IHRA: On top, Down Under

The top management of the International Hot Rod Association is intent on earning that "International" designation in its name, but you may not be aware of what a globetrotter the drag racing series is.

The sanctioning body already promotes two of the most successful motor racing events in Canada – the IHRA Drag Racing Series' Mopar Canadian Nationals in Grand Bend, Ontario, and the Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals in Edmonton, Alberta – and is exploring solid options in multiple locations around the world.

But one of the IHRA's central areas of concentration is Down Under – racing in Australia. There are four tracks listed on the IHRA web site: Two in Queensland (Willowbank Raceway and Springmount Raceway), one in New South Wales (Sydney Dragway) and one on Western Australia (Perth Motorplex). The IHRA has issued 1,500 racing licenses in less than one year.

The IHRA is, of course, Owned by IRG Sports + Entertainment (IRGSE), one of the largest sports marketing companies in the world; the IHRA is the second largest drag racing sanctioning body in the world with more than 100 member tracks across the USA, Canada, New Zealand and the Caribbean. The Canadian initiative is called 400 Thunder.

Said Tony Wedlock, Chairman of the Australian Professional Drag Racing Series Board: The IHRA is "a global force within drag racing worldwide. The benefits provided to APDR and our member tracks as we lean on both IRGSE and IHRA's expertise, and contacts in the areas of sports marketing, as well as their business strategy development is immeasurable.

"Both IRGSE and IHRA are highly professional organizations that see the importance of re-investing into our sport and we look forward to an even tighter partnership as well look to build the 400 Thunder Series into its second season," Wedlock said.

IHRA President Mike Dunn re-affirmed Australia's importance in the global drag racing community.

"Australia will play a key role in the IHRA's future new global class of drag racing, and we are committed to making the 400 Thunder Series the pre-eminent drag racing championship in the Asia Pacific region under our sanction," Dunn said. "We have a vision of delivering a round of our new World Championship to one of our Australian tracks, and the establishment of an Australian office will ensure we keep up with the growth of 400 Thunder Series and coordinate our member services."