Fans seeking the biggest stars, the hottest championship battles and the ultimate NHRA Countdown drama will be in for a nitro-fueled thrill show unlike anything else when next year's NHRA Carolina Nationals roars to life Oct. 12-14 at zMAX Dragway.

"OctoberFAST" will roll into the Bellagio of drag strips with the fourth of six NHRA Countdown to the Championship events - a barnburner of battles in what promises to be one of the fastest and most dramatic races on the NHRA calendar. Race fans will witness drivers chasing track records, wins and points in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle while contending with cooler track temperatures and must-win circumstances under the October sun.

"Having the NHRA Carolina Nationals in mid-October means that fans will see some of the best drag racing zMAX Dragway has ever hosted," said Greg Walter, executive vice president of Charlotte Motor Speedway. "Lower track temperatures mean higher speeds, so 'OctoberFAST' promises to be fast, unforgettable and a can't-miss spectacle during our Fall Season of Speed."

Top Fuel driver Antron Brown will enter next year's NHRA season chasing his sixth and seventh wins at zMAX Dragway.

"Any time is a great time to race at the Bellagio of dragstrips," said Brown, a five-time winner at zMAX Dragway. "It's always been exciting to start the Countdown to the Championship at zMAX, but when we get there next year for the fourth race in our playoffs, the track will definitely be right and tight with the cooler temperatures. There's going to be big-time excitement. It will be time to really get down to who's going to be the champion."

Robert Hight - a five-time Funny Car race winner at zMAX Dragway - echoed Brown's sentiments.

"Potentially, you could have better conditions when you move back three weeks," Hight said. "It's the fall, so it should start cooling down. You take the best facility in all of NHRA drag racing and you run it under great conditions … Wow. Look out. You could have some records."

TICKETS:
Tickets to all upcoming Charlotte Motor Speedway, zMAX Dragway and The Dirt Track at Charlotte events are available at the gates, by calling 1-800 455-FANS (3267) or online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com/tickets.

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