New LMS Drag Racing Facility Receives A Name

[PressRoom-GFN]

CONCORD, N.C. (April 25, 2008) -- After an exhaustive review of 4,365 entries in a naming contest for Lowe's Motor Speedway's new dragway, Speedway Motorsports Inc. officials have selected zMAX Dragway @ Concord as the state-of-the-art facility's name, it was announced Friday.

"We were overwhelmed by the response from race fans," said Bruton Smith, chairman and CEO of SMI. "They suggested everything from Burnout Boulevard to The Southern Slingshot to The Main Drag. Two people entered zMAX Dragway and we're going to reward both of them."

Wanda Exum, of Greensboro, N.C., and Carl Hackley, of Charlotte, submitted the winning entries. Each will receive two VIP tickets to the inaugural NHRA Nationals on Sept. 11-14, four-night accommodations at The Embassy Suites in Concord, dinner for two at The Speedway Club and a $1,000 cash prize.

"zMAX is a quality product that has been involved in drag racing for several years," Smith said. "This name association with the finest drag racing facility in the world will raise zMAX's already growing profile."

A Charlotte-based subsidiary of SMI, zMAX produces and markets an environmentally friendly micro-lubricant used in automobiles and trucks. The company also produces AVBLEND, an FAA-approved engine treatment for piston-powered aircraft.

"This partnership epitomizes our marketing platform of ‘Performance You Can Feel,'" said George Elliott, director of marketing and advertising for zMAX. "The new dragway will demand top performance from the drivers, just like our customer base demands the ultimate performance from their street cars. This is a perfect fit for our product."

"It was also important to have Concord in the name and logo as well," Smith added. "The city is a proactive partner in promoting our events at Lowe's Motor Speedway, and this will give Concord additional recognition nationwide as a motorsports destination."

Located on 125 acres of Lowe's Motor Speedway property adjacent to The Dirt Track, zMAX Dragway @ Concord will feature a 34,000-square-foot starting-line tower with luxury suites and an additional 4,000 square feet of roof access for guests; two pedestrian tunnels under the strip; and a grandstand seating capacity of 30,000.

zMAX Dragway @ Concord will open in grand fashion, hosting the NHRA Nationals Sept. 11-14. The four-day event will be the first of six races in the playoff-style NHRA POWERade Countdown to the Championship, featuring competitors in all four professional categories: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Four-day tickets for the inaugural NHRA Nationals at zMAX Dragway @ Concord start at $99; $20 for children ages 12 and under. Tickets can be obtained by calling the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office at (800)-455-FANS or online.

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