WDRA
CORDOVA DRAGWAY SECURES OVERALL TEAM VICTORY AT WDRA SUMMIT MIDWEST BRACKET FINALS
The 2024 WDRA Summit Bracket Finals, presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance, kicked off with the Midwest event contested at Eddyville Raceway Park
OSKALOOSA, IA – After competing all season long at their respective racetracks, WDRA members converge regionally to compete against 
neighboring facilities in hopes of clinching victory as a team and/or a coveted invitation to the WDRA Summit World Championships presented by SunCoast Performance. WDRA member tracks Cordova Dragway, Mid America Dragway, I-29 Dragway, and Mo-Kan Dragway competed alongside the host facility, Eddyville Raceway Park, to kick off these end-of-year festivities during the WDRA Summit Midwest Bracket Finals, presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance over the weekend.
On-track action kicked off on Friday with a Gamblers Race for the Box, No Box, and Junior Dragster classes. Eddyville racers nearly swept the competition with five of the six finalists hailing from the home track. Mark Lambert defeated Gary Smiley in the top bulb class, while the lone Cordova Dragway representative, Ryan Robinson, earned the No Box win over Donnie Ellison. A nearly heads-up final in Junior Dragster ended with Jailin Breeding winning over Ty Ratcliff.
Saturday’s Gamblers Races featured the support of several companies that would sponsor the winning racer in each class with a free 2025 WDRA membership. In the Outlaw Trailers Box class, Steve Lohrer from Eddyville earned the win over a red-lighting Brandon Phillips. Another all-Eddyville final saw Camden Baarda win over Kyle Vogel in the TechnoCraft Trailer Cabinets No Box class. The Junior Dragster class was sponsored by Funny Bone Embroidery & Screen Printing, where Trey Ratcliffe was .004 on the tree to defeat Frankie McGlynn. A Teen Racing Gamblers Race was also contested, where Jaleigh Lightsey from Mid America won over Elizabeth Wehling, representing I-29 Dragway. Continue reading
SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT EXTENDS WDRA’S SPORTSMAN RACING PROGRAMS THROUGH 2026
Norwalk, OH – To kick-off the 2024 WDRA Summit Bracket Finals series that starts this weekend in the United States and Canada, the 
World Drag Racing Alliance announced today that Summit Racing Equipment has extended its commitment to the WDRA and its sportsman racing programs through the 2026 season. The Summit Sportsman Drag Racing Series (SSDRS) will again be the WDRA’s centerpiece of bracket racing programming at WDRA member tracks. The 2024 edition of the WDRA Summit Sportsman Drag Racing Series World Championships will be hosted by Montgomery International Dragway in October.
“Sportsman racers along with the facilities and entities that support them will always remain a keystone of the Summit Racing Equipment family,” said Motorsports and Events Manager Jim Greenleaf. “The opportunity to continue our work with the WDRA, the facility owners and operators, and every racer in the program is a point of pride for us.”
The Summit Sportsman Drag Racing Series presented by Suncoast Performance has followed the growth trajectory of WDRA as an organization. As the number of WDRA sanctioned tracks grew by 25% in 2024, the participation levels of the Summit Sportsman Drag Racing Series followed suit with a 22% increase. The upcoming Summit Bracket Finals Series is expected to see a 45% jump in car counts in 2024 thanks to so many new sanctioned tracks and the expansion of the series into Western Canada. Continue reading
KIRK FAMILY STEPS UP TO SAVE CLOSED WEST VIRGINIA DRAG STRIP
SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Kirk family, led by ’91 and ‘93 IHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock champion Doug Kirk, has stepped in to save the 
former IHRA-sanctioned track once known as Twin Branch, alongside partner Ronnie Herald and Justin Kirk. The Delbarton, West Virginia facility on a reclaimed coal mine was never developed past a racing surface and concrete wall. The track only operated a few days before the management disbanded following a ten-year struggle to get the concept approved. Now, the track has entered into a multi-year sanction agreement with the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) and will be known as 304 Motorsports Park. The facility will be operated with a racer mindset with Doug and his son Justin, who holds the title of 2016 PDRA Top Dragster Champion.
“WDRA is proud to be chosen by Doug, Justin, and Ronnie to help them on their journey to finish the build on 304 Motorsports Park and to use our knowledge base to advise them and help them get to the finish line with this project,” said Skooter Peaco with WDRA. “We have been blessed with the opportunity to assist two tracks becoming active again so far this season. The hope is that the Kirk family and staff can get the facility to a soft open point before the season ends to add to that number. Having three tracks return to prosperity is amazing for our sport, and we are grateful that these tracks trust us to help them become viable again.” Continue reading
Summit Racing Expands Leadership Role in Drag Racing with the Creation of New Traction Compound
Drag racing’s leading supporter joins forces with industry experts to improve track prep and reduce costs to facilities.
SPRINGFIELD, IL – The World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) is proud to release to the sport a historic improvement in track preparation 
with the creation of a new generation of traction compound. Summit Racing’s Pro Trac traction compound was created and extensively tested as a joint effort between industry leaders Summit Racing Equipment, Bill Bader Jr., owner of Summit Motorsports Park, and Total Venue Concepts owner Kurt Johnson.
The idea for this new generation of traction compound was born during the great glue shortage our industry experienced. Summit Racing’s Chief Marketing Officer Al Noe saw firsthand what happened to the business of owning a drag racing facility during the shortage. A drag racing enthusiast, Al wanted to ensure that drag racing facilities would not be squeezed or priced out of business. Using the immense buying power of Summit Racing Equipment to secure the components, Al then recruited Bill Bader Jr. and Kurt Johnson to form a dream team that would work for two years to create not just another traction compound, but one that would be priced more affordably for the facilities and one that would work differently than what is currently available.
Summit Pro Trac has been extensively tested by Bill and Evan Bader at Summit Motorsports Park in Northern Ohio in weather conditions that cover the spectrum. This product was privately tested in a double-blind test with select racers as well as SMP events that exceeded 400 cars of all types. The testing proved better results than anyone expected. Bader explained, “During our double-blind test, Summit Pro Trac outperformed ‘brand x’ with cars running one hundredth quicker in the Pro Trac lane. Cars were both faster and more consistent. Summit Pro Trac has exceeded my expectations and will be used confidently at all Summit Motorsports Park produced events in 2024.” Continue reading
WDRA DRIVES FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO MEMBER TRACKS WITH TWO NATIONAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMS
The sanctioning body quickly checks off another bucket list item by creating a Sponsorship Alliance in its second year of business
SPRINGFIELD, IL – The World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) set out to be “Different by Design” when it became the newest drag racing 
sanctioning body only 16 short months ago. One of those differing concepts is the WDRA’s mission to create a functioning alliance between the sanctioning body, member racetracks, and the racers. This new line of thinking allows the organization to work on behalf of racetracks and WDRA license holders to advocate for new sponsorship opportunities and financial benefits to the rapidly growing number of supporters.
“While operating in an environment and economy that puts constant financial pressure on dragstrip operations, our focus was to bring those tracks tangible support in terms of overhead cost reduction and sponsorship programs,” says Skooter Peaco with WDRA. “The first area we attacked was getting our tracks meaningful discounts on things they use in the racing business. Everyone in our group at WDRA, including some racers and track owners, worked together to build a network of a dozen companies that help financially covering everything from contingency awards and website design to track improvement services and consumables. As we continue to grow that network, the next step involves creating sponsorship revenue for our facilities.” Continue reading
WDRA EXPANDS SUMMIT BRACKET FINALS SERIES TO INCLUDE NORTHWEST CANADA
The WDRA adds an event, the Summit Northwest Bracket Finals, in Canada to accommodate its rapid growth this season.
SPRINGFIELD, IL – The World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) rapidly accumulated support with 13 new facilities joining the WDRA 
member track network ahead of the 2024 racing season. New additions to the family are always welcomed and, in this case, have allowed the bracket racing focused organization to add a new event to the schedule.
The Summit Northwest Bracket Finals presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance will take place September 5-8, 2024, at Nitro Motorsports Park in Prince George, British Columbia. This Canadian-only bracket finals format was made possible by eager participating facilities utilizing the Alliance as it was intended, as a way to influence the sport positively. Racers at this event will now have an opportunity to earn a coveted spot to compete during the WDRA Summit World Championships.
“We are very excited to add this event to our schedule and the opportunity to bring the WDRA benefits to our members in Western Canada,” said Frank Kohutek with the WDRA. “We appreciate the team at Nitro Motorsports Park hosting this event and all our member tracks in that region for working together to make this happen for the racers.” Continue reading
RC COMPONENTS TO REWARD RACERS THROUGH AN EXCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH WDRA
RC Components presents a special offer to WDRA license holders for the 2024 racing season
SPRINGFIELD, IL – RC Components, an industry leader of motorcycle, street, and drag racing wheels for over three decades, announces a 
unique partnership with the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) to benefit sportsman racers. In 2024, current WDRA license holders who purchase RC Components wheels will receive a free set of twelve-point billet lug nuts. In other words, a $100 WDRA license adds up to $220 in savings when purchasing a full set of wheels.
RC Components is hands-on for the entire wheel-making operation with the designing, CNC machining, chroming, and polishing processes taking place at its facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Producing a wide variety of wheels ranging from the 16×16 one-piece forged F5 to multiple designs in the popular Comp Series and stylish Street Fighter lines, racers can certainly find a wheel to suit their needs and transform the appearance of their ride.
“We couldn’t be happier to be a part of the WDRA,” said RJ Clutter, RC Components Director of Sales and Marketing. “This organization is here to support racers of all skill levels and so is RC Components! If you’re just starting or have put in the work and made a name for yourself, RC has the right wheels, and the WDRA has a place for you as well. This grassroots organization is only going up and we can’t wait to see how big it can get.”
FUELTECH JOINS GROWING LIST OF WDRA MARKETING PARTNERS
FuelTech USA expands its reach in the motorsports market by partnering with the WDRA in 2024
SPRINGFIELD, IL – FuelTech USA steps up to support sportsman drag racing through a partnership with the World Drag Racing Alliance 
(WDRA) in 2024. The easy decision to work together is strengthened by shared core values such as integrity, exceptional customer service, and a passion for motorsports innovation.
Located in Georgia, FuelTech is most well-known for its advanced aftermarket ECU systems but offers a wide range of products including fuel systems, switch panels, ignition systems, and even dial boards. Equipped with a knowledgeable staff to handle customer questions, FuelTech is available to help racers achieve their performance goals through technical support and product education.
“FuelTech is another company that truly cares about the motorsports market and it’s great to have them come on board this season,” said Jessica Spears with the WDRA. “We hope this continues to be a meaningful partnership for both the WDRA and FuelTech for years to come.”
SOUTHSIDE DRAGWAY IS SAVED FROM EXTINCTION AND JOINS WDRA MEMBER TRACK NETWORK
SPRINGFIELD, IL – The roar of racecars will greet West Virginia motorsport enthusiasts once again when Southside Dragway (formerly 
Kanawha Valley Dragway) opens under new ownership and sanction. Earl Smith sold a portion of his muscle car collection to purchase the facility which had been closed for seven years. Smith has decided to join the growing list of World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) member tracks as he works to resurrect the racetrack.
The eight-mile racetrack located in Southside, West Virginia, originally opened in 1994 and operated until 2017 when it was sold and thought to be doomed for demolition. The facility remained, but years of abandonment created an uphill battle for Smith and his team who have been working nonstop to bring Southside Dragway back up to speed. Multiple members of the community have stepped up with donations and volunteer work toward track upgrades that include two ticket booths, all-new lighting, and a functional PA system.
“These are the kind of projects we love helping with and this one is a huge effort,” said Jon O’Neal with WDRA. “Earl is a racer with a ton of passion and enthusiasm and has rallied a group of other passionate people working round the clock to bring this facility back to life after mother nature had all but reclaimed it. We appreciate them using the WDRA’s member track benefit package as well as our knowledge and connections to speed up the learning curve that this team is going through to get operational.”
ADVANCED PRODUCT DESIGN IS NAMED OFFICIAL CARBURETOR OF THE WDRA
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Advanced Product Design, an industry leader in carburetors and fuel management systems, has been announced as the 
Official Carburetor of the WDRA ahead of the 2024 racing season. As a racer-owned and operated business with twenty-five years of experience, Advanced Product Design (APD) serves as a valuable resource for consistency, tuneability, and high-quality performance.
APD offers a vast catalog of billet carburetors and fuel systems suitable for all levels of sportsman drag racing with products equipped to handle methanol, E85, or gasoline applications. Located in Genoa, OH, APD employs a knowledgeable staff comprised of mostly drag racers and proudly manufactures everything in-house. The values at APD align perfectly with the mission of WDRA to create the basis of a longstanding partnership.
“I think it’s important to get involved with an organization that is trying to support the racers and is a grassroots type of organization,” said John Kyle, the owner and operator of Advanced Product Design. “The biggest thing is the WDRA is trying to do something that is attractive to not only the seasoned racer but also the entry-level type racer. The fact that WDRA is really trying to listen to the racers is a big deal.”
