Carowinds announces Intimidator coaster for 2010

Carowinds amusement park is set to see the opening of the Intimidator roller coaster in 2010. The roller coaster will be the Southeast's longest, tallest and fastest roller coaster. The coaster is named in honor of NASCAR's late and perhaps most famous driver, Dale Earnhardt, "The Intimidator."

This massive attraction will stand 232-feet (23-stories) tall at its highest peak and send guests plunging down a 211-foot first drop at a 74-degree angle, reaching speeds in excess of 75 miles per hour. The second (178-feet) and third (151-feet) hills are also taller than any rollercoaster at Carowinds. With 5,316 feet of track, the Intimidator will feature high speed twists and turns including seven steep drops -- one for each of his NASCAR championships -- and an intense finish through a diving spiral. The ride experience will last more than three minutes, and replicate the speed and intensity of a fast-paced NASCAR race.

Click through to see a CG rendering.