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Wayne's 88 GT
04-09-2009, 10:37 PM
Saw this on BadMC and thought I would share:
Ready to Rumble!: Union Dragway Getting ready to open

By BRIAN WHITMORE

Gentlemen and ladies, get ready to start your engines —

Union County Dragway is about to open.

The new racing facility, located off Highway 215 in the Santuc community, will begin testing and tuning practice later this month, with points racing starting in May.


The 1/8-mile track, with 750 feet of concrete, is finished. It measures 2,500 feet in length and is 60 feet wide.

Lights are installed every 75 feet, making the track well lit for night racing.

Seating for 1,600 spectators also is complete, while more can watch from a tailgating area.

“The width, concrete and length make the track special,” said track manager Steve

Sentell. “It has an extra 700 feet that other tracks don’t, so there is plenty of stopping area.

Union County Dragway should be the nicest track around.”

Still to come are two concessions buildings with bathrooms, one with showers on the pit side of the track.


Timing equipment has yet to be installed and safety fencing is needed.

The tower, which contains the control room and three suites for sponsors, is 95 percent complete.

The staging area needs asphalt.

“If the weather cooperates, we should be ready in three weeks,” said Sentell.

“The track is a work in progress. We’ll try to start racing and then finish.”


When the track opens, its points racing will be held on Saturdays.

Four classes will race — Pro Eliminator (electronics aided),

Modified Eliminator (no electronics),

Junior Dragster (8-18 years old)

and Street Legal (stock).


Gates will open at 3 p.m., practice is from 4-7 p.m.,

eliminations begin at 7 p.m. and racing should be done around 11 p.m. or later.

Admission will be $10.


Drivers will have lots of motivation.


Pro Eliminator pays $1,500 to win,

Modified Eliminator $700,

Junior Dragster and Street Legal $100 each.

Pro Modified pays round money.


Once each month, Pro Eliminators’ quickest eight will race for an extra $500 and

Modified Eliminators’ eight quickest reaction times will go for a $300 bonus.


Testing and tuning will be held on Thursdays.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. for practice, which will take place from 6-10 p.m. Admission is $7.


Union County Dragway is an IHRA Division II East track, like most South Carolina tracks.


The racing season will run from February to November.


In October, points racing will end and the best racers will advance to team finals at Darlington.


Along the way, some big events are planed —

May 23, Motorcycle Show (top fuel Harleys);

June 14 and July 12, Kids Day

(the track will be turned over to younger drivers and Jr. Dragsters will pay $1,000 to win);

June 20, Pro Tree Racers Association (PTRA);

July 17-19, Outlaw Racing Street Car Association (ORSCA);

Aug. 15, Top 8 Door Slammers (Index Racing Club of Charlotte, N.C.);

and Sept. 5, Quick 8 Pro Modifieds.


Top speeds at the track should reach 160 mph for weekly shows and 180 mph for the

Pro Modifieds.


Still want more?


Bike racing will be held on Fridays.

Bernard Terry, who heads up the bike program, has lots planned.

Gates open at 6 p.m. and action includes testing and tuning,

Heads Up (grudge runs),

No Times (no time clock),

Fastest Chick (female racing),

King of the Hill (KAW vs. ZUK, 1300 cc vs. 1400 cc),

Fastest Harley (only Harleys race) and wheelie contests.


Each month, a bike and car show will be held,

bringing in stunt riders and big names in bike drag racing.


It’s all Heaven to Union’s drag racing fans and competitors.

The area has long been a hotbed for the sport and now should draw interest from across the southeast.

“Drag racing is strong in this area,” said Sentell.

Union County is home to Team Aruba and drag racing champions, like Monty Bogan Jr.

That’s why owner Curtis Teems chose the county for his new dragway.

“This track brings a lot of economic growth to Union County,” he said.


“The money put into it — several million dollars — makes it a much better track than what

(drivers and fans) are used to seeing. This is first class.”

Teems invites the public to come out and look at the progress.


“I’d love for the people to come out and see what’s being done here,” he said.

“The gates are open and they’re welcome to look.”



Advertising, signage, billboards, wall signs, live ad reads

and ' naming rights ' to the control tower, restaurant & campground

information contact: DMG Marketing

HighMaintenance2099@yahoo.com
http://www.uniondailytimes.com/printer_friendly/2242270
http://www.unioncountydragway.com

Notch93
04-09-2009, 10:54 PM
Always nice to see another dragway opening.:yes1:

XSR
04-10-2009, 09:46 AM
Knew it was close. Looked to be nice place when I went by a month or so ago!

crumbie
04-10-2009, 09:54 AM
r4w. only been about 5 years in the making. or longer. LOL

93fakesnake
04-10-2009, 11:59 AM
It looks like it is going to be happening very soon

bonesgt
04-10-2009, 03:18 PM
And talks are already under way for a SEFB Track Day there soon!!!!:thumbsup1::yes1::thumbsup1::yes1:

Wayne's 88 GT
04-10-2009, 07:33 PM
r4w. only been about 5 years in the making. or longer. LOL

Hey, maybe it'll be worth the wait!

gearhead302
04-20-2009, 08:10 PM
was by there and they have started putting up the concession stands and stuff. however I dont think they are going to make their dead line the return road is still gravel and can'y you see coming down that after a run. you would have hail damage in your wheel wells. the track is gonna be super nice though it's just as wide a commerce. it puts me in the mind of a mini jackson. they need to get good people out ther paving some stuff quick. Ive been waiting three years on this!!!! it started off in by back yard and moved to union still very close for me. I have vowed not to go to slippery ass ware sholes this year and I don't feel like going all the way to jackson so come on guys lets get a move on

XSR
04-20-2009, 08:34 PM
That's cool, but it only takes a day to pave a road. You need to get us some new pics, since you are so close. I have not seen anything on it since December, when I went to it.

351coupe
04-20-2009, 09:16 PM
http://www.outlawracing.com/MESSAGEFORUMS/tabid/53/forumid/1/postid/36506/view/topic/Default.aspx

gearhead302
04-20-2009, 10:21 PM
that looks good!!!! that picture showing the stands with the building frame in the background is now covered in tin and there is one adjacent to it on the other side of the track as wellwent up there saturday and they had a tractor with the boom streched across the road so we had to run up there to get a peek. the article said that they were going to open for some testing later this month. ( I guess to lay some rubber down) and they have an event there in may so I guess they will have to get it done by then if anybody hears anything about it being open let me know. wanna be there the first time it opens

gearhead302
05-04-2009, 09:02 PM
talked to a guy with the motorsports assoiation this weekend. he said that the asphault was done and the timing equipment is up and a guy is coming to prep the track and a crew is coming to put up the chain link fencing. should open for some test and tune in the next couple of weeks if the weather will hold enough for them to work. said the booth has hard wood flooring WOW!!!!

just a little update

gearhead302
05-10-2009, 09:46 PM
here are some more recent pics:



http://wileycoyote.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=view&action=display&thread=240

cobra_4
05-10-2009, 09:47 PM
Can't wait thanks for the update!

86gtstang
05-11-2009, 09:11 AM
They have done a lot of work since I stopped by there

dragracer197326
05-15-2009, 05:56 PM
going to be a nice track.

gearhead302
05-17-2009, 06:49 PM
rumor mill says that they may open this weekend or next for people to come in and help lay down some rubber

93fakesnake
05-17-2009, 07:11 PM
I'm ready for them to open. It will be good to have something new to go to. Maybe we can talk them into a track day there next year!!!

bags50lx
05-17-2009, 09:41 PM
[QUOTE=gearhead302;61926]rumor mill says that they may open this weekend or next for people to come in and help lay down some rubber[/QUOTE

I was told that next weekend they are opening it up for tnt.

gearhead302
05-17-2009, 09:57 PM
[QUOTE=gearhead302;61926]rumor mill says that they may open this weekend or next for people to come in and help lay down some rubber[/QUOTE

I was told that next weekend they are opening it up for tnt.

GOD I hope so!!!!! you can bet your ass I will be there. I'm going racing next week one way or another I hope it's there though. will be bringing a bunch of people with me. I'm gonna call that guy again this week and get the 411 and when I do you can bet I'll post it here.

gearhead302
05-21-2009, 11:45 PM
ok talked to the guy at the track and on tuesday he told me two weeks. said rain had hampered getting the track prepped. so hopefully that had already happened

jboren93
05-28-2009, 02:17 AM
ok talked to the guy at the track and on tuesday he told me two weeks. said rain had hampered getting the track prepped. so hopefully that had already happened

track opens thursday??????????????? i hear anyway free test and tune yess FREE