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Four-abreast Top Fuel, Funny Car exhibitions planned for NHRA Carolinas Nationals
Tuesday, September 01, 2009

For the first time in NHRA history, modern Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars will race four lanes, four wide, unleashing a powerful assault of 28,000 horsepower on spectacular zMax Dragway.

In what is sure to be a must-see demonstration of the ultimate in high-horsepower performance, four NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and four NHRA Funny Cars will race in a four-wide configuration during separate races in a special exhibition event just prior to the final round of the NHRA Carolinas Nationals Sunday, Sept. 20.

In the 1960s and early 1970s, four-lane drag racing was occasionally conducted at non-NHRA dragstrips, primarily throughout the Midwest, with a few exhibitions held at tracks in California and Maryland. The fastest cars of that era were just breaking the 230-mph barrier.

Today’s modern Top Fuel dragsters cover the 1,000-foot race distance in 3.8 seconds at more than 315 mph. Funny Cars travel the same distance in 4.0 seconds at 310 mph.

The drivers for each four-wide exhibition race will be determined that day among those drivers who lose in the first round of eliminations at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event. Those who have the higher standing in the NHRA championship points order will be given the first opportunity to participate in the unique exhibition.

“With Bruton Smith’s state-of-the-art zMax Dragway, which features four lanes for competition, we have an opportunity to offer this incredible attraction to our fans,” said Tom Compton, NHRA president. “It will be the first time that fans can witness modern Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars running four wide. With 28,000 horsepower, it certainly will be a memorable spectacle to see.”

Smith, chairman and chief executive officer of Speedway Motorsports Inc. and creator of zMax Dragway, agrees.

“Simply put, this is why we made sure that the greatest dragway ever built had four lanes,” Smith said. “Imagine the spectacle of nitro cars running four wide at over 300 miles per hour. It’s something that people will be talking about for decades to come and an awesome display of power that you’ll have to be in attendance to feel firsthand. I’m very thankful to Tom Compton and NHRA for bringing this vision to reality.”

The NHRA Carolinas Nationals, Sept. 17-20, is the first of six races in the NHRA playoffs, the Countdown to 1. ESPN2 and ESPN2HD will televise the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event. Tickets for the NHRA Carolinas Nationals are available by calling 800-455-3267 or logging on to www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.

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