IHRA and Memphis

[Bill Bagley]

Most of you - at least in this neck of the woods - knew about the IHRA two-race event scheduled at Memphis International Raceway this past weekend. I’ve been to this track a number of times since returning to drag racing as a Stock Eliminator participant in 2009. My initial impression with the quality of the facility combined with the professional manner in which the races are run have kept me coming back. This past weekend was no exception; however, turnout was absolutely embarrassing for both IHRA and the track operators. We racers awarded their efforts and hard work with a total entry count of 54. I believe Stock may have had the highest number of participants in its category at 17.


The staff handled the disappointing outcome very well, called a driver’s meeting early Saturday to share their disappointment with turnout, but thanked the few of us for being there. Given what they had to work with, they made the smart decision to run both events through to completion on Saturday and allow the local bracket program to merge in during the second race for their scheduled Saturday evening event.


After looking for answers and gathering viewpoints among the few class racers there to visit with, nobody could come up with a reasonable explanation and all were very disappointed. A few observations:

• It was hot (always is in Memphis during August) with little chance for rain in the forecast and we got none.
• MIR is an outstanding facility that based on my experiences, is run as well as any anywhere.
• We all want and need facilities like this not only to survive, but thrive in order to provide the track operators a living and us a venue where we can do what so many of us love to do.
• Unless I overlooked it, there were no other schedule-conflicting events anywhere in the region. What am I missing?

I comment here infrequently, but I check the forum often and read through most of the threads where meaningful and constructive information is being shared which is why I’m offering up this topic for discussion. In my mind it’s just simply perplexing ... I can’t figure it out and hope to get some feedback.


By the way, I think we were all impressed with the HUGE Saturday night bracket racer support this race track has cultivated – a heck of a turnout loaded with quality race cars. I have no idea if a track of this magnitude can make it on a bracket program alone, but I’m sure IHRA is wondering what to do with Memphis.