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CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 24) -- Reigning POWERade Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. added some star power to racing mogul O. Bruton Smith's Thursday announcement that he'll be building a $40 million drag strip adjacent to Lowe's Motor Speedway. The yet-to-be-named facility already has been awarded a race date of Sept. 11-14.
"Any time Bruton Smith does something he does it first class and I can already tell you this racetrack will be one of the best in the country," said Coughlin, a four-time world champion and one of only 12 drag racers in history with 50 or more wins. "The only tracks that will rival this one are the other one's Bruton owns in Las Vegas, Sonoma, and Bristol, Tenn.
"The plans look beautiful. It reminds me a lot of The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway the way it's laid out. It certainly takes the sport of drag racing to new heights.
"It's also very exciting to me that we're going to have a national event right in the heart of NASCAR country. Our team and shop is right here in Mooresville so this will be a home race for us. The guys at the chassis and engine shops will be able to come out and join us at this event."
Coughlin was besieged by most of the top motorsports writers in the country at the event, which coincided with NASCAR's annual preseason media tour.
The facility, temporarily named The Dragway at Lowe's Motor Speedway, will eventually take on the title picked through a fan contest on Lowe's Motor Speedway, where Smith has asked readers to submit possible names for the quarter-mile strip.
Coughlin helps unveil new Charlotte-area race, drag strip
CONCORD, N.C. (Jan. 24) -- Reigning POWERade Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. added some star power to racing mogul O. Bruton Smith's Thursday announcement that he'll be building a $40 million drag strip adjacent to Lowe's Motor Speedway. The yet-to-be-named facility already has been awarded a race date of Sept. 11-14.
"Any time Bruton Smith does something he does it first class and I can already tell you this racetrack will be one of the best in the country," said Coughlin, a four-time world champion and one of only 12 drag racers in history with 50 or more wins. "The only tracks that will rival this one are the other one's Bruton owns in Las Vegas, Sonoma, and Bristol, Tenn.
"The plans look beautiful. It reminds me a lot of The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway the way it's laid out. It certainly takes the sport of drag racing to new heights.
"It's also very exciting to me that we're going to have a national event right in the heart of NASCAR country. Our team and shop is right here in Mooresville so this will be a home race for us. The guys at the chassis and engine shops will be able to come out and join us at this event."
Coughlin was besieged by most of the top motorsports writers in the country at the event, which coincided with NASCAR's annual preseason media tour.
The facility, temporarily named The Dragway at Lowe's Motor Speedway, will eventually take on the title picked through a fan contest on Lowe's Motor Speedway, where Smith has asked readers to submit possible names for the quarter-mile strip.
