b'AT THESTARTING LINEPublication It Was More SpectacularIgnite2XManaging EditorRyan Perezluha The 2019 version of the IHRA Summit Sportsman Photography Spectacular series, Im happy to report, was BME Photography more spectacular than our rookie year.By the time you read this the final event at Maryland Art/Creative International Raceway will be in the books and Ignite2X the 8 double race weekends will be making way for the IHRA Summit Team Finals and Summit SuperSeries World Finals.In the wake of hundreds of thousands of dollar payouts and thousands in entry fees races designed for a select few, the Summit Sportsman Spectacular events are targeted at the masses that appreciate the solid payout, good round money and value-oriented approach to entry fees.After a slow launch in 2018, this season has produced a nice gain in participation from racers in every division.The series grew 34% on average this season with several events growing 60% or better over last year and moving past the 300 car mark.Our original target for these events was 300 cars.That number makes for a very manageable event without getting past the point of having to run all night long or otherwise compromise the fun factor that is critical to the overall positive experience at these events.This was also the largest year for IHRA members to cash in on winning round prizes and contingency.It was certainly beneficial to be an IHRA member at these events as loads of racers collected thousands of dollars IRGSE President & CEO worth of prizes from Summit, Moser, Sunoco Race Fuels, American Race Lou Partenza Cars, Abruzzi Transmissions, Jones Transmission Cooling System.Every Vice President round prize was worth a minimum of $100 and some as much as $500 and Skooter Peaco were won by Top, Mod and Junior competitors who were IHRA members.Senior Director of Corporate PartnershipsIn addition to the round prizes a contingency program for IHRA members& Industry Relationsawarded thousands more to racers who won or were runner-up and used Dana Landry and displayed decals from participating IHRA sponsors.You did not have Director of Public Relations to be an IHRA member to race the event, but it certainly made sense to be Ryan Perezluha one in order to cash in.Corporate Marketing Manager Thank you to the facilities who share in our vision to bring our style of Mason Sheen events to sportsman racers.Farmington, State Capitol, Dragway 42, Director of Creative Marketing Darlington, Keystone, US 131, Xtreme and Maryland all played a huge part Stacey Killmaier in the growth of this series as it is critical to have host tracks who have Membership Coordinator the same values for our grassroots sportsman racing community as IHRA Tamie Defranzo does.These facilities care about taking care of the racers who support our Senior Director of Competition tracks on a weekly basis, and we couldnt have been happier to have them and Racing Operations as partners in helping us to expand the program.Mike BakerIHRA Division Directors Jon ONeal, Frank Kohutek and Josh Peake plan Divisional Directors and execute these events and are already busy locking in dates and Josh Peake, Jon ONeal & Frank Kohuteklocations for 2020.The PR, Marketing and Sales teams are already out drumming up more support and more opportunity for our members.With The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is owned andyour participation, we can continue to reward and put in the spotlight many operated by IRG Sports + Entertainment, a TPG Specialty Lendingmore IHRA sportsman bracket racers next year.company. The IHRA promotes professional and sportsman racing for drivers of all levels. The IHRA sanctions nearly 100 motorsportHave fun and stay safe!facilities in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Bahamas and welcomes 80,000 racers annually to their IHRA- Skooter Peacosanctioned facilities. The IHRA oversees multiple Sportsman racing programs including the Summit Racing Equipment SuperSeries and the Sportsman Spectacular.'