24 The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Summit SuperSeries still offers the top prize package for weekly bracket racers available anywhere. Underway at multiple facilities, the $200,000 Summit SuperSeries program is the World Championship for 10,000 IHRA Sportsman racers each season. Summit Racing Equipment, the official mail order company of IHRA, sponsors this program for thousands of grassroots racers at nearly 100 IHRA-sanctioned member tracks. Participating tracks will crown Summit SuperSeries track champions in Top (Box), Mod (No Box) and Junior divisions. Those champions, along with qualified Summit Team Finals champions from each IHRA region, are invited to compete in the IHRA Summit World Finals in Memphis, Tenn., on Oct. 18-20, 2018. The championship prize package for the Top and Mod Division World Champions is $20,000 to win, an IHRA Gold Card, a World Championship Ironman Trophy, a World Championship diamond ring and a seven-night/eight-day vacation for two to Aruba. Defending Top (Box) World Champion Tom Gall talked about the opportunity for a local competitor, in his case representing Thunder Valley Dragways in South Dakota, to race for a World Championship. “It’s the biggest opportunity. Summit does something that’s just unheard of,” Gall said. “To race every weekend at my local track with my family and friends, and then you get a chance to do something like this, it just blows your mind.” The Aruba trips are enough to blow some folks’ mind, literally the vacations which dreams are made of. They feature airfare, hotel accommodations, car rental, an island tour and several lunch and dinner packages. In 2018, the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort and Casino serves as the host hotel. The rest of the points fund is as follows: $7,000 to the runner-up, sixth-round $2,000, fifth-round $1,000, fourth-round $700, third- round $600, second-round $400 and first-round $300. For many, becoming a world champion even outweighs the prize package. “It’s incredible, a day I never thought would happen,” Chris Black said after winning the 2017 Mod championship. “It’s humbling and unreal. You’ve got the best of the best here. I love all the prizes, but I’m most proud of that Ironman trophy.” The Junior Dragster payout includes a brand-new, turn- key dragster from American Race Car, plus $3,000 to win. The rest of the point funds is $2,000 for runner-up, sixth- round $1,000, fifth round $800, fourth-round $500, third-round $400, second-round $350 and first round $300. Champions Eligible for Plenty of Prizes Champions Eligible for Plenty of Prizes