zMAX Dragway opens
CONCORD, N.C. -- The new $60 million dragway in Concord opened with a bang on Wednesday.
County officials say it will bring more tourism than ever before, but some neighbors say it’s not worth the price.
The new zMAX Dragway is loud and that’s part of the up and coming drag racing industry’s attraction for tourists and fans.
Dragway owner Bruton Smith has a few other strips across the country and says the sport of drag racing has been, “Growing for the last five years and it keeps growing, growing, growing.”
Industry firsts like luxury boxes and four lanes of racing make this drag strip one of a kind.
The president of the National Hot Rod Association, Tom Compton, was on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony, which featured two cars smashing through a zMAX Dragway banner.
He explained just how powerful these cars really are.
“One cylinder has about the approximate horsepower output of an entire Sprint Cup car. It truly will blow your mind," Compton said.
Few people would argue that the track has brought a lot of excitement to the county. But it’s also brought some controversy and much of that comes from a few homeowners who live just a few hundred yards from the dragway.
“I’m not crazy about very loud noise,” says mother Kathy Turull, whose home neighbors the new strip.
Noise, traffic, and home resale values are all concerns for neighbors.
Father Travis Winoker says, “Trying to sell would probably be a problem.”
While some have decided to move because of the track, many are now embracing it.
“I like it,” said a very excited Greyson Winoker, while his father added, “It’s going to be a couple weekends a year so it’s not even going to matter.”
And county officials say the estimated $26 million in tourism revenue per year will pay off the $80 million of incentives offered by city and county officials in no time.
The inaugural NHRA Nationals will be held at the zMAX Dragway starting Sept. 11.
There are several events planned for the public, including a day for people to test the acceleration of their street-legal cars on the strip.
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