The IHRA roared back onto the drag racing scene when Darryl Cuttell purchased the organization and launched an aggressive expansion plan. That momentum came to an abrupt halt after the sanctioning body canceled its Outlaw Nitro Series, reports of payment issues surfaced, and discussions about potentially selling the organization began to circulate.
Now, for the first time, Cuttell has publicly addressed what led to those financial challenges during an interview with Action News 5. According to Cuttell, the previously unconfirmed rumors regarding missed payments from Elon Musk’s companies for work performed by his company, Darana Hybrid, are true.
Darana Hybrid had been contracted by Musk’s companies to convert an industrial facility in Tennessee into a data center. According to Cuttell, that project was completed on an expedited schedule, and Darana Hybrid was subsequently awarded additional work for Musk’s companies in the region.
Cuttell claims the payment issues began after xAI and SpaceX merged in early 2026. In an effort to recover the unpaid funds, he said Darana Hybrid has filed two mechanic’s liens against the properties where the work was performed, totaling $118 million. Cuttell added that he also plans to file an additional $400 million mechanic’s lien against one of the facilities in the future.
During the interview, Cuttell stated that the cash-flow problems caused by the alleged non-payment directly affected the IHRA’s ability to operate. He also revealed that the Memphis International Raceway redevelopment project has been placed on indefinite hold. Additionally, Cuttell said he may be forced to sell some of the facilities he owns in order to keep his businesses operating while the payment dispute is resolved
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