Is IHRA Going Under?

[Duane Eiskant II]

Here ya go. Got this email from Ihra division director Jon oneal so I'm sharing. Since jims post I've had people tell me they won't go to any Ihra events this year because since there folding up they don't want to lose there membership money.(?) come on your gonna take a $20,000 car and NOT race over $80 bucks? My brother in-law passed away Thursday and for this weekends pro am at capital in Maryland im gonna miss the first Q run sat but will be there to support this event. (the service is sat for my brother in-law) I, like a lot of racers have been sitting at home and they only to better which ever (the I or the N) you chose to run with, you need to support it. Travel safe see the ones who want to race Friday afternoon.

"Mr. Wahl didn't call me. He didn't call Josh or Frank, our other dds. He didn't call Skooter or Baker. He called the generic office line and got our graphic designer (turned receptionist after the mag went away). I won't pretend that I know what was said but here's what I do know and I'll gladly tell or share with anyone:

The powers that be have a plan for the whole of the IHRA that includes the home office living in Florida. That's no big secret and it's been the plan for a long time. It did mean that some of the staff had to make a tough decision. The most important part of the plan to our sportsman racers is that Baker, Skooter and I (because I live in the area I work) will be staying in Norwalk in a small satellite office just like our other Division Directors. I'm not sure how important it is to a message board theorist that we won't be near where we store a years worth of glue, oil dry or park the National Event semis, but it is what it is. Maybe it matters what zip code you call to renew your membership.

The great news in my eyes and what I'm genuinely excited about is that it leaves us without the burden of spending too much time in the D1 (moniker for the new top fuel and professional program) series. It lets us go back to spending a majority of our time on the Summit ProAm Tour and Summit SuperSeries. Know that everyone above my paygrade that I've dealt with in the organization, personally in one-on-one conversations and in meetings, including Mike Dunn and even the CEO that hired Mike understand that we're doing good things with sportsman and don't want to mess with it. They see the value in the hard work and the history. They want to see it grow as much as we do.

As far as next year, we're in the same exact place we would be in any other season at this time. We have every intention of not only continuing but growing the series just like every year. Do we have commitments from tracks and sponsors... some. I'd bet we have approximately the same numbers we did in July last year. We plan to release the schedule around the same time as last year after careful deliberation of placement and format. More importantly, right now, we're invested in the races we are currently operating and doing everything we can to make those smooth, fun and successful for the racers and track operators. If someone doesn't want to partake in that due to a forum post it will break my heart.

We are invested in this as individuals. You know better than most that we have to love this industry to commit our lives to it. We will do everything in our power to grow this thing. The sportsman racers are our customers and every decision we make revolves around them. Could someone say "enough is enough" and turn the lights off... sure. But that possibility has always been there. Through the 5 owners I've seen it's always been in the back of racers minds. But know than I'm genuinely excited to simply be an asset to the pro program with Baker and Skooter as opposed to being heavily involved in it. We'll have the ability to spend a larger majority of our time on the programs that will carry class racing into a better light. It's honestly heartbreaking that someone would consider airing their unconfirmed theory in such a derogatory manner and labeling it a call to action for support. That's exactly the maneuver that's caused the fear in the minds of racers. Those racers decide the babble has backing and don't show and it's a self fulfilling prophecy. I appreciate your ability to contact someone who may have some actual knowledge on the matter at hand.

Please feel free to let people know your new "inside info" and let them know they can always call us and ask anything they'd like. Just ask them to try and use a little forethought as to which questions they direct to which people. That's what your Division Director is for.

As always, feel free to let me know if there's anything I can do. "