A Perrin couple will be traveling to Dubai later this month for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to race with the Arabian Drag Racing League.

Ellis and Kim Vial of Ellis & Kim Vial Motorsports put their 1969 Pontiac Firebird on a plane out of New York’s JFK International Airport about two weeks ago. The couple plans to make the 23-hour flight to the Arab emirate Sunday.

Mr. Vial has been drag racing for over 30 years and recently received an invitation from the Prince of Qatar Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al-Thani to spend several months in Dubai and race with the Arabian Drag Racing League.

Vial said he is honored to be able to race with some of the world’s premier race teams.

The Vials were in Rockingham racing when one of the sheikh’s representatives asked Vial if he wanted to race in his country on the Arabian Peninsula.

"At first, I told him I was a little busy, and asked if he could get back to me, thinking he was kidding," Vial said. "...