The very successful IHRA Summit SuperSeries will return for a 17th season and will continue to be the leading bracket racing program for Top, Mod and Junior Dragster competitors in North America. This program is hosted by nearly 100 member tracks and has over 8,000 active and specifically registered participants. The program recently secured a multiple-year renewal from title sponsor Summit Racing Equipment.
The major change in the IHRA lineup will be the switch from the class racing-based Summit Sportsman National Championship series to the newly-created Summit Sportsman Spectacular. The new bracket racing-based program consists of 20 races over ten weekends. Summit Racing Equipment will support the program through a new multi-year sponsorship.
The change to an all-bracket racing program is a result of input from racers, partners, and tracks and comes after a five-year effort to improve participation levels in IHRA class racing. The previous touring series saw multiple format changes all aimed at keeping the series viable for the racers, host tracks, and sponsors. While there continues to be a core group of dedicated class racers who supported certain events, there simply hasn’t been enough entries to make a series work.
The new Summit Sportsman Spectacular bracket events will be targeted to Top, Mod and Junior racers looking for a value-oriented and fun double-race weekend. The series will work in conjunction with the Summit SuperSeries to provide tens of thousands of grassroots bracket racers new opportunities and events that are designed to provide maximum value for the participants.
Full details of the Summit Sportsman Spectacular will be released as soon as the event dates are confirmed.
This is BS. In the past when Billy Meyers bought IHRA from Larry Carrier it was a major flop. Then several well to do RACERS bought IHRA and brought it back to life. After that Bill Bader bought it and it really took off. He was a promoter. IHRA has been dying for years a slow death because of management. I’m glad I did not accept a full time job many years ago as Bill Bader sold out to a bunch of losers. You have a few who cared but several in control who were greedy and lazy. One is still there but I will not mention his name on this post. The management does not know drag racing. They do not care about the little guy. I put in 22 1/2 years being a tech guy and coming up with several programs for IHRA that myself and Mike Keener invested our own money in. Top Stock for instance. I will not bad mouth the racers who all race NHRA but its a a shame that most would not support IHRA when it was a healthy racing association. I have said enough I guess. Its been a fun ride but now it looks like it is over. I suggest you sportsman racers support NHRA before they do the same to you. The circus acts will not save them either in the future. You pick your own poison.