IHRA goes 1/8 mile for all classes

[Cliff]

WOODRUFF SAYS IHRA EIGHTH-MILE EDICT IS ALL ABOUT BUILDING THE SHOW AROUND FANS | Competition Plus

“It takes the ET out of the mind… it’s about who gets to the finish line first,” Woodruff said. “Drag racing’s a big math equation — you just got to go to

competitionplus.com

 

[Chili]

I think most racers prefer this because it’s easier on parts. If a nitro racer is serious enough about it, I’m sure they can shorten the wick and be exploding engines at 600 feet.
Is there a 1/8 mile series drawing a decent crowd? I know MWDRS doesn’t at most events and either does PDRA. FCC does ok but in what is usually fairly small venues. Will 1/8 mile nitro bring the fans in?
IHRA has great payouts but the small gates they have been getting isn’t going to cover the costs to run the series. Galot did decent for attendance but it only holds 9000. With 5000 fans a day at $40 a ticket they still aren’t even close to covering the payouts. That doesn’t include payroll, insurance and all the other costs associated with running a series. It all changes if they can get a major series sponsor which is a possibility. Obviously the owner has deep pockets but how much does he want to spend of his own money and for how long? That’s up to him.

Racing needs IHRA to be successful. I think the lack on nitro cars in recent years is due to having no other organization to get your feet wet. A handful have brought cars to funny car chaos and most of those guys have moved up to IHRA. There was zero options for TF other than NHRA. I’m sure there are some out there putting cars together for 2026 to run IHRA. Once they get cars built they can occasionally dabble in NHRA on weekends they have short fields.

 

[sfw1960]

Good call Chris.
The open arms to the fuel bikes, MMPS, and altereds was a welcome sight for me.

I've always enjoyed sleds, because, well I'm in Michigan, so! I like it.
Martin & Stanton have had all sorts of legends over the years, but I think the majority was IHRA when we was younger and there were some franken-frEEk-sh0W units to grace the concrete back then too.
Pro Modified sure was in it's earlier stages of greatness, and we loved seeing the likes o' Johnny Rocca, Scotty Cannon, Ed Hoover, Rickie, etc. - some pretty cool guys throwin' down on the 1320!
To me, the more often 'SOMEBODY' is holding an event, the more opportunities the fan gets to go someplace, and not necessarily far away or a substantial chunk o' coin - which probably wouldn't be a problem to most folks. Offset schedules and different styles are a good thing - though you can't please everyone.
They indeed DO need to be successful, as I firmly believe they will be again, seems there's always been a whisper in the hallways of "the sportsman racer doesn't matter" when it comes to playing with corporate money and trying to make things as family oriented and entertainment focused will attract people from MORE walks of life, I think. That's where all the doubt comes from too, maybe.
I believe there are far more race cars shuttered in barns, pole barns & storage huts than many people realize, give them space to play & try to make it less expensive to participate in and I think people would like to spend time being entertained.
I like the idea of auto magically expanding class fields - made the last MMPS field pretty good, on the fly thinking gets it done.
I've been a fan of Rickie Smith for a few decades because he was always willing to bet he would win, and I will go to any track for entertainment just as he would race anyplace that's paying him the most to go there...LOL!
This coming year is gunna ROCK...