One, one-thousand.

Two, one-thousand.

Three, one-thousand.

Four.

Top Dragsters cover the 1/8th mile track in only a matter of seconds.

“These cars run in the low 4 second zone.“ Union County Dragway Manager, Tony Brown said. “ We should have one car in the low threes (seconds).”

The International Hot Rod Association's Pro-Am Tour travels to Union County Dragway for the first time for a huge event to be held Friday and Saturday. There will be pro-am testing Friday night from 6-10 p.m. Gates open Saturday at 8 a.m., qualifying starts at 1 p.m. and eliminations will begin at approximately 5 p.m. Saturday's race will be the final Pro-Am race of the Division Nine season.

Several hundred racers will flock to Santuc-Carlisle Highway en route to compete for the Iron Man Trophy this weekend. Racers will make the trip from Indiana and Alabama, and from Florida to Virginia for a shot at the divisional points championship, held at Union County’s professional racing site.

“Owners Curtis and Doris Teems have put together a great facility and a super staff, with Tony Brown as Track Manager," IHRA's Web site posted Thursday.

Due to good fortunes for Union County, the race was originally scheduled for an earlier date at a different track. Timing is everything, because this weekend 200-300 racers will desperately compete for points in the season finale.

Brown gives Union County high marks for its support.

"The area fans are so supportive and they come out in droves for the events. We really appreciate them," Brown said in Thursday's interview as he made final preparations at the track.

The tour provides semi-professional drag racers a chance to chase a dream without having to go “all-in.” The races are held regionally and the season consists of six races.

Drivers earn points towards Pro-Am championships held in Union County, as well as IHRA National Event Drag Racing Series championships in Maryland. Virginia Motorsports Park hosts the 2010 summit Pro-Am All-Star Program coming up in October. Every racer's goal this weekend is to win their category, the money and the Iron Man trophy.

Two local drivers will compete in this weekend's Pro-Am tour. Scott Blackwell will race in the Super Rod category and Mike Snow will make a charge for the money in the Top Sportsman category.

For more information visit Union County Dragway’s Web site or call 466-0000.

The race is open to anyone who holds an IHRA license and membership.

A juniors division will consist of three groupings: master, advanced and beginner. This division earns money and an Iron Man trophy but does not earn points.

Here is a look at the seven categories competing for a championship:

Top Dragster

The fastest sportsman category in drag racing. Top Dragster is also renowned as one of the most innovative classes in IHRA. Combining dragsters and altered vintage roadsters, the class presents handicap racing with six second, 225 mph contestants.

Top Sportsman

As the class that spawned Pro Modified, Top Sportsman remains the “baddest” sportsman class on the planet. Covering the spectrum of passenger car body styles and power plants, Top Sportsman racers are not encumbered by displacement limitations or customizing rules, offering some of the most radical visual and mechanical thrills in drag racing.

Super Stock

As the arena for factory muscle car showdowns for decades, this class spotlights some of the most powerful production vehicles ever built. Cars run on a handicapped start, but each must run under their sub-category’s National Index, determined by a power to weight ratio. In additional traditional Super Stockers, there are also sub-categories for GT entries, front wheel drive conversions, trucks, and Super Stock production entries.



Stock

Considered drag racing’s “entry level” division, this class offers economical racing machines in an incredibly competitive forum, with everything from 130 mph muscle cars to 75 mph family sedans. All demand original production equipment with which the car was marketed to the public. Cars National Index, determined by a power to weight ratio.

Quick Rod

The fastest of the “Rod” categories, Quick Rod offers dragsters, altered, vintage roadsters, coupes , and passenger cars racing with a heads up start. The objective of the class is to beat an opponent to the finish line without going under the 8.90-second Class Index, or 5.70 in the 1/8th mile.

Super Rod

This class features passenger cars and vintage roadsters also competing on an event start. Like Quick Rod, vehicles are permitted virtually an­­­y engine modification. Races are run on a 9.90 Class Index, or 6.40 for the 1/8th mile.

Hot Rod

This class may appear as an entry-level division with its slower 10.90 Class Index or 7.00 in the 1/8th mile, but it presents some of the closest competition of any category.