IHRA: Summit Sportsman National Championship: Junior Dragsters

With the nationwide inaugural IHRA Summit Sportsman National Championship series, the sanctioning body has created a genuine national series for Sportsman racers, moving away from the regional format of the past.

With the release of the rules package, competitors have a clear pathway to participation in the series, which pays an impressive $15,000 each to the Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Super Stock, Stock, Quick Rod, Super Rod and Hot Rod champ, and $2,000 to the Junior Dragster National Champion.

Speaking of Junior Dragster, the SSNC rules specify one class for Juniors. That said, in regular IHRA competition, the three classes remain:

Beginner: Age 7 to 9 only; ET restricted to 11.90 seconds or slower based on either ET dial-your-own or heads-up basis. Breakout rules apply. One warning will be issued if a competitor runs quicker than 11.70. If the competitor does this a second time at the same event, they will be disqualified from the event. Any competitor running quicker than 11.50 at any time will be disqualified for the remainder of the event.

Advanced: Age 10 to 17; modified engines meeting IHRA rules accepted. Class based on either dial-your-own ET or heads-up Pro start. ET restricted to 8.90 or slower. Breakout rules apply. One warning will be issued if a competitor runs quicker than 8.70. If a competitor runs quicker than 8.70 a second time, at the same event, they will be disqualified from the event. Any competitor running quicker than 8.50 any time will be disqualified for the remainder of the event.

Master: Age 12 to 17; must meet all requirements for Advanced. Licensing by IHRA or Track official after 3 approved runs between 7.90 and 8.90; Rack & pinion steering, and steel brake lines are mandatory. ET 7.90 or slower; One warning will be issued if a competitor runs an elapsed time of 7.70 or quicker or 85 mph or faster. If a competitor does this a second time at the same event they will be disqualified from the event. If a competitor runs 7.50 or quicker they will be disqualified for the remainder of the event and their license will be suspended for 6 months from the date of the infraction.

Rules are different for the IHRA SSNC series, in that there will be one class of Juniors open to any Beginner, Advanced or Master competitor, meaning regardless of age, any JD racer can win the championship – and the purse!