If you ask an IHRA employee why they do their job, chances are their responses will be very similar. Most employees work with the sanctioning body because they have a love of the sport of drag racing, but the most common reason would be the sense of brotherhood they feel for their fellow team members. Clyde “Spook” Peake summed it up best when asked how he felt about being honored as IHRA Team Member of the Year.

“To me, every one out here in an official’s uniform is the Team Member of the Year,” he said. “These are my brothers and sisters out here…my family away from my family. We work together, travel together, room together and take care of each other on the road. I know any one of them would do anything for me, and I would do anything for them. That’s what makes this award so special…it says to me I am an important part of this team of people I have a lot of love and respect for.”

Along with honoring Peake with the Team Member of the Year Award, IHRA honored the following people: Kelly Devine (Outstanding National Event Performance), Danny Waters Sr. (Outstanding Pro-Am Performance), Hank Blankenship (Best Team Player) and Rhonda McMillen (Best Customer Service).

Kelly Devine

“I think it’s an honor,” Devine said of the Outstanding National Event Performance Award. “At an event I’m surrounded by people who have a passion for drag racing, to see them working hard and to be a member of that team makes me work even harder.”

Devine also has a love for her fellow employees.

“We’re a family, for better or worse we’re a great big family,” she said. “We enjoy the good times we have together and work with each other to get through the tough times. I know, no matter what happens, they are there for me and I’m there for them. That means a lot.”

Hank Blankenship

Hank Blankenship, who was honored for the Outstanding Pro-Am Event Performance, thinks the racers appreciate the attitude all IHRA team members display at the events.

“We all try to do our jobs the best we can,” he said. “We try to do what we think is right for the racers. Most of us are racers as well, either now or in the past, and we treat our customers the way he wanted and expected to be treated when we were at a race.

“We get told by people all the time that they appreciate the way they're treated at IHRA and how they like coming to our events. We try to treat them with respect and they appreciate it. I think it makes a big difference when you're nice to folks and help them as much as possible. It makes racing fun for them.”

As for the award, Blankenship was thankful.

“This was really an honor for me,” he said. “I really appreciate it.”

Rhonda McMillen

Rhonda McMillen, who was awarded for the Best Customer Service, has a unique perspective. Her husband, Terry McMillen, races in the Top Fuel division.
“My husband Terry is one of the racers, and so I know from experience that they're not always an easy bunch to deal with,” she said with a chuckle. “We always get thorough it, though, and they're really a great group of people. I have to look at things from both sides – as an IHRA official and as part of a race team. I try to keep things balanced as much as I can.”

McMillen was thrilled with being honored by IHRA.

“This was really exciting! I was quite surprised and pleased by this award,” she said. “I work in the credential trailer on racer check-in day. I work a half day Wednesdays when we're open on Wednesdays and all day Thursday checking in racers and crews. It's not always an easy task! It's all good, though, and I really appreciate being recognized for my work.”

Danny Waters Sr., who was honored for the Outstanding Pro-Am Event performance, agrees the racer’s perspective is critical when doing his job.

“I love to race and enjoy being around racing,” he said. “I’ve been on both sides of the fence and know what I expect when I’m there to race…so I give the racers what I would expect if I were in their shoes.”

Waters also enjoys working with the rest of the IHRA officials.

“It’s like a family,” he said. “We all work together, hang out together and know what needs to be done. All of us deserve this award.”