IHRA’s shutdown left bracket racers wondering whether the Finals they had worked toward all season would happen. The owners at Gulfport Dragway, Brainerd Motorsports Park and Montgomery International Dragway, working alongside former WDRA staff, opened the doors and made the Southern Team Bracket Finals happen at Montgomery International Dragway this past weekend.
More than 300 cars came to race. Teams represented Montgomery, Gulfport, Brainerd, Rocket City, Holiday Raceway, London Dragway, North Florida Motorplex, Cottonwood Motorsports Park, I22, Sand Mountain and Baileyton. Several tracks brought multiple teams. It was a strong showing for an event the racers could have lost.
That same commitment is carrying through to the World Finals. Bill Bader Jr. and Summit Motorsports Park have scheduled the Sportsman World Finals for October 22–24 in Norwalk, Ohio, with a $150,000 guaranteed purse for qualifying racers.
IHRA closed its doors. The Southern track owners and former WDRA staff opened theirs—and more than 300 cars rolled through.
