IHRA: CEO explains change in 2017 season plans

In his recent "State of the State" address, IRG Sports + Entertainment Vice-Chairman of the Board of Managers and CEO Chris Lencheski explained some changes to the 2017 IHRA season, including the reasons behind his decision to defer the national pro racing championship until the 2018 season.

The IHRA will focus on his core motorsports product, sportsman competition, while making preparations to return with pro racing in the following season as, he said, "we build the first globally-accepted, single source provider of a universal drag car and drag bike sanctioning body to the largest, most advertiser-attractive, global demographic group coming of age – Generation Z.

"After speaking with most of our future and current stakeholders, including our incoming media partners, new national partners, as well as drivers and teams across multiple sanctioning bodies, we have decided to defer the IHRA professional, USA-based 'National Points Championship' racing events into the 2018 calendar year.

"Sometimes the elements and possible consequences of an important decision are so complicated that we can allow indecision to grip the process by over-analyzing the situation and attempting to frame an outcome beyond the answers readily available.

"The short answer on why the 2017 year is being deferred for the professional series events is between the timing of obligations to be 100 percent sure of quality IHRA top-fuel teams in concert with our pending street racing plans for future IHRA USA-based national championship point races, the timelines and commitments became increasingly difficult to assure our board, managers, and collective new stakeholders that going for the sake of simply going forward was not a risk acceptable to a reasonable business person and we are in no hurry to fail.

"So, in keeping with our IRGSE turnaround mantra, we chose to stabilize, organize, and revitalize the IHRA professional model further. It will simply take more time and we are comfortable with that decision, as we operate with a longer lens view in the room. Again, we value the teams, racers, and sponsors who also addressed their thoughts on this issue with respect that their view of a larger, more sustainable platform for IHRA racing into the future was worth extra time."

In addition, "In early 2017, IRGSE will announce a marquee relationship with the preeminent sports media company in North America for the IRGSE stable of sanctioning bodies."