IHRA cancels some 2026 events (15 Viewers)

[Custom Body Fan]

Just saw this - posted June 29 - https://dragillustrated.com/ihra-announces-revised-2026-drag-racing-schedule/

 

[Butch]

That sucks for the people that already scheduled vacation time.
Racers and spectators

 

[Rasn1320]

ALL KINDS of rumors on facebook. Hope all is good at the ihra!

 

[mick]

earlier this year i thought memphis, heartland park, and atlanta all in 2026 was a reach.
wonder why milan will not occur? thought they had a race there already?

 

[Chili]

I can understand the tracks that have been closed and trying to get them ready. With government red tape it can take more time than expected. Didn’t Milan just hold the pro mod race a few weeks ago? That cancellation is odd. I feel sorry for the fans and even teams who have made arrangements to attend an event and not all reservations are refundable.

It’s great news for the current points leaders. With only two races left in the schedule it eliminates quite a few from championship contention.

 

[Paul]

Cuts aren’t limited to just drag racing, budgets were exceeded and restructuring is required.

 

[TooTall999]

Empty stands might be part of the reason.....

 

[Rasn1320]

Empty stands might be part of the reason.....

decent turn out for ohio

 

[Paul]

decent turn out for ohio

I thought after Columbus they had some good momentum.

 

[Chili]

Cuts aren’t limited to just drag racing, budgets were exceeded and restructuring is required.

When anyone starts talking about budgets being overspent it’s a little concerning. Without a major series sponsor, it’s hard to pay out that money with very little coming in. The payouts alone for Columbus was probably close to 2 million. I think the two nitro categories were $450K each. They needed 50,000 spectators at $40 each to cover the payouts. Throw in Ice, free food, payroll, insurance and everything else the loss was even more. While it’s great to see racers getting paid what they should make, a profit must be made to be sustainable.

 

[NitroLuver]

Maybe go back to tracks IHRA owns already that are fully functional. Certainly probably easier said than done on the scheduling front.

 

[TooTall999]

decent turn out for ohio

You Tube showed a lot of empty bleachers

 

[Joe]

You Tube showed a lot of empty bleachers

We went to both Dunn races and the Columbus TC race. Haven’t sit in stands yet. Glad Dunn gets the last points race, looking forward to going back there and Maple Grove. Hopefully get to West Salem next year.

 

[luxexpress]

Go to around 52 minutes in and hear a racers perspective. Seems to be happy with the cut back schedule.

 

[jgrigz]

The Milan race being cut makes no sense at all. Is the Empire track in New York in the process of getting upgrades?

 

[handsome]

I really hope IHRA survives. the sport in general needs more choices besides NHRA. and I don't mean those couple door car series

 

[luxexpress]

Empire has been having issues with NYS permits since the sale. Just opened finally a few weeks ago after several delays. The previous owner has done tremendous things with the facility but it still needed to update some bathrooms, bleachers and the shutdown was still steel guard rails so almost 4000 feet of concrete was going to be needed to replace it. I was really looking forward to the Empire Nationals returning and can all but assure you it would have been very well attended as it was in the past.

 

[mick]

When anyone starts talking about budgets being overspent it’s a little concerning.......

makes you wonder if there will be another announcement ahead of maple grove double triple crown race
concerning potential $1M payout/s? unless they are insured?

 

[Chili]

makes you wonder if there will be another announcement ahead of maple grove double triple crown race
concerning potential $1M payout/s? unless they are insured?

I would think that they would be insured. I saw something on a drag racing site earlier this year that it doesn’t cost that much. Now if one of the five hit, the cost could be much more next year.

 

[Butch]

I'd say with Columbus IHRA made 4 steps forward and then turnaround and canceling many races made 5 steps back.