Union County Dragway, located minutes south of Union, S.C., has joined the NHRA Member Track Network within the Southeastern Division, NHRA’s Division 2, which features tracks from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Puerto Rico.
 
The facility, originally opened in 2008, will run a full schedule of events for the 2017 season from February to November. Track owner Gilbert Jacobs and track consultant Kurt Johnson of Total Venue Concepts, will run a wide range of events including a season long points series, grudge racing and an active slate of small tire shootouts.
 
Jacobs, a tireless promoter of live music events as well as drag racing events, will bring his passion and energy to the facility. He has raced at facilities along the east coast and is ready to put what he has learned behind the wheel to make Union County Dragway a top tier facility for racers and fans.
 
Johnson, an industry leader in track preparation and knowledge of drag radial racing will bring his years of knowledge and expertise to Union County Dragway.  
 
“Mr. Jacobs is a great partner to help us reintroduce NHRA Drag Racing to racers in South Carolina that until now didn’t have a local NHRA member track,” said Rich Schaefer, Division 2 Director. “Gilbert and I have talked about reaching beyond existing NHRA programs and building more diverse events, and appealing to the small tire contingent.  It’s exciting to see what we can do together at a great track like Union County Dragway.”   
 
“We at Union County Dragway anxiously await the start of the 2017 season and the partnership with the NHRA,” said Jacobs, track operator. “Their wide range of racing options and benefits to the racers will help us grow the sport in an active drag racing part of the state.”
 
As an NHRA-sanctioned track, the facility will be eligible to offer racers a variety of NHRA racing opportunities, including the NHRA Summit Racing Series, the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, NHRA Jr. Street and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA.  Additionally, the track has the opportunity to host NHRA’s specialty events including the National DRAGSTER Challenge, NHRA Summit King of the Track, and NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Challenge, where racers compete for the coveted Wally trophy.
 
NHRA’s Division 2, the Southeast Division, features tracks from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Puerto Rico. Division 2 facilities host NHRA-sanctioned competitions throughout the year along with countless other events for the heartiest of drag racing competitors and fans. For more information including schedules, point standings and more, go to the Division 2 website: www.nhradiv2.com.