DIALED IN later in the month. After one more weather-related delay – this time for rain – the event finally went off without a hitch on March 7, and thus ushered in a new season at Kinston.“ We had a solid turnout of cars for the season opener when the weather finally cleaned up for us,” says Smith.
The March 7 opener also represented the first of 10 bracket points races scheduled this year. The points season at Kinston will be contested from March until early August this year.
The Classic Gear Jammers is a popular traveling stick-shift series that’ s held races at Kinston for many years, and it will return on September 12. Among the largest gatherings of the year is the Roger Rhodes Memorial event, and it’ s slated for September 19.
Kinston still hosts a popular test-and-tune session, plus fun and grudge racing, usually every Thursday night, and provides both eighth-mile as well as quarter-mile time slips. Motorcycle shootouts are also held on select Thursdays throughout the year. A trio of bracket events makes up the Winter Series, with races held once per month from October through December.
The track uses Facebook to send out reminders regarding test-and-tune times, and will also post updates to clarify any scheduling changes or cancellations. For Smith, the evolution of technology, such as social media and racing apps, has been every bit as radical as the high-performance progression.
“ It’ s true, I’ ve witnessed a lot of changes over the years in the drag racing business, including seeing kids tune their imports with a laptop computer! I’ ll turn 81 years old this year, and I’ ve always said that it’ s the people and friendships that keep me coming back year after year, and it’ s still true!” concludes Smith. DI
Longtime Kinston Drag Strip owner Bobby Smith( right) catches up with DI’ s Van Abernethy before Saturday’ s race.
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