IHRA
London Dragway Renews Commitment to IHRA
WEST PALM BEACH, FL — Competition is a word closely associated with London Dragway. The Southeastern 
Kentucky facility, which features an 1/8-mile drag strip and several amenities like plenty of paved areas and great lighting, recently agreed to a multi-year sanctioning agreement with the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA).
It’s the intense weekly competition the IHRA Division 2 (Heat Wave) track is best known for. IHRA championship racing is held every weekend during the season with Outlaws, Outlaw Pro Mods and Pro Street Cars the second weekend of every month.
IHRA Summit SuperSeries champions for 2018 were Ian Woods (Top), Toby Daniels (Mod) and Trey Hensley (Junior). Daniels went on to become IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Champion at Memphis in October, but credited his home track for getting him ready for the championship race.
“There are some pretty tough ones, quite a few good racers, at London,” Daniels said. “I’ve been racing at London since ’98 and am there about every weekend. It’s a great crew of tough racers, but they’re also like family.”
Weather Forces Postponement of IHRA Summit Sportsman Spectacular at State Capitol Raceway
PORT ALLEN, LA – Officials with the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) and State Capitol Raceway have 
postponed the Feb. 1-3 IHRA Summit Sportsman Spectacular event due to the unfavorable forecast of rain for the weekend the sanctioning body announced today.
The new date of the IHRA Summit Sportsman Spectacular will be March 29-31.
“Gary Carter and his team always provide a great facility to host an event. When talking with Gary this week, we decided that it was best to postpone the event based on the projected forecast,” IHRA Division 4, 6 and 7 Director Frank Kohutek said. “Gary and his staff at State Capitol Raceway always keep the racers best interest in mind when hosting events.”
The IHRA Summit Sportsman Spectacular season opener will now kickoff with double-event weekends, March 22-24 at Xtreme Raceway Park in Ferris, Texas and Farmington Dragway in Mocksville, N.C.
Historic Great Lakes Dragaway, IHRA reach agreement
WEST PALM BEACH, FL — Great Lakes Dragaway, nicknamed “The Biggest Little Track in the World,” has entered 
into a multi-year sanctioning agreement with the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA).
The Paris, Wisconsin track with a Union Grove post office address is the oldest purpose-built drag strip in America. Track co-founder Marge Bennett first called it the “Dragaway” as a place her friends could drag away.
Steeped in drag racing history, first opening in 1955, it has hosted the biggest names in the sport such as 17-time world champion “Big Daddy” Don Garlits and Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen.Legendary promoter “Broadway Bob” Metzler, the first promoter ever inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, brought in concerts, parades, the circus and even motorcycle daredevil “Evel” Knievel.
Current track owners Randy Henning and Marcel Kuper have continued to build upon that glorious past and have made improvements to the facility highlighted by a quarter-mile drag strip. Henning is an accomplished racer, first going down the track as a 16-year-old in a 1952 Chevrolet. He has since piloted a variety of cars including an Alcohol Funny Car and a jet dragster.
Legendary Darlington Dragway, IHRA Extend Sanctioning Agreement
WEST PALM BEACH, FL — Darlington Dragway has over four-decades of history with the International Hot Rod 
Association (IHRA). The legendary South Carolina track at one of America’s great motorsports destinations has extended its IHRA partnership through a multi-year sanctioning agreement.
The 1/4-mile drag strip was constructed by Harold Brasington, who built Darlington Raceway in 1950, and Woodrow Hall under the guidance of IHRA founder Larry Carrier. It opened in 1976 and has been a mainstay on the IHRA event schedule ever since.
In 2015 new owners Russell and Dee Dee Miller took over the facility with the intention of transforming it into one of the premiere facilities in the country. The Miller family are true racers and their children, Tylor and Brooke, share the passion for the sport. Racing for the Pee Dee Fleet Motorsports Team, Tylor is one of the top Pro Mod drivers in the Carolinas, and Brooke is highly successful in the Junior Dragster ranks. She was runner-up in the track’s IHRA Summit SuperSeries point standings for 2018, and won the Gambler’s Race at the 2017 IHRA Division 2 Summit Team Finals.
“Darlington Dragway is truly one of America’s great drag racing facilities,” IHRA Division Director Josh Peake said. “Not only does it boast such a rich history, but track owners Russell and Dee Miller and track manager Rhett Gardner have taken it to the next level. It continues to be a showplace for marquee events and truly lives up to its name as a legendary track.”
Ohio’s Thunder Capital, IHRA Reach Sanctioning Agreement
WEST PALM BEACH, FL — Thompson Raceway Park, nicknamed “Ohio’s Thunder Capital,” has renewed its 
sanctioning agreement with the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA).
Located less than an hour east of Cleveland in Thompson, Ohio, it is the oldest drag strip in the Buckeye State, first opening in 1958 as Thompson Drag Raceway. It has undergone many upgrades over the last six decades and features a 1/4-mile drag strip with Sunoco Race Fuels offered on site.
The IHRA Division 3 (North Stars) track helped launch the career of such drag racing icons as “Big Daddy” Don Garlits and “TV” Tommy Ivo. For the last several years, it has featured such amenities as a pedestrian bridge and a paved pit area for the racers.
“There are only a handful of places left in the world where one can stand on top of two race cars as they leave the starting line,” IHRA Division Director Jon O’Neal said. “There’s a character that emanates from a track such as Thompson. The history, the amazing layout of the facility and the hard work that goes on behind the scenes are what make it notable.”
Xtreme Raceway Park Completes Summit Sportsman Spectacular Schedule
WEST PALM BEACH, FL – The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) announced today that a spring event at 
Xtreme Raceway Park, Ferris, Texas will complete the 16-race IHRA Summit Sportsman Spectacular schedule for 2019.
The double-race weekend will take place March 22-24 with competitors earning local track championship points.
Box, No Box / Footbrake and Junior Dragsters will have the opportunity to compete for the prestigious IHRA Ironman at each event as well as the coveted oversized championship checks. Class runners-up will receive the limited-edition Summit Sportsman Spectacular silver medals in addition to their winnings.
The weekend program includes a test & tune session and features prizes for the best losing packages in the first, second and third-rounds.
IHRA Summit Sportsman Spectacular Season Opener Less Than One Month Away
WEST PALM BEACH, FL – The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Summit Sportsman Spectacular season opener is less than one month away February 1-3, at State Capitol Raceway, Port Allen, La.
The double race weekend is tailored to State Capitol Raceway’s weekly racing program featuring Top, Mod and Junior Dragsters competing Saturday and Sunday. Street, Quick 16 and Top Door Slammer classes will compete during Saturday’s program.
– Track championship points awarded each day.
– Winners in Top ET will take home $5,000 each day.
– Winners in Mod ET will take home $2,500 each day.
– All IHRA/NHRA credentials will be accepted at the event.
– Event entry will take place at the track.
– Double entry is permitted in Top ET and Mod ET.
The national contingency program is available for all IHRA members who advance to the final two rounds each day.
Iowa Track, IHRA Reach Multi-Year Agreement
WEST PALM BEACH, FL — Eddyville Raceway Park, one of the great historic tracks of the Midwest, has reached a 
multi-year sanctioning agreement with the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA).
The track, located in Eddyville, Iowa, first opened in 1965. It has a glorious past with over a half-century of racing and presently features a strong IHRA Summit SuperSeries program. In the near future, Eddyville is scheduled to host the inaugural IHRA Midwest Summit Team Finals on Sept. 5-8, 2019.
Located on 60-plus acres, ERP features a 1/8-mile drag strip along with several amenities for the racers including clean restrooms, showers, the best lighting in all of motorsports, camping and a kids playground. Sunoco Race Fuels are offered on site.
“There are supporters of the Summit SuperSeries and then there are believers,” IHRA Division Director Jon O’Neal said. “And then there’s Gerald Kramer and the Eddyville family. They have embraced the Summit SuperSeries to the point where they are hosting an independent team finals event for the sole reason of spreading the IHRA Philosophy. That’s dedication.”
US 131 Motorsports Park Signs Multi-Year Renewal
WEST PALM BEACH, FL — US 131 Motorsports Park, “The Fastest Track in Michigan,” has entered into a multi-year 
sanctioning agreement with the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA).
The Martin, Michigan, facility features racing on both the eighth-mile and quarter-mile and hosts multiple big events throughout the season. In 2018, those events included the IHRA Summit Sportsman Spectacular, the IHRA Division 5 Summit Team Finals and one of the largest IHRA Summit SuperSeries programs in the country.
US 131 repeated as IHRA Division 5 (Thunder) champions in 2018, while IHRA Summit SuperSeries track champions were: Rick Morley (Top), Mark Hammond (Mod) and Trey Goodson (Junior).
“The name US 131 Motorsports Park carries prestige across the country,” IHRA Division Director Jon O’Neal said. “The small and highly dedicated staff, led by the Peterson family, have built incredibly strong racing programs by supporting the needs of their racers. We appreciate their continued commitment to a great partnership with the IHRA.”
IHRA, Dart’s Carts Announce Multi-Year Partnership
WEST PALM BEACH, FL — The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) and Dart’s Carts announce a multi-year 
partnership that will see Dart’s Carts become the official golf cart and side-by-side provider of the IHRA.
Located in Jackson, Tenn., Trad Longeway is the owner and operator proudly selling and serving all brands of golf carts for nearly 20 years. Dart’s Carts offers nationwide shipping and no sales tax outside of Tennessee.
In addition to the multi-year partnership as the official golf cart and side-by-side provider of the IHRA, Dart’s Carts will also award the Summit SuperSeries World Finals champions in Top (Box) and Mod (No Box) at Memphis International Raceway with a one-of-a-kind custom golf cart.
IHRA members will also receive special discounts as part of their membership package.
