How Realistic

[Phil S/ST]

Originally Posted by JP1738

It has been announced that IHRA plans to continue there bracket program/bracket finals in 2025, with the hope of bringing Pro-Ams and Nitro Jams back in 2026. They also announced division restructuring and Next years team finals dates locations.

Does anyone really believe IHRA will bring back class racing? I am personally very hopeful. Despite never having run an IHRA pro-am event (outside of juniors), I am a huge fan of IHRA and I really wish they would bring it back. I was too young to race Super Rod but it was always my dream to compete in it. It folded up before I turned 16.

I know there will never be another hay-day like there was in the 90s and 2000s, but I think it would be so awesome to bring another real sanctioning body back to compete with NHRA at the grass roots class racing level. Give racers another alternative. At the very least, maybe it could spur NHRA into improving conditions for Sportsman Racers. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I'd do almost anything to bring back the glory, honor, and prestige there used to be to hoist an iron man.

Dawson, I'm also hopeful! A few things IHRA will need to overcome.
1] As stated elsewhere, the payouts must align with entry fees ie they charge x dollars for entry the win, RU, and round money must be enough for racers to want to travel and chase that coveted Iron Man.
2] !/8 mile racing doesn't appeal to everyone.
3] Rules need to be close to what NHRA runs now to help with car count.
4] World Championship!! For all classes. This is the main reason I didn.t chase NHRA points back in the day. I could running IHRA Hot Rod.

IHRA is planning an announcement during PRI so its going to be a wait and see. What's going to throw a wrench in their plans is the half *** attempt they made last year. Ran one race and cancelled the whole series.