Maple Grove- IHRA (15 Viewers)

[GumbyWVU]

Yes, but not other leagues......
And a college bowl game isn't the same.

The USFL and XFL used, in some cases, stadiums that were host for NFL teams.

Clearly different leagues here using the same venue.

 

[Mike]

If one stays in the 1/4 mile and 1000 foot lane, and the other in the 1/8 mile lane (no pun intended), then there is no reason why they couldn't use the same facility on different weekends.

Think of the WNBA (5 on 5) and fledgling Unrivaled (3 on 3). Some of the same players (aka cars/drivers) do both. Even at the same facility, quarter mile compared to eighth mile is like 5 person basketball compared to 3 person basketball. Similar but different enough to avoid a direct comparison.

 

[65 Goatboy]

1. The IHRA letter is just an attempt to look like the good guy. "We made a ridiculous offer we knew they wouldn't accept, we deserve some good guy points or a cookie!"

2. The IHRA will always be little brother, well maybe not even little brother. Perhaps a distant cousin? I'd love to take them serious and see a legit competitor for the NHRA, but this isn't it. Eighth mile racing, at least for nitro cars is such a joke. It's really nothing more than a money grab, might as well just host a cackle fest. It's turned into a "show," not racing. I didn't fall in love with the sport of "show racing," I love drag racing!

3. I understand costs are the main reason for running the 1/8th, I'm sure the racers like it, but the fans don't. I wish we could take a poll here.

4. I have no problem with anyone who wants to go watch this crap or support them, I hope you have a great time. I'll be at US131MSP in September, watching the world's top racers compete for a championship and make record-setting runs. You'll be in Montgomery, Alabama, watching a few cars do dry hops while blowing their **** up and laying down oil for long delays. Oil downs sell hot dogs I guess!

They have been nothing but a circus/sideshow for the last 30 years and will continue to be such.

Although I didn't pay a lot of attention to the IHRA due to lack of tv coverage, I'm positive that 20-30 years ago the IHRA was a lot more viable then it is today. Just like Nascar's O'Reilly Auto Parts Series it was a stepping stone to the Nhra. Ask Clay Millican who won six championships if it's a circus/sideshow or Del Worsham who just announced he's racing the full schedule. I watched a little on Speed Sport tv and I saw a lot more then "a few cars do dry hops". You don't have to like it or watch it but to make wild accusations about something you seem to know little about isn't helping attract new fans to drag racing. Let's give them a chance!

 

[Xploder98]

Hey, at least Feld Entertainment (famously owners of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and Monster Jam) aren't owners of the IHRA anymore, and the Nitro Jam (which, as far as I can tell from the old highlights shows, was fairly close to a traveling nitro circus of drag racing exhibitions) is a thing of the past now.

I'll consider that a net positive for drag racing, though the NHRA hasn't been able to fully shake the traveling nitro circus perception either

 

[paoldtimer]

A message from the Koretsky family:

Thank you to the racers, fans, sponsors, and employees for an unforgettable, record-breaking four years at Maple Grove Raceway. None of this would have been possible without your passion, loyalty, and dedication to this track we all love.

We are excited to see the IHRA take Maple Grove to new heights and continue building on its incredible legacy. The Koretsky family will remain a part of Maple Grove throughout the transition into new ownership and well into the future. We are proud of our family’s hard work and commitment to making Maple Grove a premier racing facility, and we will continue to support it in every way possible.

To our staff — you are simply the best. Your long hours, teamwork, and heart for this place are the backbone of everything we’ve accomplished. We couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you for being part of the Maple Grove family and for making the last four years truly unforgettable. Our staff will continue to have a place at Maple Grove, and we are confident they will help operate the facility at the same high level moving forward.

To our racers — THANK YOU! You showed up week after week, helping us achieve record-breaking weekends and events while showcasing every form of drag racing that makes Maple Grove so special. To both new and longtime racers, we ask that you please be patient as information is released. The 2026 season is going to be an amazing one.

To our fans — thank you for your continued support and for allowing us the opportunity to help grow Maple Grove into what it truly deserves to be. Your passion fuels this racetrack and always will. You showed up because of your love for drag racing, and drag racing is exactly what you will continue to see here for many years to come.

Our family worked tirelessly over the past four years to keep Maple Grove a racetrack, and that is something we take great pride in. We poured our hearts into this place. Those who truly know us saw it firsthand — working side by side with our team, first ones there and last ones to leave. We were fully committed to saving this track, and that is exactly what we did.

Looking ahead, IHRA will continue to carry Maple Grove forward as a premier racing facility on the East Coast and help elevate it to new heights. We will be standing alongside them, offering guidance and support every step of the way.

We ask everyone to focus on the positives and trust the process. Maple Grove Raceway will continue to be a track of excellence, with a strong focus on racers and fans alike. The future is bright, and we’re excited for what’s ahead. Please don’t jump to conclusions — just wait and see the great things that are about to happen.

We love the sport of drag racing. It is deeply rooted in our family, and that will always remain true. Maple Grove is the best racetrack, and it will continue to be just that. We look forward to seeing everyone soon at the Grove!

Sincerely,
The Koretsky Family

 

[Butch]

Has anyone seen if the tracks that are now IHRA plan on having weekly races? For the locals?

 

[Rocket Man]

why would anyone buy a track and not be open every possible weekend, not to mention weeknights during the "season"?

 

[Nitro Bass!]

You know, sometimes the loudest statement is what isn’t said at all. Unless I missed it, there’s nothing anywhere in the Koretsky letter that mentions the NHRA. No thank-you for the years together, no acknowledgment of the NHRA at all. To me, that says everything. Silence can be deafening.

 

[Chili]

From a fan’s perspective, I’m extremely frustrated by this. It feels like NHRA has given a big F.U. to fans in the New York and Philly area and made it clear they don’t really care. First we lost Englishtown, with seemingly no effort to replace it with a nearby track—or even add a second race at Maple Grove at the time—and now Maple Grove itself appears to be done as far as NHRA is concerned. There’s no track left in the NY metro area, and NHRA doesn’t seem concerned in the slightest.

We’ve attended all three days at Maple Grove since the 1990s. Walking the pits, meeting our favorite drivers, and being part of that atmosphere was something we genuinely looked forward to every year. Now that’s gone, and there’s nothing nearby to replace it. Norwalk, Epping, and Maryland are simply too far for a day trips.

IHRA has its own problems, but given NHRA’s long history of ignoring both racers and fans, this shift could eventually be a positive. That said, IHRA is going to have a hard time filling the stands. Maple Grove was always packed for NHRA national events, and IHRA just doesn’t have the big-name drivers that pull in casual fans. Maybe that changes down the road, but right now I’m honestly not interested in going to a 1/8-mile IHRA race without the teams and drivers I’ve followed for years.

I think NHRA cares about the fans in the NY/PA region. Their hands were just tied. Outside of Indy and Gainesville they are not track owners. They are a sanctioning body that will bring their event to an area. Unfortunately there is no track left in the area in which to race.

Living in Colorado, the closest national event track in our region is Las Vegas which is 750 miles. It’s not like NHRA at fault.

NHRA could have continued on in the short term but it wasn’t going to be viable long term. The minute the track was sold, the writing was on the wall that the Maple Grove race was in danger.

 

[Jim]

Well the New York Jets and New York Giants play at the same stadium in New Jersey so.......................

MetLife Stadium is owned by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) (the land owner) but is operated through the MetLife Stadium Company, LLC, a 50/50 joint venture between the New York Giants and New York Jets. And the Jets and Giants are both in the NFL.

 

[Jim]

Two teams in the same league share a stadium. That's not unique, the Rams and Chargers share a stadium.
And NASCAR and Indycar share a few tracks, but they are not in the same business.
Alan

The Rams and Chargers are in the same league. The owners of the Rams own the stadium, and I doubt he would let a team from a competing league play there.

 

[Jim]

Unfortunately there is no track left in the area in which to race.

That's the real story. I doubt NHRA wants to ignore such a densely populated market.

I would have liked to see NHRA continue with the Keystones this year to finish things off, but none of us know what kind of deal IHRA offered it.

 

[none]

The USFL and XFL used, in some cases, stadiums that were host for NFL teams.

Clearly different leagues here using the same venue.

See post 157.
Alan

 

[Rajunz]

Big crowds and plenty of young people at VMP and MG the last couple of years.

Yeah, to watch Kalitta Teams, John Force Racing, Tony Stewart's Teams, Elite's Teams, Capps, Antron, KB Racing, Vance &Hines, etc.

But they're not going to be there to watch Scott Palmer, Mike McIntire, Dan Hix, Jody Austin, and veterans such as Jack Wyatt and Del Worsham, etc. run 1/8th mile races in front of less than 5,000 other fans. They won't come back, and you can bank on that.....

 

[Rajunz]

Did anyone actually think that NHRA would host their National Event at a racetrack sanctioned by another sanctioning body with different a rulebook, different track preparations, different track lengths and most importantly different insurance policies? Not to mention paying your competition Large Cash to do so???

IHRA thought they were slick, waiting until the last day of PRI, laughing while making this announcement, knowing full well that NHRA couldn't take them up on it. And now IHRA is playing like they're the ones that are being disrespected? Oh please now!!!

Not to mention that NHRA would have to race on a Lime Green track with DARANA RACEWAY, Moulton, Pa. Signage everywhere??? RIP Maple Grove!

 

[Rocket Man]

We will have to wait and see won't we? Sounds like that's what you want to happen. I disagree and think Scott, Mike Dan, Del, Lex et al put on a pretty damn good show. Plus the Pro Mod Classes are excellent. Altereds are cool. Top fuel bikes next year(real top fuel, plus the Harleys). I'm just as excited to go to a couple of IHRA races as I am to go to a couple of NHRA races. MIR is and hour and a half from home

 

[Rocket Man]

wow, you've got it worse than TDS.

 

[Jim]

The USFL and XFL used, in some cases, stadiums that were host for NFL teams.

Were any of those stadiums owned by NFL teams? The Philadelphia Stars used Veterans Stadium where the Eagles played. The stadium was owned by the city and the Eagles could not stop the Philly from renting it to the Stars in the NFL off season.

 

[Rocket Man]

the NFL analagy really isn't working anymore.

 

[My Name]

Please stop posting videos from that jack guy!!!

He's a jack** if anything. He has posted so much crap which isn't true.
I hate that people watch his click bait videos in order for the hack to make money.

Nhra was never going to run an event there once Ihra bought the track. The offer from Ihra was a joke but a win-win situation.

As a racer, I'll go with the best payout and experience. Ihra seems to be the better option at this time.
It's the sanctioning bodies to get asses in the stands, so I'll let them do that.