SPRINGFIELD, IL – Baileyton “Good Time” Dragstrip has reached a multi-year sanction agreement with the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) and becomes the latest track to join the flourishing WDRA member track family ahead of the 2024 season.

Formerly sanctioned by IHRA, Jack Walker built Baileyton Dragstrip in 1966 and it has been a family heirloom ever since. Now owned and operated by Jack’s grandson, Russ Easterwood, and his wife, Sasha, the legendary Alabama racetrack continues to welcome countless drag racing fans and drivers. Anyone is sure to have a good time at Baileyton with their variety of events that alternate between $5,000 bracket races, street style heads-up racing, no prep events, as well as test and tune.

“We appreciate the trust Russ has placed in WDRA. The history and legacy that comes along with Baileyton is just incredible,” said WDRA’s Frank Kohutek.  “Five of the nine sanctioned tracks in Alabama are now WDRA member tracks and we look forward to helping them work together to benefit all the racers in the state.”

Easterwood continues to invest in the fifty-seven-year-old facility as evidenced by various projects the last few seasons. Racers have enjoyed a resurfaced concrete eighth mile, paving projects in the staging lanes and pit areas, as well as a new Accutime timing system that was installed at the start of the 2022 season.

Continue reading →

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Holiday Raceway, otherwise known as “The Beach,” has reached a multi-year sanction agreement with the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) and becomes the latest addition among a blossoming WDRA member track family.

Located in Woodstock, Alabama, and established in 1968 by Johnny Bateh and Thurman West, Holiday Raceway continues to be family-owned and operated over five decades later. In addition to a thriving drag racing program on the all-concrete eighth mile surface, The Beach welcomes a wide range of events each season including music festivals, truck meets, and car shows. The spacious facility is prepared for large crowds with concession stands, restrooms, and grandstands located on both sides of the racetrack.

“We appreciate the Holiday Raceway family for taking a look at what WDRA brings to its member tracks and the racers who support them and seeing the benefits of making the switch,” said WDRA’s Frank Kohutek.  “The team at Holiday Raceway is focused on providing all their guests the best experience possible when they visit the track.  Their decades of success will help make our Alliance stronger. We are on the same mission to grow the sport and we look forward to partnering with them in that effort for years to come.”

Continue reading →

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) proudly announces that I-22 Motorsports Park in Eldridge, Alabama has reached a multi-year sanction agreement and becomes the latest addition to the expanding catalog of WDRA member tracks.

Formerly sanctioned by IHRA, I-22 Motorsports Park was built in 2009 by three friends with a passion for motorsports: Scott Tucker, Gregg Burgess, and the late Bill Haley. Situated on 150 acres, the eighth mile and all-concrete racetrack hosts a variety of events from March to November to satisfy any car enthusiast. The pair of automotive industry veterans and co-owners have created a family-oriented atmosphere with multiple members of the Burgess family either working or racing at 1-22 Motorsports Park any given weekend.

“We gladly welcome the I-22 family into the Alliance and look forward to delivering the track and racer benefits that WDRA is becoming known for, “said Frank Kohutek with the WDRA. “Hunter Burgess and his team are a great fit for what we are building in the South and will be a valuable part of the Alliance in that region. I know the other tracks that are attending the Summit Southern Bracket Finals at Montgomery this coming season are looking forward to having I-22 join the program.”

Continue reading →

SPRINGFIELD, IL: The crown jewel of drag racing facilities in the Caribbean, Palo Marga International Raceway Park, has reached a multi-year sanction agreement with the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) and becomes the latest track to switch to the quickly expanding WDRA member track network.

Previously sanctioned by IHRA, the scenic facility located in southeastern Aruba impressively attracts 30,000 spectators annually, considering the island’s population is around 110,000 people. The racetrack boasts a diverse schedule that includes bracket, Quick 32, motorcycles, front-wheel drive, and import drag racing classes while also hosting both monster truck and drifting events. During the larger events, it is common for racers around the Caribbean to ship in their vehicles which makes Palo Marga a true destination track for racers.

“Having been to the track personally, I can tell you that the community around Palo Marga are some of the most passionate racers and friends of the track I have ever come across,” said Frank Kohutek with WDRA.  “We appreciate the support and confidence from the board of directors in making this change and we look forward to welcoming the track into our Alliance.”

Continue reading →

SPRINGFIELD, IL: Western Canada’s oldest drag racing facility, Saskatchewan International Raceway (SIR), has reached a multi-year sanction agreement with the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) and becomes the latest track to join the multiplying WDRA member track family.

Previously sanctioned by IHRA, Saskatchewan International Raceway is owned and operated by a non-profit association of 250 racers and fans called the Saskatchewan Drag Racing Association (SDRA). Established in 1986, the SDRA began operating what was then known as Saskatoon International Raceway to promote the growth of drag racing within the Saskatchewan province. Seven years later, the SDRA members purchased the facility and have managed the quarter-mile racetrack alongside a board of directors for three decades and counting. The SDRA membership voted unanimously to upgrade their sanctioning to the WDRA in 2024.

“SIR is very similar to WDRA in that a group of people came together for the common good of drag racing and made a successful venture that continues to promote and grow our sport,” said Jon O’Neal from WDRA.  “It is awesome to see what happens when a team of racers and fans get on the same page and work together.  Our sport needs more groups like the SDRA, and we are thrilled to have them join the Alliance.”

Continue reading →

Just three weeks after finishing its inaugural season, the WDRA reveals the Summit Bracket Finals and Summit World Championship race schedules for 2024

SPRINGFIELD, IL – After a highly successful first season, the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) is excited to release the 2024 Summit Bracket Finals presented by Laris Motorsports event schedule.

Returning sponsors, Summit Racing Equipment and Laris Motorsports Insurance, will again support the five-event series which will take place on five consecutive weekends.  The series kicks off with the Midwest Bracket Finals at Eddyville Raceway Park on September 5-8, followed by a stop at Keystone Raceway Park on September 12-15 for the Eastern Bracket Finals. US 131 Motorsports Park will welcome the Northern Bracket Finals competitors September 19-22, 2024. The WDRA team will then venture South for the last two events, both of which will be contested at new host facilities. The Southern Bracket Finals will run at Montgomery International Dragway September 26-29, followed by the Southeast Bracket Finals at Union Dragway on October 3-6, 2024.

“It was great to have a lot of the racers come to us with positive comments on the $3K-$5K-$5K race formats the WDRA created for the Bracket Finals,” said Skooter Peaco while representing the WDRA.  “No one has ever put together that kind of high-paying event package for a Bracket Finals, so it was nice that we could pull that off in our first season.”

Continue reading →

WDRA releases the National Top Ten standings for the Box, No Box, Sportsman, and Junior Dragster classes following the WDRA Summit World Championships presented by SunCoast Performance 

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The WDRA has crowned its inaugural Summit Sportsman Drag Racing Series World Champions and is now proud to release the national top ten standings. These 2023 rankings reflect the driver’s performance and overall finish at the Summit World Championships. In some cases, positions were determined by the best losing package of that round to determine final positions.

A total of nineteen different tracks had drivers finish in the top ten with five tracks (Farmington, Darlington, Empire, Prescott, and Union) placing three drivers in the top ten. Another five tracks (Mid-Michigan, US 131, Kinston, North Florida, and Eddyville) placed two of their racers in the top ten. Six drivers who won their respective class at a Summit Bracket Finals event went on to finish in the top ten with two from the Midwest and two from the Southeast event leading the pack.

The state of Michigan staked its claim as the top bracket racing state thanks to the performance of Mid Michigan Motorplex and US 131 Motorsports Park racers. Both tracks boasted World Championship titles (in Junior Dragster and No Box) and captured second place in the Box and Junior classes. (other classes below the page break)

Continue reading →

Matthew McDaniel becomes the 2023 WDRA Summit Box World Champion during the inaugural event at Darlington Dragway

SPRINGFIELD, IL – When referring to World Championships, Matthew McDaniel can boast about his perfect record as he claimed the 2023 WDRA Summit Box World Championship presented by SunCoast Performance during his first attempt at a world title. McDaniel is no stranger to winning on the first try as the decorated racer kicked off his success with a Division 9 Top Dragster championship during his first year of racing, in 2005.

Throughout eighteen seasons of competition, McDaniel has accumulated race wins and cash prizes at various racetracks in the southeast and even earned a repeat Top Dragster division championship in 2016. After years of racing as much as possible, McDaniel’s weekend schedule lately has been filled with tee-ball practice and games in support of his five-year-old son, Malaki. In fact, due to managing his business and unforeseen circumstances at his home track, Farmington Dragway, McDaniel didn’t have many opportunities to compete before the biggest race of the year. He explains, “I won the first race at Farmington, which ended up being the only one when they ran into an issue while repaving the top end. I have barely raced with them being closed all season and was surprised when they said the WDRA was going to let us have a team at the Bracket Finals. I’m thankful the WDRA allowed us to compete when they didn’t have to.”

Continue reading →

Donnie Hagar continues his winning streak by claiming the 2023 WDRA Summit No Box World Championship during the inaugural event

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Just five weeks after taking the internet by storm with his win at one of the longest-running big money bracket races in history, Donnie Hagar returns to the headlines as the first WDRA Summit No Box World Champion. Hagar’s recent success made him an overnight sensation with various drag racing media sources reaching out for interviews and even professional Top Fuel driver, Clay Millican, mentioning him in a post-race interview.

However, his skill behind the wheel is nothing new for competitors and friends at his local racetracks. The soft-spoken Michigan native secured his spot at the exclusive WDRA Summit World Championships presented by SunCoast Performance via his second consecutive No Box track championship at US 131 Motorsports Park.

As the very definition of a weekend warrior, Hagar hopped into his 352,000-mile Chevy Silverado for the twelve-hour haul down to Darlington Dragway with his ’72 Vega on an open trailer in the rearview mirror. After arriving, he proceeded to win eleven straight rounds over two days to collect the Laris Motorsports Insurance Free $5K prize on Friday and the WDRA Summit No Box World Champion title on Saturday.

Continue reading →