tool name
closeFour-lane racing looks unlikely in NHRA's inaugural Charlotte event
DAVID POOLE
The Charlotte Observer
Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008
National Hot Rod Association president Tom Compton wouldn't come right out and say it at Wednesday's ribbon cutting for the new zMAX Dragway at Concord, but it doesn't look like the facility's four-lane capacity will be used at next month's inaugural Carolina Nationals.
Compton said he talked to Lowe's Motor Speedway president and general manager Marcus Smith and dragway manager Christian Bryd about using the additional lanes at a Wednesday morning meeting.
"We will work with them every way possible to utilize the additional lanes," Compton said. "But sometimes in an effort to save time you can do things that might slow you down."
Compton mentioned that cameras and safety equipment used during an event mught have to be repositioned whenever a lane switch is made. Software used in the NHRA's timing and scoring system also would have to be adjusted to account for the four lanes.
Given that the dragway's inaugural event is just three weeks away, it's doubtful all of those hurdles could be cleared in time to use four lanes this year.
An agent selling tickets at the Lowe's Motor Speedway office told fans Wednesday morning that only the two lanes closest to the west grandstand, the one on the racers' left, would be used for the Carolinas Nationals.