I’ve seen a couple of NASCAR tracks built from the ground up.
I’ve been to about 45 NASCAR tracks when they’ve had their first races. And, let me tell you, in every case, each one of these tracks still had things to be done. None were ready to be opened.
That was not the case with the zMAX Dragway @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway, which hosted the inaugural NHRA Carolinas Nationals Sept. 11-14.
The $60-million structure is the temple of vroom that’s the lavish brainchild of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. chairman O. Bruton Smith.
Not the first thing was lacking at this facility, which had sold-out crowds Sept. 13 and 14.
“It’s absolutely gorgeous, the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen,” said Greg Anderson, a three-time NHRA Pro Stock champion. Anderson’s house is only two miles from the drag strip.
“It’s almost like Bruton said, ‘I’m not worried about making money,’” said Anderson. “‘I just want everyone to have a good time.’ It went over like gangbusters.”
The facility, which features four lanes of concrete racing surface, is already being touted as bigger and better than the U.S. Nationals, near Indianapolis, Ind., which was held two weeks prior to the Carolinas Nationals.
“That’s the biggest race and this might upstage it,” said Anderson, after seeing crowds of more than 30,000 on each of the final two days. “It’s got so much buzz and everyone is so excited. The position on the calendar isn’t going to hurt. That’ll add a lot of drama and make such a big spectacle.”
Smith, who owns other NHRA drag strips at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., didn’t skimp on building a stage worthy of hosting such a crucial stop during the NHRA’s 24-race season.
The 30,000-seat venue was built to where it’s easily expandable to a 60,000-seat facility.
It’s 60-foot scoring towers are the tallest in NHRA with 60-inch green bulbs, which track officials claim have a visibility of four to five miles.
There are 4,350 flip-down seats in the John Force Grandstands, and two pedestrian tunnels beneath the track, providing access to the professional and sportsman pits.
“That is more pit space than any strip in America,” said General Manager Christian Byrd, who’s dad, Jeff, is the president/general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway, one of Smith’s eight tracks that host NASCAR races.
“From the restrooms to the skyboxes to the concourses, the finished work is amazing. Bruton felt it was that important to move drag racing to the next level.”
With three other drag strips to draw off of, SMI engineer Steve Swift said the crew that built zMax had plenty of things from which to learn.
“Every company which had a part in building this place has had a representative out here for this opening weekend, just in case anything went wrong,” said Swift. “So far, it’s just been a few minor things; nothing major and nothing we can’t handle or fix.”
Noting the granite floors, marble countertops and leather couches in the 34,000-square-foot scoring tower (with 16 additional luxury suites and a rooftop viewing area for VIPs), Anderson says, it’s as if Smith “was building his own house to live.”
There’s one thing zMax Dragway is lacking, said Lori Worley, in charge of communications at Bristol. “This is spectacular and beautiful,” said Worley. “They’ve got a lot of things I’d love to have, but they don’t have my mountains.”
It’s hard for a track to have everything.