Drag racing fans, get ready for some great news because the IHRA is making a big comeback this summer under new owner Darryl Cuttell. They’re kicking things off with the IHRA Outlaw Pro Mod Nationals at Kil-Kare Raceway in Xenia, Ohio, on August 8-9, 2025. And for door slammer racers, there’s serious cash on the line, especially in the headline Pro Modified class.

The main event, Pro Modified, boasts a huge $125,000 check waiting for the winner, a sum guaranteed to attract top talent. Alongside Pro Mod, two other historic IHRA categories will battle it out. Mountain Motor Pro Stock racers will fight for a $15,000 winner’s prize, while Top Sportsman competitors chase a $6,000 win, promising a packed weekend of fast door slammer action.

These classes are pure IHRA history. Pro Mod actually started from IHRA’s own Top Sportsman division and its popular Saturday night Quick Eight shootouts, eventually turning pro in March 1990.

IHRA also blazed its own trail with Mountain Motor Pro Stock, introducing an unlimited engine displacement format back in 1977, which set it apart from other racing organizations. Top Sportsman itself evolved from earlier bracket racing classes into the dedicated full-bodied eliminator it is today.The race weekend at Kil-Kare will see three qualifying sessions for each of these classes on Friday, August 8. After the final qualifier, a chip draw will set the elimination ladders. Saturday, August 9, is all about eliminations.

Adding a unique and fun twist, Friday night features a special Crown Vic charity race at Kil-Kare’s neighboring Speedway. Drag racers, paired up based on their elimination matchups, will team up to race the full-size Fords. First-round winners will then compete in a 50-lap feature, with each driver taking 25 laps, to earn a $5,000 donation for their team’s chosen charity.

The upcoming IHRA Outlaw Pro Mod Nationals at Kil-Kare looks set to be a can’t-miss weekend for drag racing fans. It’s a cool mix of big-money racing, a nod to IHRA’s classic door slammer history, and even a fun charity race, all pointing to a fresh start and renewed energy for the racing community.