The Kinston Drag Strip (KDS) was originally built as a quarter-mile drag strip in 1960 by 4 gentlemen, Shade Aldridge, John White, Paul Nobles and Pos Jarman. The current track owner, Bobby Smith from Kinston, NC has owned it since 1977.
KDS MotorSports became Internation Hot Rod Association (IHRA) sanctioned in the mid 1980s. The very first divisional points meet was held here in 1991. KDS is home to some of the most legendary names in all of motorsports such as Richard Petty, Don Nicholson, Hubert Platt, Ronnie Sox and Scotty Cannon just to name a few. There have been several world records set here over the years as well.