Combs Airport to host two-day drag racing event organized by Kent Rose Foundation
BY PHILL BARNETT
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
PAINTSVILLE — The Paintsville-Prestonsburg Combs Airport is set to host the Arm Drop Revival 2023 on Sept. 1 and 2. Organized by the Kent Rose Foundation (KRF), this two-day street-style drag racing event aims to honor the legacy of the late Kent Rose, known as the “Arm Drop Guy,” while raising funds for the foundation’s general fund, which supports local youth programs.
A legacy revived
Kent Rose was not just a man with a passion for drag racing; he was a visionary who saw the potential for a community to come together around the roar of engines and the thrill of speed.
According to Gina Rose, Kent’s widow and the head of the Kent Rose Foundation, his journey in organizing drag races began around 2010 when Prestonsburg Automotive approached him to organize their burnout competition. What started as a simple event in a parking lot soon became a phenomenon that captured the hearts of thousands.
Kent had a knack for “making people feel like part of something big. Something for everyone,” said Gina Rose.
This ethos was evident from the very first race he organized in the Mountain Arts Center parking lot. But Kent was not content with just a parking lot; he envisioned something grander. He moved the event to the Paintsville-Prestonsburg Combs Airport for both safety and spectacle, hosting the first airport race on Sept. 3, 2011.
That inaugural airport event drew 125 cars and roughly 5,000 spectators, but it was just the beginning. By May 2013, the numbers had skyrocketed to 264 cars, over 10,000 spectators, and representation from over 20 states. The races, originally known as the Hillbilly Arm Drop Drags, had become a sensation. The peak during those original days saw 289 cars and over 10,000 spectators, turning a local event into a national attraction.
Tragically, Kent was diagnosed with lung cancer in May 2016 and passed away just a few months later on Aug. 28.
Even in his final days, Kent was in “overdrive,” as Gina Rose put it, planning another race, giving specific instructions and jobs for future events. A week after his passing, the Kent Rose Foundation was established to continue his legacy, a testament to his indelible impact on the community and the sport.
Event details and safety rules
The Arm Drop Revival 2023 will be held Sept. 1 and 2 at Combs Airport. Gates will open at 9 a.m. each day. Test/tune starts at 1 p.m. both days. The first race will be at 6 p.m. on Friday, followed by entertainment at 8 p.m. There will be live music from Thunderstruck, an AC/DC cover band, and local band Bigfoot.
The event is being promoted by a team of world-class race promoters and officials, including Charlie Bennett, HNS “Happy” Escobar, Ryan Mitchell, Brad Schnieders and Jason Terrell.
Safety is a priority for the event. All drivers must be 18 or older with valid driver’s licenses. Helmets, pants and fire jackets are required, and all vehicles must be certified good to compete by the tech director.
Winners will receive cash payouts totaling over $27,500.
The event features various racing classes, each with its own set of rules and entry fees, ranging from $20 to $100. Classes include Small Tire, Hard Tire, RWYB (Run What You Bring), True Street, Stick Shift, Daily Driver and Daily Driver Plus. More details can be found on the Facebook event page.
The Revival and its impact
This year’s Arm Drop Revival will be the first “Kent Rose” race since 2014 and the first drag race at Combs airport since around 2018. “We’ve been to races all over and they kept asking us, ‘When y’all doing a race at Combs?’” Gina Rose said. The foundation took a few years to get it organized without him.
The event will fund over 20 programs supported by KRF, including auto tech scholarships and tool awards at BSCTC, Casting for Kids, resources for local teens, flood relief and library programs.
“We anticipate a lot of cars,” Gina Rose said. The pre-registration count at the time of writing was 160 cars.