North Charlotte Today

Today’s teens might not be putting their car titles on the line like their counterparts of the 1950s did, but drag racing is still a thing, and it has residents in Matthews concerned about the safety of their neighborhood.

“In the summertime, the convertibles come out,” Brandon Lee said in a Queen City News report. “We see teenagers standing up inside the car, treating it like a roller coaster. So, “It’s not only a nuisance to us, but it’s a danger to the kids that are involved in this.” 

Neighbors banded together to voice their concerns as the racing – which started out with young drivers doing donuts in the middle of the street – has spread, with multiple races occurring overnight several times a week.

Multiple residential streets near Ardrey Kell High School have witnessed the disturbances, with drag racing activity lasting between 15 minutes and an hour at a time.

“We deliberately don’t come to Ardrey Kell at night because of the racing,” Lee said.

He and his wife have lived near the school for about two years, and they have seen the automotive fun devolve into today’s dangerous activity.

The straightaway on Ardrey Kell Road is only about .3 miles, and people have estimated that the vehicles can reach close to 100 mph over that part of the road.

Videos show vehicles lined up in both lanes of traffic before they speed down the road. Lee has heard them between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. and has seen groups of eight to 10 vehicles at a time.

“My wife is probably boiling to the point of pure defeat,” Lee said. “The expectation is to move out here for the peace and quiet… We just can’t seem to get a handle on the racing.” 

Even though multiple neighbors have contacted local authorities to report the crimes as they happened, they said authorities have yet to respond quickly enough to catch the racers before they leave.