Even Without Fans in the Stands, Coast to Make a Stand at PDRA East Coast Nationals on May 29-30 in Benson, N.C. — Serving Up Its First ‘Take-out or Delivery’ #FatMap919

View Taste the Difference – Benson (Takeout) Edition in a full screen map

With veteran driver Jason Lee behind the wheel, Coast Packing Company’s ’69 Noonan Hemi ProCharger Pro Mod Camaro was back in action last weekend, May 16-17, for Wooostock in Darlington, S.C. – a test run ahead of PDRA’s East Coast Nationals on May 29-30 at GALOT Motorsports Park in Benson, N.C.

The weekend event will see the return of Coast CEO Eric R. “Goose” Gustafson, two months after his stunning win in Bradenton, Fla. – but it won’t include the usual legion of fans.  As states begin to loosen restrictions set in place to control the spread of COVID-19, the Professional Drag Racers Association is preparing to start its 2020 season, nearly two months later than planned.

“We are thrilled to finally get back to racing, and to do it at GALOT Motorsports Park, the original season opener,” Gustafson said.  Ben Liedel joined the usual crew team of Cameron Hensley and John Urgo in South Carolina.

To mark the inaugural PDRA event of the season, Coast has updated its special online gastronomic #FatMap919, showcasing local spots where fans can “Taste the Difference” that lard and beef tallow make in popular dishes – dishes now available exclusively by delivery or on a take-out basis (explore the #FatMap).  The 34 eateries cities on #FatMap919 all feature dishes prepared with lard and/or beef tallow.

Nestled between Raleigh and Fayetteville, the Benson track is just a stone’s throw from spots offering take-out and/or delivery of classic North Carolina fare.  Beef tallow fries are on the menu at two popular area chains, Bojangles Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits and Smashburger in Raleigh –.  In Chapel Hill, Mama Dip’s cooks its greens, black eyed peas, string beans with pork, Gonza Tacos Y Tequila in Raleigh prepares black charro beans and paisa beans with lard, and, not surprisingly, at Oh My Lard in Elm City, “everything is fried in lard at the grill!”