Bruton Smith looking to build drag strip at Lowe's Motor Speedway

“We have had a lot of success and we like what we see in drag racing”

Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman Bruton Smith confirmed Thursday that he is considering adding a drag-racing facility to the motorsports complex at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

'We are looking at that very hard, yes sir,' Smith said.

Smith pointed to success in hosting events sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association, whose PowerAde Series is the premiere drag racing series in the country, at drag strips that are part of SMI complexes at Bristol Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. Read more

[David K]

NHRA has released the 2008 schedule. There is a yet to be named event in the fall (mid Sept 2008). Could the excitement of NHRA racing be coming to Charlotte NC?

[fitz]

after buying and killing 2 nascar tracks in NC to send the races off to snorefest tracks,1 grove racing and fuel milage garbage.Bringing big time drag racing back to the Carolinas is the least he can do.(sorry Rockingham dragway your days may be numbered)!!

[Gasser Dave]

fitz wrote:

after buying and killing 2 nascar tracks in NC to send the races off to snorefest tracks,1 grove racing and fuel milage garbage.Bringing big time drag racing back to the Carolinas is the least he can do.(sorry Rockingham dragway your days may be numbered)!!

That was NASCAR, NOT Bruton.

[Dave L]

Build it We will come!!!!

[Todd]

A drag strip near the house? Oh yes I will be there! And so will all the other 10,000 younger generation people.

[grudge racer]

Good idea you built it we will come.

[race fan]

I thinks thats a great idea, beats going to ATL and Bristol every year.

[These Old Bones]

that would be a great idea so more fans wouldn't have to go out west to see more than three races in a season

[Concord Lover]

This would be a great economic boost to the charlotte region. When the dragstip comes, so will the teams and jobs. Great Idea Bruton!

[race girl 09]

this is a great idea Mr. Bruton! this will help the economy so much! i love racing and so does my dad so this is very convenient for many people and i WILL be spending time there at the drag strip.!!!!:);)
*L8TER*

[Jerry]

I'll be there with my family every time the gate opens!!!!

[BRYAN NIVENS]

I THINK THAT THE DRAG STRIP WOULD BE WONDERFUL THINK OF THE REVANEW THAT IT WOULD BRING TO CONCORD PLUS IT WOULD KEEP PEOPLE FROM ILLEGAL STREET RACING I THINK IT HAS BEEN LONG OVER DUE AND I CANT WAIT IF PEOPLE ARE GONA COMPLAIN ABOUT THE NOISE THEY SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT BEFORE BUYING A HOUSE NEAR A MOTERSPORTS PARK

[Jeff and Robin]

We always go to Bristol, TN every year for NHRA race. Drag Strip in Concord would be awesome! Those who r interested go to indepenttribune.com to vote on building $60 million dollar drag strip! Concord is on the map because of motorsports .. why should drag racing be excluded. Concord officials need to think again about how much money motorsports brings to the local economy. Build it and we will support drag strip!

[Melissa]

I think this is a horrible idea!! Granted, if it weren't RIGHT BEHIND MY HOUSE it would be a good idea. But have some respect for the residents in the area. Not only do we have to be impacted when there are races, and we can't get anywhere when the all of the fans come into town...I can deal with that because its only a couple of times a year. But a drag strip will be constant.

There is so much land on the other side of Concord Parkway behind the track that could be used, instead of the land between the dirt track and the homes.

[NAS_T_RT]

Melissa wrote:

I think this is a horrible idea!! Granted, if it weren't RIGHT BEHIND MY HOUSE it would be a good idea. But have some respect for the residents in the area. Not only do we have to be impacted when there are races, and we can't get anywhere when the all of the fans come into town...I can deal with that because its only a couple of times a year. But a drag strip will be constant.
There is so much land on the other side of Concord Parkway behind the track that could be used, instead of the land between the dirt track and the homes.

You are the one that bought a house next to a "race track" When they build the Drag Strip you will have two options.
1 enjoy it
2 move
Not trying to start anything, but this will bring more money into the area, and keep kids off of the streets racing.

[lovedragracing]

this is inresponce to melissa,

move, the track was there before you and always will be if you don,t like it move the one thing you people need to learn is bruton gets what bruton wants enough said

and for the county morons who changed the zoning tonight come election time your out on the street your decision tonight just put all of you morons out of a job come election time

this would be great for getting the kids off the city streets and giving them a place to race

[Perry]

Please build this if it means the return of NHRA to NC! I could really care less about NASCAR but I love dragracing! I can't believe the people of Concord would complain about this when they already have a major race track there plus a dirt track. If you don't like racing or loud cars, you might not want to live around that area. You think?!

[SWU]

Those people who bought houses in there, what were you thinking? The realtor, contractor, developers deserve salesman of the year awards. I can't believe that area was ever zoned for new housing construction in the first place. You bought a house next to a city dump, a race track, a open/functioning quarry, I 85 and Hwy 29, an eyesore mall with all it's junky eatery's around it and an airport. You couldn't find somewhere else? Get real, the Charlotte Motor Speedway has been there since when?(Lowes Motor Speedway for you newcomers) The World 600 has been run since when?(Coca Cola 600 for you newcomers) It's like buying a house next to an airport then complaining about the noise, race tracks usually build up around them, not waste away. Concord gives money for a waterpark during water restrictions that no one can use and votes this down - idiots!

[Gail]

SWU wrote:

Those people who bought houses in there, what were you thinking? The realtor, contractor, developers deserve salesman of the year awards. I can't believe that area was ever zoned for new housing construction in the first place. You bought a house next to a city dump, a race track, a open/functioning quarry, I 85 and Hwy 29, an eyesore mall with all it's junky eatery's around it and an airport. You couldn't find somewhere else? Get real, the Charlotte Motor Speedway has been there since when?(Lowes Motor Speedway for you newcomers) The World 600 has been run since when?(Coca Cola 600 for you newcomers) It's like buying a house next to an airport then complaining about the noise, race tracks usually build up around them, not waste away. Concord gives money for a waterpark during water restrictions that no one can use and votes this down - idiots!

I hear you SWU. But don't give up, I just read that Smith who owns Lowe's might just move that track too. But I prefer it stay in Concord as that is not too far for us that live in South Carolina, near Charlotte.

[ohdawg]

Well in that area, you have the tracks, the shopping and an open pit mine where they blast with dynamite. Buying a house there was not a great idea. Wait till Bruton has jet cars and a 3000 hp dragster buzzing by your house.