IHRA President Leah Martin Let Go From Organization

There’s been another change to the management structure at the IHRA. The sanctioning body’s latest shakeup in management comes as IHRA President Leah Martin has been let go from the organization. Martin was given the keys to the IHRA back in December of 2025.

A report from Speed On The Water surfaced on Sunday that alleged Martin had been released during the Thunder On The Beach event in Cocoa Beach, Florida. On Monday, Martin released a statement outlining her dismissal.

Martin’s Official Statement:

Yesterday, I was informed that my time with the IHRA has come to an end.

The conversation and circumstances surrounding it were unexpected, especially after meeting personally with Darryl just a couple of hours earlier with no indication that a change was coming. I was later informed that a meeting had taken place the night before at a hotel room regarding the decision.

As difficult as today has been, I remain incredibly proud of everything we worked to build. I poured my heart, time, energy, and countless hours into this sport and this organization because I truly believed in the vision and the future of racing. Like many in this industry, those commitments often came at the expense of personal and family time, but I believed the mission was worth it.

I am grateful for the racers, teams, sponsors, volunteers, fans, and industry partners who supported me along the way and who continue to work every day to grow the sport we all love.

While this chapter did not end the way I anticipated, I am excited to refocus my efforts on the projects, organizations, and opportunities where I know I can continue making a positive impact.

I genuinely wish everyone involved nothing but success moving forward.

The IHRA hasn’t announced who will replace Martin and will be back in action this weekend at Maple Grove Raceway for the first IHRA Triple Crown event.

We will continue to monitor this situation and provide any additional information as it becomes available.