IHRA Spring Nationals Rained Out

"Super Event" Scheduled In October

By IHRA Communications

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Heavy rain washed out Sunday's 33rd annual IHRA Spring Nationals drag racing event at Rockingham Dragway and the lack of a viable makeup date prompted track and IHRA officials to adopt a unique and creative approach to facilitate completion.

Because Rockingham Dragway hosts a second event in the IHRA Hooters Drag Racing Series, officials opted to create a four-day "super event" in the fall consisting of the uncompleted portion of the Spring Nationals followed by the Oct. 17-19 IHRA World Finals.

All those drivers qualified to compete in the Spring Nationals will be afforded one time trial on Thursday, Oct. 16, with single elimination finals beginning Thursday afternoon at a time yet to be determined. Once the Spring Nationals is completed, racers will move immediately into the World Finals.

Tickets purchased for Sunday's Spring Nationals finales will be honored on any of the four days of the expanded fall race -- Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

"In effect, we get a ''double points' season finale that could have an enormous impact on the race for Hooters Championships," said Rockingham owner Steve Earwood. "What we get is four days of Top Fuel dragsters, Pro Modifieds, Pro Stocks and Funny Cars instead of just three."

"Because of travel considerations and schedule conflicts, we felt that this was the best option for all our racers, spectators and sponsors," said IHRA President Bill Bader. "It's a unique solution but one that was available to us only because Rockingham Dragway hosts a pair of events in the Hooters Series."

Details regarding the completion of the Holley All-Star Shootout, contested in conjunction with the Spring Nationals, have not been determined and will be announced at a later date.

IHRA Communications