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HAGER HILL — Horsepower returned near the Johnson-Floyd line late last week, as the Pop’s Chevrolet Arm Drop Drags event was staged at Paintsville-Prestonsburg Combs Field Airport. Over 200 cars and thousands of fans helped the latest Arm Drop Drags presented by Pop’s Chevrolet become the biggest yet.

The Arm Drop Drags started Friday evening. Following grudge races Friday evening, bracket racing was staged Saturday.

Luckily for the drag racers and fans, Mother Nature cooperated for the most part.

“The last number I heard on the total number of cars was 208,” Arm Drop Drags organizer Kent Rose confirmed,early Tuesday morning. “We had 179 for the bracket racing. This time we had more volunteers and the largest crowd ever. We filled all of the on-site and off-site parking.”

Rose was quick to compliment the participating drag racers.

“It was very competitive and the racing was extremely tight,” Rose confided. “Everyone who came out got their money’s worth and then some.”

Volunteers made the drag racing event a very successful venture. Multiple businesses also stepped up and delivered when needed.

“There are so many great people who helped to make this Arm Drop Drags event the biggest yet,” Rose said. “It starts with our board and individuals like Darrell Patton and Chip Salyers. Carl D. Perkins Job Corps was also tremendous in helping with the parking. ABCO Security came through for us on the lighting and that helped to make Saturday night’s racing happen.”

Grady Underwood and Rick Castle along with their families and friends headed the drag racing event’s tech department.

Shawn Woods and Kevin Woods worked the brackets.

Alex Johnson manned the burnout box during the Arm Drop Drags.

Logan Hall, the Country Music Highway Road to Fame winner, started the event with the singing of The National Anthem. Fans joined together to say The Pledge of Allegiance and a copy of The Ten Commandants was also displayed.

Forty Big Wheels and 400 Hot Wheels were given away during the Arm Drop Drags, one of the state’s most fan- and kid-friendly events.

Rose said the date for the next Arm Drop Drags is still undecided. Until then, Rose and other members of the Arm Drop Nation have committed to continue to promote drag racing.