IHRA cancels some 2026 events (15 Viewers)

[yoda]

I'm wondering how you go from "Fully Funded for 10 Years"
To "Over Budget in the first 5 months so we have to Shut Down"?

In my mind, "Fully Funded" means the money is in the bank. Not "This week will pay for next week"...

Can someone in high finance explain it to me like I'm a five year old?

 

[yoda]

I can't imagine young people not being entranced by the parade of 1969 Camaros you see at an average divisional race...

I'm an old fart, and even I am not entranced by the parade of '69 Camaros... Possibly because the ones that are real are no longer in a realistic price range, and the million of the swoopy ones look like doorstops... But that's just me.

 

[Jim]

I'm wondering how you go from "Fully Funded for 10 Years"
To "Over Budget in the first 5 months so we have to Shut Down"?

When I expressed my concerns before the season that IHRA was trying to do too much too quickly, people told me there was no reason to worry because it was fully funded for 10 years. Something changed.

 

[Custom Body Fan]

I kept hearing that too. Along with h

When I expressed my concerns before the season that IHRA was trying to do too much too quickly, people told me there was no reason to worry because it was fully funded for 10 years. Something changed.

I kept reading that too. Along with him supposedly having dinners with Elon Musk. I suspect both of those were just rumors. I’m sure his firm did work for Elon’ companies, but so did hundreds more.

And I doubt many, if any, people wanted IHRA to fail. If we didn’t like drag racing we wouldn’t be on here. It’s just a bummer when someone promises to change everything and the promises seem empty.

 

[yoda]

I kept hearing that too. Along with h

I kept reading that too. Along with him supposedly having dinners with Elon Musk. I suspect both of those were just rumors. I’m sure his firm did work for Elon’ companies, but so did hundreds more.

And I doubt many, if any, people wanted IHRA to fail. If we didn’t like drag racing we wouldn’t be on here. It’s just a bummer when someone promises to change everything and the promises seem empty.

If it turns out to be a land grab for data centers after all, the feeling that we were being fooled all along because some wealthy f*****s saw us as a bunch of suckers to be played will be painful for some to admit that drag racing can never be looked at as a serious sport, and its just a bunch of hucksters looking for their next mark to prey upon.

 

[Chili]

If it turns out to be a land grab for data centers after all, the feeling that we were being fooled all along because some wealthy f*****s saw us as a bunch of suckers to be played will be painful for some to admit that drag racing can never be looked at as a serious sport, and its just a bunch of hucksters looking for their next mark to prey upon.

That angle never made sense to me. It’s not like drag strip land is the only land available. It cheaper to buy an empty plot than a plot with a drag strip. Yes it is an option if the racing deal failed but I don’t think that was ever the plan. Plus why put any money into them if that was the ultimate idea.

 

[Chili]

Let's ignore that other people may have spent money or had their season plans pulled out from under them because they believed what he said would happen. Or that the track owners who sold to him may now be wondering what is going to happen. Or that sponsors who signed up to fund races and teams are out in the cold. Or that fans who were planning to go to an NHRA event at Maple Grove, for example, now have nothing to attend this season. Or that people who were planning to work at the events now will not have a job.

Let's ignore them all so we don't pile on.

I will use Bernie Plourd as an example. Bernie is a veteran racer that decided to jump into racing Top Fuel because of the IHRA. He knew he didn’t have the finances to run in NHRA. He bought a TF car from Haddock and equipment to run. Now with IHRA not racing he has a lot invested with no real place to run it.

 

[ironpony]

That angle never made sense to me. It’s not like drag strip land is the only land available. It cheaper to buy an empty plot than a plot with a drag strip. Yes it is an option if the racing deal failed but I don’t think that was ever the plan. Plus why put any money into them if that was the ultimate idea.

The assumption is being made that he paid more for the land with a track on it which in the big picture is not really a desirable business. Darryl may of actually gotten a better deal on the land as the previous owner may of wanted out or been upside down on the property or business. Like many of these situations we will probably never know what the reasons were.
The other thing to consider is did Darryl actually ever spend any money or did he just sell a bunch of promises to the seller and now he will be defaulting on every one.

 

[Butch]

I just keep thinking why didn't he just stick with National Trail and build the IHRA from that. Using that track which was an active in use racing facility. Required very little TLC. If things grew then look for another track in the south.
But buying up everything in site.
I've mentioned many times there's only so many cookies in the cookie jar.
I truly hope I'm wrong on this, there's a huge need for a Blue collar racing.

 

[Rasn1320]

I will use Bernie Plourd as an example. Bernie is a veteran racer that decided to jump into racing Top Fuel because of the IHRA. He knew he didn’t have the finances to run in NHRA. He bought a TF car from Haddock and equipment to run. Now with IHRA not racing he has a lot invested with no real place to run it.

I thought he bought his stuff from that bounty hunter guy

 

[Joe]

Relatives thru a previous marriage. Also glad Bernie, made it down the track, won a round got some money. Could not have accomplished that if not for IHRA.

Also in 2025, 20 different TF drivers, 21 FC drivers in IHRA.

Up to this point 17 in each class in 2026. I would say a few more if Maple Grove happened

 

[I was NITRO BREATH]

I will use Bernie Plourd as an example. Bernie is a veteran racer that decided to jump into racing Top Fuel because of the IHRA. He knew he didn’t have the finances to run in NHRA. He bought a TF car from Haddock and equipment to run. Now with IHRA not racing he has a lot invested with no real place to run it.

With 14 and 15 car fields at nhra lately he can run there

 

[Chili]

With 14 and 15 car fields at nhra lately he can run there

Yes but unfortunately it doesn’t have the updated NHRA tech. Not that it can’t be done though. IHRA requirements weren’t as stringent as NHRA.

 

[Joe]

Yes but unfortunately it doesn’t have the updated NHRA tech. Not that it can’t be done though. IHRA requirements weren’t as stringent as NHRA.

What is lacking?

 

[Chili]

What is lacking?

That I don’t know. The car was entered for Norwalk with Mike Bucher set to drive. There wasn’t enough time to do the upgrades to pass tech between Columbus and Norwalk.

 

[Chili]

Josh? Can you give us hint at what is happening?

Josh might be busy right now driving a AB Motorsports rig out to Sonoma.

 

[Joe]

That I don’t know. The car was entered for Norwalk with Mike Bucher set to drive. There wasn’t enough time to do the upgrades to pass tech between Columbus and Norwalk.

I thought I saw Mike at Columbus,thanks.

 

[Rocket Man]

Josh might be busy right now driving a AB Motorsports rig out to Sonoma.

Josh works for AB now?

 

[Chili]

Josh works for AB now?

I’ll defer that question to Josh. On Facebook he posted he was headed out west with a picture of the AB Motorsports Pitside Experience trailer.