Wednesday morning, Cagnazzi Racing's Jeg Coughlin and Dave Connolly used their NHRA Pro Stock Chevrolet Cobalts to tear through a large ribbon to official mark the opening of the newest and most impressive drag strip in the country.

The zMax Dragway took a total of 1,876 workers about 636,000 man hours in just six months. The strip becomes the only facility of its kinds to feature four all concrete lanes. The lanes are located side-by-side in pairs of two.

"Not only is this an important moment in the history of Speedway Motorsports, it is also an important moment in the history of NHRA drag racing," Bruton Smith, chairman and chief executive officer of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. explained. "This is a magnificent facility that will set the standard for the future of drag racing."

Hardcore Race Fans in the area will have the chance to tour the 125-acre facility this Saturday when the Dragway will have an open house. There will be a variety of games and activities, including an autograph session featuring NHRA drivers and North Carolina natives Greg Anderson and Doug Herbert.

Honorable guests attending Wednesday's ribbon cutting ceremony included Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway; Tom Compton, president of the National Hot Rod Association; and Scott Padgett, mayor of Concord, N.C.

September 11-14 will mark the grand opening of the zMax Dragway, when it hosts the NHRA Nationals. Much like the Chase for the Sprint Cup, that weekend's events will be the first of the six race Countdown to the Championship for the NHRA POWERade Series. Each of the NHRA's four series - Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle - will compete that weekend.

Four-day tickets for the inaugural NHRA Nationals at zMAX Dragway start at $99 for adults and $20 for children ages 12 and under. Individual day tickets are also available for both adults and children. Tickets can be purchased online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling the Lowe's Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS.