DIALED IN
Rico Dragstrip Sees
Continuous Improvement
R
ico Dragstrip continues to forge
ahead with ongoing renovations, which
have dramatically improved the facility
in recent years. Famously, this unsanctioned eighth-mile track located in the southeastern North Carolina town of Clarkton once
featured a wobbly deer stand for a timing tower
in the 1980s, and for a racing surface it utilized a
pair of narrow asphalt lanes with a wide, grassy
section that separated them.
While the track remains completely outlaw
in its affiliation to this present day, the overall
condition of the facility is far and away the best
it’s ever been, with recent updates including new
racing surface, restrooms, concession stand, timing system and scoreboards, return road and, yes,
even a brick and mortar timing tower eventually
replaced the crude, wooden deer stand. One man
who has seen Rico’s dramatic facelift firsthand
is brand-new track manager, Buddy Blow, who
began racing here 30-years ago and has remained
active ever since.
“Rico was actually the first track I ever raced at,”
recalls Blow, who resides in nearby Fayetteville.
As of April 2016, he took over managing this
fabled track, which is, in fact, the first drag strip
he’s ever operated. He brought to the table lots
of racing experience, but also a fresh perspective
of ideas and goals, not to mention a magnetic
enthusiasm for taking the track’s operations to
the next level. “One thing I want to do is spread
awareness about Rico. There are so many people
who’ve never even heard of this track once you get
out of the eastern North Carolina area,” explains
Blow, who also grudge races in multi-state locations each year.
Not surprising, Blow intends to feature a huge
grudge show on the first Sunday of every month,
with lots of great match ups and shootouts on
tap. That is one way he says he intends to spread
awareness to the out-of-town masses that would
otherwise never have heard about Rico.
“I plan on having some guys come down from
the north to grudge race our locals for a big money
payout which should generate a lot of interest,”
says Buddy, who believes the consistent monthly feature will dramatically increase awareness
about Rico Dragstrip. Realizing the importance
of the grass roots sportsman scene, Buddy also
intends to take care of his weekly dial-in participants as well.
“Each Sunday I payout $1,500 with just a 10 car
minimum, and if 25 cars show up, I’ll bump the
purse to $2,000,” he says. Blow says he would also
like to show some additional love to the bracket
racers by putting together a big money race with
no entry fee for the guys who’ve came out and
supported the track all season long. Motorcycle
and 4-wheeler events are also being worked into
the schedule for the 2016 season.
Buddy assumes many roles at Rico ever since
he took over as manager; everything from track
prep to promoter to occasionally announcing
from a wireless microphone that is positioned on
the starting line whenever Buddy feels compelled
to personally call the next class to the lanes, or
simply greet the fans and welcome one and all.
He believes the fans at Rico are among the best
anywhere, and says no one gets treated like a
stranger at this friendly, laid-back drag strip.
“I was actually stunned when 1,200 people
came through the gate on a particular Sunday
afternoon in May – Mother’s Day no less – we
typically don’t have that kind of turnout,” he admits, while also acknowledging his early success
as track manager surprised a few people, himself
included.
Rico’s geographical location is also a thing of
beauty, positioned not much more than a hour
drive from the North Carolina coast, which makes
it favorable for year-round operation. The track
typically enjoys mild weather late in the year, and
has often held successful events during the week
of Christmas and New Years.
As for his first impressions of track management, Blow is upbeat about the feedback he’s been
getting. “I love it,” says Buddy enthusiastically,
clearly anticipating a monumental year for this
ever-improving drag strip.
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66 | D r a g
I l l u s t r a t e d | DragIllustrated.com
Issue 112
PHOTO: VAN ABERNETHY
By Van Abernethy