A big storyline in sportsman drag racing just landed with full force: the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has officially completed its acquisition of the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA), absorbing the WDRA’s entire operation.
What started earlier this year as a “collaboration” has now been confirmed as a full takeover, and the move dramatically reshapes the landscape for bracket racers and local tracks across North America and beyond.
IHRA owner Darryl Cuttell has been on a tear since making his presence known at PRI last year. Track acquisitions, facility renovations, and the rise of the IHRA Outlaw Nitro national event series have turned Cuttell into one of the most talked-about figures in drag racing.
Now, with the WDRA fully absorbed, he’s steering a reimagined IHRA into territory no modern sanctioning body has touched.
WDRA previously sanctioned 62 tracks across 25 states and five Canadian provinces. IHRA now balloons to 117 member tracks across the U.S., Canada, Aruba, Australia, and New Zealand, making it a massive sanctioning body. WDRA built its foundation on supporting local facilities and sportsman racers with benefits packages, bracket programs, and racer-focused philosophy. IHRA leadership says that mindset won’t be lost in the merger.
IHRA’s sportsman division will work side-by-side with former WDRA leadership to create a smooth transition for all member tracks. The goal is to have unified rules and administration, consistent support across all facilities, and a stronger, streamlined structure for grassroots racing.
For track operators wondering what the future looks like, IHRA plans to lay everything out at its PRI seminar, where leadership will outline the transition timeline, member-track benefits, and where the new unified IHRA is headed. In simple terms, the acquisition gives IHRA massive reach and the ability to deliver more consistent, reliable support to the grassroots racers who are the backbone of the sport.
IHRA says its commitment is unchanged: build up local tracks, provide a competitive home for grassroots racers, and drive drag racing forward at the facility level.
More updates will be coming at PRI and through IHRA’s official channels.
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