IHRA: Pro venue change has championship implications

With the word that the 2016 IHRA Drag Racing Series will hold its final Pro points event at US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan, on August 12-13, there are some dramatic implications for the points championship.

The final race was scheduled for Dragway 42 in West Salem, Ohio, but unforeseen construction delays (pictured below) have caused the IHRA and the track to cancel the event, which was scheduled for September 23-24.

After Dragway 42's construction is complete, it should be a first-class facility, and the IHRA said it would like for it to be part of the 2017 schedule.

But for now, Pro teams have two races left to gather points – this week at Edmonton, Alberta's Castrol Raceway, and at the race in Martin, Michigan – unless you're driving a Pro Stock car, because those racers have the weekend off. Cary Goforth leads Trevor Eman by just three points, so the championship will definitely be decided in Michigan.

Billy Harper has an unassailable lead in Pro Mod, but Nitro Motorcycle and AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car drivers need good weekends at both the remaining events. Jason Rupert holds a six-point lead over Mike McIntyre in AMSOIL Funny Car, and in Nitro Motorcycle, Jay Turner has a comfortable 70-point lead over Jake Storduer, but a lot can change in two races.