First NHRA races at ZMax Dragway @ Concord are a huge success!

This week I asked our marketing manager and resident “blog master” Cordelia if I could “guest blog” about my experiences this past weekend at the NHRA drag races at ZMax Dragway @ Concord. She graciously agreed to trust me so here I am!

As a relative newcomer to the sport of drag racing, I was completely unsure of what my experience would be when the NHRA races took place at the new ZMax Dragway @ Concord. On my first day I have to admit I was completely confused. Thursday started with bracket racing. If you are unfamiliar with bracket racing, its a bit perplexing to watch a car take off as fast as they can, slow down and then speed off toward the finish line. After pulling aside someone I could trust to offer me an explanation and not laugh at my ignorance, I understood the incredible level of control a bracket racer has over their car.

On Friday our little delegation from the Tourism Authority and the Economic Development Council braved the near 100% humidity and the 90 degree weather and walked hauler to hauler delivering welcome baskets to many of the top fuel and pro series teams. I have to admit, at times I wasn’t sure who I was meeting but I quickly became familiar with many of the professional drivers. Rod Fuller, Tony Schumacher, Steve Johnson, Angelle – they all were so gracious and I dare say surprised by our visit. Rod Fuller, Steve Johnson, Angelle Sampey, Angie McBride and Mike Smith all stopped by our suite to say thank you throughout the weekend. Along the way we met many of the fans. Every one was over-the-top complimentary of the facility, excited about this opportunity and, like us, sweating profusely. Unlike us however, they didn’t seem to bat an eye at the heat as they waited in make-shift lines to shake hands with their favorite drivers. It was incredible to see the connection NHRA offers the fans to the real action…the behind-the-scenes action in the pits. (Are they called “pits” in NHRA?)

My real moment-of-truth came around 3 pm that afternoon when I read the schedule sitting before me and realized a group of racers called “The Nitro Series” was about to take the track. It was then as I scanned the grandstands I noticed this steady stream of fans filling every seat in the house. What absolutely stunned me were the fans lining the fences less than what I assumed was a safe distance for retaining natural hearing abilities away from the actual track. I almost felt a frantic desperation to yell out to the fans “the Nitros are coming! Step away from the fence!” I ripped open by ear plugs, grabbed a center seat and held on with wide eyes for the first burnout to occur. Now, I was in a suite in the tower right behind the track…behind glass. It was still an incredible experience but as a recovering thrill seeker, I wanted to hear the real deal. I bravely stepped out onto the steps that led to the top of the tower. My first blast of nitro brought tears to my eyes and a smell that is permanently ingrained in my nose. As I turned to take the second set of steps, a car began its burnout. The steps vibrated and I nearly jumped out of my skin. Wow – this is what we have been talking about for months. I made my way to the roof deck, and for anyone who has met me can appreciate, stood on my tip toes to peer over the roof wall. Brave or really stupid, not sure which, I stood without ear plugs and braced for the tree lights to count down. The impact, the smell, the sound is a total package feeling I will not soon forget. After the first pass and the speeds registered over 300 mph, I too became an officially registered fan of drag racing!

Saturday’s festivities and the mounting excitement was the stuff tourism officials dream of. Happy fans, thrilled participants and overflowing hotels brought tears to my eyes. Maybe it was part of the nitro too. By Sunday I understood the countdown to the winner of each series. I filled in my brackets and watched eagerly as each of the names I now recognize move up to the starting line. I’m not sure who was more excited on his win – Steve Johnson or me – ok, probably Steve Johnson but, I was pretty thrilled too.

From all accounts the weekend was an overwhelming success. The fans love the new facility, the drivers raved about the new track and I’m sure just like me – many new faces were welcomed into the drag racing fan club.

Sharon