The IHRA’s recent organizational issues and the firing of its division directors have cast doubt on whether the sanctioning body will hold its bracket racing World Finals. In response, Summit Motorsports Park president Bill Bader Jr., whose family previously owned the IHRA, announced that his facility would step in to help fill the void if needed.
Bader has now backed up that promise with support from several major companies that are willing to help provide IHRA bracket racers with a World Finals event if the sanctioning body does not hold one of its own.
According to an announcement on social media, Summit Racing Equipment, BluePrint Engines, PJH TrackBite, Fuel Factory, and another company are stepping up to underwrite a $150,000 purse for the IHRA World Finals.
The announcement also coincides with IHRA-sanctioned tracks working to organize their own Team Finals events within their respective regions.
“Sportsman racing is the backbone of this entire sport. When times get tough, real partners step up to support the racers who keep the staging lanes full. We promised a purse and an event that everyone could be proud of, and thanks to these incredible sponsors, that promise is realized,” Bader says.
This announcement provides some stability for IHRA bracket racers at a time when uncertainty has surrounded the sanctioning body’s sportsman racing programs. With Summit Motorsports Park and major industry partners stepping up, racers now have a potential World Finals destination backed by a substantial purse and one of the best-known drag racing facilities in the country.
You might also like
2026 PDRA Thunder Valley Throwdown: Butner, Dunphy, Reagan Score Big At Bristol Dragway
The PDRA hit Bristol Dragway for the Thunder Valley Throwdown. Here's a recap that covers all the action from Thunder Valley.
