL events run up until the wee hours of the morning on race day.
The NHRA will run a Friday evening session and likely finish Saturday professional action by 5 PM.
Whichever path a drag racing fan takes, whether diehard gear-head or casual, they will get a treat this weekend. This is the perfect storm for a drag racing fan.
Rockingham is mired deep in tradition. The drag strip in Concord looks to build a new ones.
This weekend the drag racing community will be treated to the best of both worlds.
Drag racing’s perfect storm is descending upon the Carolinas, but this one is not of meteorological proportions.
This double-whammy is clearly of fantastical proportions.
Within two hours and less than 100 miles apart, two drag racing national events promise standing room only crowds.
Outside of Charlotte, located in the town of Concord, the NHRA will stage its inaugural Carolinas Nationals at Bruton Smith’s new Bellagio of drag strips, the zMax Drag Stip.
To the east, the legendary Rockingham Dragway will stage the fifth annual running of the ADRL Dragstock event; arguably the largest of all fast doorslammer drag racing events complete with blown outlaw and nitrous machines as well as mountain motor Pro Stocks and a class of motorcycles. Two events, one weekend, promoter’s nightmare or race fans dream?
The first ADRL
Dragstock event in Rockingham, NC. was a rousing success. By mid-afternoon, there wasn't an
available seat in the house and the concessions stands were overwhelmed.
This double-whammy is clearly of fantastical proportions.
Within two hours and less than 100 miles apart, two drag racing national events promise standing room only crowds.
Outside of Charlotte, located in the town of Concord, the NHRA will stage its inaugural Carolinas Nationals at Bruton Smith’s new Bellagio of drag strips, the zMax Drag Stip.
To the east, the legendary Rockingham Dragway will stage the fifth annual running of the ADRL Dragstock event; arguably the largest of all fast doorslammer drag racing events complete with blown outlaw and nitrous machines as well as mountain motor Pro Stocks and a class of motorcycles.
The Carolinas have long been a haven for doorslammer racing and their folks have welcomed this style of racing for as long as man has raced with on wheels. Make no mistake; the ADRL has no plans, present or future of adding nitro to their line-up – except in Pro Modified style doorslammers.
The NHRA apparently has no plans of adding Pro Modified to their full-time line-up as evidenced by the unchanged status as an exhibition category since 2001. They have nitro and the first round of the drag racing playoffs.
Pick your poison.
Reportedly zMax Dragway has standing room only tickets left for Saturday’s qualifying and nearing that status for Sunday.
Charlotte's new drag strip goes beyond incredible. Race fans will likely attend both events over the course of the weekend.
So why would the promoters overlap their events?
One could argue pride. Others could say principle.
The reality is the ADRL had their date secured in Rockingham while the Concord event was categorized as a T.B.A. event. When the NHRA proudly announced their new event earlier this season, neither Nowling nor Earwood budged, staking their claim to the date.
In reality, the events won’t likely affect one another, since both attract a somewhat different clientele. A drag racing fan can likely attend both events considering the ADRL runs one session on Friday and completes the program on Saturday. ADRL events run up until the wee hours of the morning on race day.
The NHRA will run a Friday evening session and likely finish Saturday professional action by 5 PM.
Whichever path a drag racing fan takes, whether diehard gear-head or casual, they will get a treat this weekend. This is the perfect storm for a drag racing fan.
Rockingham is mired deep in tradition. The drag strip in Concord looks to build a new ones.
This weekend the drag racing community will be treated to the best of both worlds.
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