Roy Hill raced at the first national event drag race in Charlotte back in 1974.

Hill, then a professional drag racer, competed in the Pro Stock division with a Petty Enterprises-prepared, small-block powered Plymouth Duster. The IHRA sanctioned the event on the pit road of the famed Charlotte Motor Speedway, and the resourceful Hill reached the final round, finishing runner-up.

A lot has changed for the Charlotte drag racing community and for Hill is well.

There are no more pit road races, aas Bruton Smith has built a palatial drag strip on Speedway property, and for Hill, he's scaled back to racing a sportsman division with a factory-supported Ford Cobra Jet Mustang.

Hill most recently competed at the NHRA Gatornationals where he defeated Bo Kenney for the Super Stock FSS/B class trophy.

“Gainesville was our first race of the year and we were very pleased with the results,” said Hill, a native of Sophia, NC. “We did a lot of testing over the winter, and we have some new parts and pieces we’re working with. Former NASCAR crew chief Greg Steadman is on board with us and we’re already seeing results from his help. On top of that, we had a very successful event last weekend at Rockingham Dragway with the 2nd annual Southeastern Jr. Dragster Spring Nationals presented by FireAde 2000 and we’re looking forward to seeing how things shake out this weekend at zMAX.”

Hill, who is also a drag racing school instructor, will help kick off the race festivities with a special promotional event Wednesday. He will join two-time NHRA Funny Car champion Cruz Pedregon and NASCAR Sprint Cup star Joey Logano for a “seat-swap” sponsored by Snap-on Tools.

“Cruz and Joey are both sponsored by Snap-on Tools and we’re excited to be working with them,” said Hill. “Cruz will drive Joey’s XFINITY Series stock car around Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Joey will warm up Cruz’s Funny Car. After that they’ll ride in a special Snap-on Tools branded Mustang from Roy Hill’s Drag Racing School, then they’ll race each other in a pair of our Phoenix Racing Ford Mustang Cobra Jets. It will certainly be interesting!”

When Hill takes to the track Friday morning to begin Super Stock qualifying, he’ll be joined by executives from several of his primary sponsors, including FireAde 2000, Alsco, Hughes Oilfield Transportation, and Charlotte-based Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated.

“This is always a big event for us since we host many of our valuable supporters,” Hill added. “I always enjoy it, but I also put that little bit of extra pressure on myself to perform well and put on a show for the people that make it possible for me to be out here racing.”

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