Keystones manager just posted this

With the changes going on at IHRA I wonder if we are headed in a different direction

Scotty Gardner used to run Cordova and was a great manager. Not real sure what they are trying to accomplish though.

IHRA today announced free membership fees for IHRA tracks. Not the racers but the tracks for 2023.

From what I've seen so far it appears this is a group that was trying to buy the IHRA and got outbid. I've seen a couple conversations on other sites, lots of vague promises, but nothing about what they're really going to do.

Last week I received an email from IHRA. This is part of it:

Did a quick Google and found this: https://www.racingjunk.com/news/ihra-changes-management/

It was this section in particular that got my attention after having seen the announcement above:

"Still, in the background, there have been members of IHRA’s [former] leadership team that have been looking to start competing sanctioning bodies. The new IHRA leadership has signed restrictive agreements – including non-competiition and non-disclosure – intending to halt competing organizations. “We believe that any of these communications that you may have received are breaches of contracts and agreements with us; they are legally unable to compete with the IHRA for an extended period of time,” the release stated."

Well it’s happening

Pittsburgh Racer

I am not sure but I am guessing this is a good thing for your track? or is it something you are not fond of? i m not sure. I would think its a good thing. The new sanction sounds to be good, maybe less red tape? I know most of us do not like change.

your thoughts

I honestly don’t know. I guess the guy that took over IHRA (bought out technically) did it for the right reasons but and now it gets confusing some guys really dislike the partner. IHRA went downhill years ago for many when they went bracket race only. Lots of guys are speaking highly of the crew in the new organization. I joined points as it was free but I love big money events so I only hit three points races and you know where that gets you. On the outside. So I guess as it stands our last IHRA bracket finals is at Dragway 42 next weekend. So long story short I know nothing.

I'm not a professional racer like you guys. Going out a few times a year makes me happy and I get my need for speed. My biggest concern starting last year at KRP is the increase cost of T & T, entrance fees, spectator fees, etc. Why the 50%+ increase ? I don't get it. I'm getting a lot of feed back from fellow racers about the added cost to race there. Not too many happy campers that I've talked to. The PID event in a few weeks, Saturday spectator fee $25 per person!!!! Geeze! I'm done venting.

I tried to fine something, anything, that provides some insight into the riff at IHRA w/ the new owner and can't find anything that's been made public. And there are people who say the WDRA is going to be run "by the same people that ran the IHRA into the ground".

I'm waaaay on the outside of this, other than the MIR / Royce Miller connection to WDRA now.

Everything and I mean everything has gone up. My electric has gone up 40% and is going up again. Greg and I talked and you wouldn’t believe what he pays. Gas to cut the grass has gone up, employees wages went up bigtime, insurance goes up yearly and does his rent probably. You couldn’t even come close on what traction compound costs, when it can be found. And the list goes on and on.

It would appear US131 Motorsports park is making the move away from IHRA as well.
Guess my thought is, I don’t understand why, at least at this point. 131 hosts the bracket finals for IHRA every year, and the new IHRA owner to be has a very good reputation( Jeffers)
My thought is, why not let things shake out a while before leaping from a known weight supporting lillypad, to another, that at this point is unknown …
Which all leads me to believe( because a number of well run tracks seem to be moving) is there must be more to all of this than meets the eye.
Jason, who has run 131 for 20 odd years has tons of contacts in drag racing, and 131 is an excellent, even elite, facility. Time will tell about all this stuff

I get it, but maybe an alternative to KRP, for me would be Quaker City. It's only another 1/2 hour further drive from where I live and no tolls plus it's allot cheaper to have fun. To me, just with the spectator fees, if you get two people to watch at $25 each, compared to 100 people at $10 each, seems pretty cut and dry to me which brings more money to the track, plus the opportunity for those spectators to spend more money of refreshments. You guys that run all the time, how many people are in the stands? On YouTube, I've been watching KRP races. NOBODY in the stands. My bills have gone up also, but not 40-50%. Maybe I'm too frugal???? I don't want to cause waves here, These are my thought and concerns. I certainly don't expect any changes at KRP. I could care less what affiliation the track has. With that, at this time I'll do the PID meet and next year start racing at Quaker more often. Too bad, cause I've been doing KRP since the late '60's.

https://youtu.be/Kj9LkyaB3aw

Their biggest trick will be getting enough tracks close enough together you can have a bracket finals program.

I have already seen it posted that this is going to court. All the players in the WDRA are supposedly on a "No compete" clause.

I have had a lot of casual discussions with Royce Miller over the many years I raced at Maryland International Raceway in Budds Creek, MD.
My overall impression was Royce is good for racing. I have seen the negative and positive. He definitely likes drag racing, but he is also a business man.
I am very surprised to see him separating from IHRA, as he has "moved up" in that organization since ending his running of the track in Maryland.

I have said for many years (decades), that bracket racing is not very interesting for most spectators, but is very exciting for racers. IMO, low admission prices multiplied times more people equals more revenue. A racer will spend money to be at the trace all day (12+ hrs), but a typical spectator (of bracket racing) is not. They would pay $5-$10 to watch the local racers for a few hrs before going "out on the town" for the rest of the night; but not $20-$25 since they are not going to stay 8 hrs.

From a business stand point, I don't know how a local track can make finances meet with just bracket racing. Few spectators at weekly races from what I have seen. The big events can draw spectators. One track here in NC has moved to only 7 points races this year, and almost all big, special races with big spectator fees. I remember before the great recession (~2008) 22 points races in Maryland.

Only a few of the guys from IHRA were under the non complete, and none of them are running WDRA so it’s a non issue regarding that issue. Most likely behind the scenes though. They are the ones trying to buy it from the management group, the story goes that they turned down there offer and sold it to the new owner for less. But who knows if that part is true or not

https://dragillustrated.com/wdra-hits-30-member-track-mark/

Hmm see Beaver Springs is on the list....

Wander if my home track Mason Dixon is considering too.....

Looks like both the North Carolina tracks I race at joined, and Maryland International too.

Maryland International Raceway in Maryland,
Farmington Dragway and Piedmont Dragway in North Carolina.

I wonder what is going to happen with competition licenses? i.e. will WDRA have different classes (ET license A,B,C,D,E), will they require paying for a new license,
And the big if

If I let my IHRA class license expire, and 3 years later WDRA falls apart, will I have to retake the track tests to get my IHRA license back?
I just did my track tests (timeslips, signatures) for my upgrade to Class C (5.50 1/8 mile, 8.00 1/4 mile) and got a new IHRA card.

So I wander if Keystone and Beaver Springs will still be in the SBRA?

That is kind of like the same thing on a smaller scale but its been a lot of fun over the years.

I have yet to see ANYTHING about why any track should go to this group? What advantages are there? What rule changes are there? Most tracks are part of a sanctioning body for one purpose only, and that is so they can get Insurance on the property.

Insurance is the part many racers don't consider......

I have kept my NHRA membership up all these years just for the excess medical they have in the event of an accident.

Saw a guy on FB claiming their goal is to get more women involved in bracket racing........

and costs for the track come into factor. That’s what I’d always heard with TVD going from “N” to “I” many years ago.

So many people don't even know about it.

A short update from keystone

Comments:
3
Keystone Raceway Park 3 hours ago Keystone Raceway ParkWDRA is on the move! In one week, more than 30 tracks have signed on as members. That makes a big statement! Keystone Raceway, along with the other tracks, have made the decision to make the move for a number of reasons. After looking over the pros and cons, here are a few things that I liked personally:

First thing was for our customers, what changes would there be and benefits.

Answer: There would be no change in 2023 for our racers. No extra expenses to them for Keystone Raceway making the switch – current licenses and memberships to either HRA will be honored.

Knowing who the people involved are, and a sanctioning body with board members who understand racing on the local track level leading the way for the start of the new organization is very key. I know all of them, and a number of them on a personal friendship level. I know and respect them and how they operate, and the years of service they’ve devoted to our sport. These people are very reputable owners/promoters. With all of that, I feel very confident with programs and other things that could be brought to WDRA that will be beneficial for all of our local grass roots racers over the country. They are already working on other things to help race tracks as well. Potentially having discount programs in place for supplies and other things tracks use that could help save a track some money, will help everyone. These factors are some of the main reasons along with others that Keystone Raceway Park has made the choice of WDRA

NBRA - National Bracket Racing Assoc

There used to be the CBRA(Chamionship Bracket Racers Association)had a pretty cool program and paid pretty well back n the dark ages of yesteryear. But like so many others fell to the wayside.

I totally agree but even worse for spectators is throttle stop index racing. Just try explaining to casual spectators what is happening. Lol it's even better listening to them telling each other that there is too much traction and all the cars are bogging.

WDRA QUARTER-MILLION DOLLAR SPORTSMAN DRAG RACING SERIES

Springfield, IL – Today the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) announced the creation of the quarter-million dollar Sportsman Drag Racing Series for bracket racers competing at WDRA member tracks in 2023.

WDRA member tracks will contest the Sportsman Drag Racing Series during local points races in 2023 and each member track will crown track champions in eligible classes. Each eligible track champion will advance to the Sportsman Drag Racing Series World Championships in October and compete for their share of the $200,000 in payout plus bonus prizes. This free-entry race stands as the unparalleled best value in bracket racing. The Sportsman Drag Racing Series World Championships will also feature test & tune, gamblers races and a racer party.

“I want to make sure that all of the bracket racers and track owners know that the WDRA is kicking off the list of programs we will be offering with this Sportsman Drag Racing Series announcement and this program is not dependent on signing any certain number of tracks or securing a sponsor to partner with us” said WDRA’s Don Scott. “Everything is already in place for WDRA to operate this program.”

Under the umbrella of the Sportsman Drag Racing Series, the WDRA will also operate the WDRA Bracket Finals events at the end of the 2023 season. WDRA members will also have an opportunity to qualify for the Sportsman Drag Racing Series Championships through winning one of the WDRA Bracket Finals events. Participants that plan to compete at a WDRA member track in 2023 can begin registration for the Sportsman Drag Racing Series on January 1st. Additional details and a program flyer will be posted on the WDRA Facebook page and at www.racewdra.com in the coming weeks.

The mission statement of the WDRA is to provide value as a sanctioning body to racers and facilities through process modernization, unparalleled service and value driven partnerships.

A "quarter million" sure sounds a lot bigger than $200,000, doesn't it?

And considering that a "quarter million" = $250,000, not the advertised $200,000, seems like something got lost in the process... like $50,000.

Besides...you're not getting the whole $200k...that's going to get split up. The whole pot will be worth $200k. A lot of bracket races advertise the total payout for everything, and not just the singular winner pay.

The $50k will be in gifts...similar to IHRA giving away designer rings, roller dragsters, Aruba vacations, customized golf carts, etc.

Sssshhhhhh. Let us be amused for awhile. Lol 😂

This is a good start. They are making something like the IHRA/NHRA Summit Super Series.
But that sounds like a lot of cars entering into the "Quarter-million dollar" event. All track champions plus all division bracket finals winners.
Of course, depending where the final event is held (east or west coast, etc.), not all track champions will travel that far (but many will).

OK, it sounds like WDRA will just let all NHRA/IHRA competition licenses be used, at least the first year (2023). So racers can just keep paying NHRA/IHRA to keep their license current, even if they only race at WDRA events.

Motor Mile Dragway in Radford, Va just announced that they will go from IHRA to WRDA sanction on Jan 1, 2023.

Brian