Momentum Builds for IHRA Over First Few Weeks of 2023

Headlining the list is the official announcement that Summit Racing Equipment and the IHRA will continue the longest running series partnership in drag racing through the 2023 season.

With participation from tracks and racers across North America, the IHRA Summit SuperSeries, which includes the IHRA Summit Team Finals and IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals, remains the most prestigious national championship in bracket racing.

On the sponsor front, it’s also great to highlight another longstanding partnership between the IHRA and Sunoco Race Fuels. With Summit and Sunoco, the IHRA has been fortunate to have such loyal and terrific partners who truly support grassroots, Sportsman racers. IHRA also announced a partnership extension with RacingJunk.com, the world’s No. 1 race and performance marketplace.
Besides great partners, you need good tracks to compete on. There has been an abundance of exciting news on that front.

Since the first of the year, the IHRA has welcomed new member tracks with Shadyside Dragway in North Carolina, Custom T’s Motorsports Park in Virginia and Newport Dragway in Arkansas.

Renewals of sanctioning agreements have been announced with seven U.S. tracks — Penwell Knights Raceway, Bunker Hill Dragstrip, US 41 Dragstrip, Music City Raceway, Brainerd Motorsports Park, Ozark Raceway Park, Wisconsin International Raceway — as well as Interlake Dragway in Canada.

New track operators have taken over at South Carolina Motorplex, I-30 Dragway, Huntsville and Ozark Raceway Park with exciting schedules for all four venues.

Dates and locations for most of the IHRA Summit Team Finals have been released. Host tracks include: Motor Mile Dragway, Onawa Dragway, US 41 Dragstrip, Dragway 42, Holly Springs Motorsports and Xtreme Raceway Park announced as host tracks.

Stay tuned to the IHRA.com website and our social media channels for more exciting news ahead.

It is fast and easy with the ability to join online info where our friendly IHRA membership coordinator Heather Roth can take you through the process of getting you on track.

The IHRA is the premier organization for grassroots drag racing with thousands of racers competing at IHRA member tracks across North America. There are many exclusive benefits available only to IHRA members.

Upon joining the IHRA, all members will receive:

· $100,000 of excess insurance coverage

· Insurance now includes a 24/7 accidental death benefit that doesn’t have to be racing-related

· An IHRA membership card

· A printed version of the most current IHRA rulebook and decals

· Ability to compete for round prizes and bonuses exclusive for IHRA members at Sportsman Spectacular events

· Discounts on IHRA merchandise purchased on ihra.com/shop.

· Purchase discount coupon from Summit Racing Equipment.

The IHRA Summit SuperSeries is the most recognized and most prestigious program in bracket racing. The program, which includes the IHRA Summit Team Finals and IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals, has been in effect since 2002. It is the World Championship for thousands of IHRA member-track racers each season, held at IHRA-sanctioned member tracks across North America.

“We are proud to be part of this long-standing partnership,” said Jim Greenleaf, Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports and Events Manager. “We understand and appreciate the time and dedication that it takes to prepare for and compete in Sportsman racing. Being a part of this program gives us the chance to support drag racing while giving back to the racers who choose Summit Racing Equipment as their partner in performance.”

IHRA Summit SuperSeries track champions from all over North America were represented in Top (Box), Mod (No Box), Sportsman and Junior Dragster at the 2022 IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals.

While the Benton, Illinois venue built in 1970 has operated as an “outlaw track,” for much of its existence, its core values match those of the IHRA. With the first official year as Don Ellis as track owner, it was the perfect time for the track to join the IHRA family.

Like the IHRA understands its member racers are the key to success, so is the case with Ellis I-57 Dragstrip. “I-57 has always been a family-oriented, grassroots race track based on its Saturday night bracket racing,” track operator Dan Estep said. “We offer a lot for the racers with how we keep it well maintained. The grass is always cut, the place is always clean. Our employees are always happy to see the racers when they come in. It’s something that everyone takes pride in.”

The largest manufacturer of racing gasolines in the world, Sunoco Race Fuels serves as the official fuel of IHRA, NASCAR and other major racing organizations. Since the mid-60s when Sunoco and the Roger Penske Racing Team with Mark Donohue forged a long and successful alliance, the company has grown into an industry powerhouse.

With its unsurpassed innovations and years of experience, it’s easy to understand why more engine builders, racers, tracks and sanctioning bodies choose Sunoco over all other racing gasoline combined.

“We are blessed to have great relationships with loyal partners like Sunoco Race Fuels,” IHRA President and CEO Larry Jeffers said. “Sunoco offers such a wide variety of products to IHRA racers at the drag strip, hauls to the track, working around home and in their daily travels. It’s a name well-trusted throughout the racing industry and beyond.”

Anthem? Aetna? Blue Cross? Aflac? No, no, no, and no. The answer is simply becoming an IHRA member. How many of us have insurance coverage for our automobiles, home, and loved ones? Chances are, almost everyone. But how many of us have medical coverage at the track if something happens? If you do have medical insurance, will it cover your expenses in a racing-related accident?

Becoming a member of IHRA provides you excess medical coverage as a driver, crewmember or spectator. Racing at an IHRA track you have $5,000 in excess medical coverage but as an IHRA member, if you are injured in a track-related incident, you’ll receive $100,000.00 in excess medical coverage. If it’s a serious injury and you are forced to miss work, your IHRA coverage will pay you $200 a week for 26 weeks. No insurance company can provide you that much protection for the membership cost of only $100 a year.

In addition to the coverage, you’ll receive an IHRA membership and license that is good at the Summit Team Finals or any other IHRA event you choose to compete at over the course of the season. Once you become a member you can participate in the Summit Sportsman Spectacular or obtain an “X” number and participate in the $200,000 Summit Super Series program. Both of these include an IHRA rulebook, IHRA decals, and medical coverage at all the IHRA events plus a competition license.

Protect yourself and your family with $100,000 in medical coverage by becoming a competition member of IHRA today!