Holly Springs Motorsports Park will again host the IHRA Division 2 Team Finals on Sept. 11-13. It’s the perfect precursor to the Northern Mississippi track hosting the IHRA World Finals on Oct. 23-25, 2025.

It brings together tracks from six different states. That includes neighboring states with Centerville Dragway and Newport Dragway from Arkansas, and Jackson Dragway from Tennessee.

Three Missouri tracks are represented with Bonne Terre Drag Strip, Ozark Raceway Park and Skelton Raceway. Beacon Dragway in Paducah, Kentucky and I57 Dragstrip in Benton, Illinois round out those from other states.

Keep checking out IHRA.com and our social media pages with the hashtag #IHRAReturnToGlory for further updates on Division 2 and the other divisions. We will highlight Division 3 next and some of our Northern tracks.

Besides the host facility, seven other track partners are now a part of Division 1. It includes two tracks within 60 miles of Darlington Dragway. Those tracks are Pageland Dragway, just 40 miles away, and 710 Dragway, which is 60 miles away.

Even travel from the tracks located farther distances from the Summit Team Finals site now make sense. 

Elk Creek Dragway, the two-time defending IHRA Division 1 Team Champions, remain a part of the new group, 215 miles away from Darlington. It’s also an equal distance for Roxboro Motorsports Park to also make the trip.

Three other North Carolina tracks — Piedmont Dragway, Shadyside Dragway and Wilkesboro Dragway —will be eligible to compete in the IHRA Division 1 Summit Team Finals. They are all within 200 miles of Darlington Dragway.

These moves should strengthen Division 1 and provide a more enjoyable Summit Team Finals for the racers. Check out IHRA.com Facebook page tomorrow when we highlight the Division 2 tracks. #IHRAReturnToGlory

“They’re looking to build houses everywhere with a shortage on houses,” Boren said. “I could make a ton more money by developing the place into real estate. But, we keep it open for the racers. They’ve been a part of this community for so many years.”

He explained that a lot of little tracks are closing down. He isn’t operating Paris Dragstrip to get rich, but just to break even and give the racers a place to showcase their skills. There has been plenty of work around the facility including the staging lanes and shutdown area. Although it’s tough with building materials skyrocketing in costs, Boren has plans for more improvements.

“I’m wanting to add asphalt from the concrete over to the guard rail,” he said. “One of the biggest problems we have are the small-tire events. The guys when they get squirrelly, they don’t let out of the throttle. I want to concrete the track up to the edge of the guardrails.”

 

Paris Dragstrip has a long history, first opened in 1964 as a 1/4-mile track and was shortened to an 1/8-mile in 1993.

The track has a solid base with the IHRA Summit SuperSeries, still the premier bracket racing program in all of drag racing. Paris Dragway representatives at the 2024 IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals included: Jason Bolton (Top), Kyle Thompson (Mod), Drew McNeal (Sportsman), Michael Turman (Motorcycle) and Reed Edmonson (Junior Dragster).

In addition, the Texas track hosts other great racing, car shows and popular events.

Paris racers did well at the World Finals with Bolton third and Thompson eighth on the National Top 10 lists for their respective classes. Boren loves the opportunities the racers have through the IHRA programs and the vision of new IHRA President Kenny Nowling.

“The thing with IHRA, it does more for the racers,” Boren said. “That’s what I look at. The racers can make more money at IHRA and they’re not traveling as far. IHRA works better for the smaller tracks.”

To check out the latest going on at Paris Dragstrip, click here to check out the track’s Facebook page.

“Cody brings a ton of experience to the table in the bracket racing world, and we’re excited to have him join us here at Penwell Knights for our bracket program in 2025,” Gardenhire said. 

Pollage also has his own bracket series, CP Racing Promotions, which will be hosting a big money bracket event at Penwell Knights Raceway on Oct. 17-19, 2025. To find out more about that event, please check him out on Facebook at Cody Pollage Racing Promotions1. 

The racing veteran will also continue to be assistant manager at his home race track, State Capitol Raceway, right outside of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

“I’m very excited to join Team Penwell for the 2025 season for the bracket program.” Cody said. “There are so many of my good friends that race in this area, and this will feel like home to me. Gary and crew were very welcoming when I was here for my event in 2024, as well as some of the IHRA races I had attended while working for them.” 

Pollage stated a goal of doing some big things for the West Texas racers and working towards packed houses at Penwell Knights. The track is currently looking for a race director for its Index and heads-up races.

Officially referred to as Penwell Knights Raceway at Caprock Motorplex, it has been called the Permian Basin’s premier drag racing facility. They have been a long time partner of the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) and share the commitment to grassroots, Sportsman racing.

Mikel McQueen was the track’s IHRA Summit SuperSeries Top champion for a second straight year. Other 2024 champions included: Benny Gossett (Mod), Robert Schoemer (Sportsman), Tadd Sprayberry (Motorcycle) and Ayden Johnson Gossett (Junior Dragster). 

In addition, the track hosted an IHRA Sportsman Spectacular presented by Moser back in March. Schoemer was also the Sportsman winner, while other class winners were: Tom Hollifield (Top), Evan Santos (Mod), David Baugh (Motorcycle) and Owen Blair (Junior Dragster).

Penwell Knights Raceway has released its 2025 schedule with some great special events. The Bounty Hunters No Prep races take place March 14-15. The always popular, Funny Car Chaos, is slated for May 30-31. There is also the Skinny Kid Heads Up Series, West TX Flashlight Drags and OctoberFAST.

Racing into December, there’s a No Prep Shootout and a toy drive the following week. Gardenhire and staff have been busy with work on new VIP suites, and more asphalt added in the pits. 

You often hear the terms of a “blue collar” and “white collar” worker. Gardenhire is both, working a variety of jobs to provide a great experience for the racers.

“I enjoy the challenge of it,” he said. “I do everything from cleaning restrooms to marketing and meeting with companies for sponsorship. I’ve got my hands full, and it sometimes stresses me out, but I like it.” 

He also likes seeing Penwell racers have success at other venues. They’ve had racers like 2022 IHRA Summit SuperSeries Junior Dragster runner-up Caden Keyes and Motorcycle racer Jeramy Tally in the IHRA National Top 10. Baugh has been wildly successful both in his car and on two wheels as a Motorcycle racer.

Gardenhire believes part of the reason Penwell racers are so tough is the track’s location.

“We have the weather changes, the DA (density altitude) that’s sometimes hard to adapt to,” he said. “If they can adapt here, they can pretty much run anywhere and be competitive. We start early March and run until mid-December.”

Click here to check out the Facebook page for Penwell Knights Raceway for more exciting news about this West Texas track.

“My first reaction was unbelievable. I’d never won anything like that,” he said. “I knew if I did, it was going to be for the benefit of the race track.”

Rasmussen had been feeling down after losing in the first round of eliminations. That was until he was able to share the good news.

“I was in Sportsman class, the last pair up the track. I was late and the car wouldn’t run the number,” Rasmussen said. “I was thinking, ‘Why in the world did I come here?’ I came to this to find out he won that. As soon as I lost, I hear Doug (Foley Jr.) say, ‘We’re getting ready to draw for the truck.’ I’m at the tool box and I hear him say, ‘I know this guy. He’s painting bleachers.’ As soon as he said that, I knew it was Mike Walters.”

Walters didn’t end up with the F-150 crew cab truck. Instead, he decided to take a cash option which ended up benefitting the track in a number of ways.

“It put us in a position to help our race track do some serious improvements,” he said. “We got our short-term loans paid off and we’re getting a new timing system.”

Elk Creek Dragway is special to Walters and those who race there. It sits between two beautiful mountain ranges in the Elk Creek Valley. 

They have paved roads throughout the facility with well-groomed grass for trailer parking. They make it family-friendly as it includes a playground, picnic tables with umbrellas and multiple bleachers to watch the different aspects of racing. There is emphasis, particularly on the restrooms and concession areas, to be clean and well maintained.

“It’s the track designed with your family in mind,” Walters said. “Many, many racers have told me, this is their happy place. It’s crazy to hear that from a racer, but we want them to feel at home at Elk Creek Dragway.”

It has paid off with record car counts in 2024 and others who share Walters’ passion. When Hurricane Helene flooded the track, Rasmussen and his boys worked both a Friday and Saturday to help fix it.

The track has one of the strongest bracket racing programs around with races every weekend. In addition, they work with racers to make the facility frequently available for test-and-tune sessions. 

Elk Creek Dragway repeated as IHRA Division 1 (Patriots) Summit Team Finals champions in 2024. Rasmussen was the winner in the Sportsman class and Caleb Hamm won the Motorcycle race. Mike Willard was the Mod winner and his son, Will, was tops in Junior Dragster. Will went on to finish runner-up at the IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals.

Walters credits that busy schedule for being a reason why Elk Creek racers have so much success at other drag strips. He’s humble when it comes to his own role, but one can hear in his voice how much he cares for the racers and the track.

“Taking care of the racers is the number one goal across the board,” Walters said. “I’m here living my life, having fun and trying to pay it forward. You take care of your customers and everything else takes care of itself.”

Now, he has the extra resources to take care of the racers as do the other IHRA partner tracks who were able to raise money through the IHRA truck giveaway. Special thanks to Morrow Brothers Ford and all those who participated to help the IHRA partner tracks.

Seeing how their communities were hurting, Cindy made a post on Facebook about anybody wanting to donate supplies. In a very short time, people showed up with enough items to stock three full trailers. Salvatore went to some of the small communities and towns to deliver to those in need.

“It was a spur of the moment thing,” Salvatore said. “I mentioned to Cindy being that we have so many racers and followers from those areas that we could put together some goods. Before you knew it, I went to Lansing, Creston and ended up in Burnsville and Pensacola. That spot was hit the hardest so we were doing the most good up there.”

They’ve also worked with the First Baptist Church in Spruce Pine and Baptist missions to help where there has been such widespread damage. Beyond helping with the storm recovery, they hosted the “Race for Cancer” on October 19 where there were over 200 entries working together for another good cause.

“That was started by a couple of local racers, Frank and Diane Roberts, when Frank got diagnosed with cancer,” Salvatore said. “It started at Wilkesboro and has always been there except one year. It made its way back home in 2023 and followed up this year.”

Todd Stevens was the Top winner against a strong field of racers, while Terry Coleman took the victory in Mod. Wayne Ward won in the Street class with Josh Reece victorious in Motorcycle. Junior Dragster winner Gunner Abernathy had two reasons to celebrate with the race also being on his birthday.

Beyond the storm, the weather is constantly something a track operator has to be aware of. In his third season at Wilkesboro, Salvatore sees the great natural beauty of the area and the unpredictability of the weather

“Wilkesboro is notorious for having spotty weather, but we’ve been trying to navigate through it,” Salvatore said. “It’s been a big learning curve for us. You’re learning whether to cancel a race or push through it. A lot of time, you will hear 50-60 percent chance of rain and get nothing. We’ve learned not to always be scared of the forecast.”

Even with the weather challenges of the spring and early summer, they were able to have a successful IHRA Summit SuperSeries program. Todd Payne (Top & Motorcycle), Bubba White (Mod), Roger Miller (Sportsman) and Abernathy (Jr. Dragster) earned track points championships and entry into the 2024 IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals. 

A visit to the facility shows the hard work of Salvatore and others at the historic drag strip. He grew up around racing and working at Wilkesboro is a labor of love.

They continue to put revenue back into the facility to make it better for the racers. That’s what they like about the IHRA and the vision shared by new President Kenny Nowling. The first point of emphasis is taking care of the racers.

“The IHRA is that household name I still remember from when I was a kid,” Salvatore said. “The most important thing is taking care of the racer. That’s what I like about IHRA.”

Click here to keep checking out the Wilkesboro Dragway Facebook page to keep up with the latest news to date.

As one can tell, there’s a huge emphasis on creativity and having fun at Kentucky Dragway. The drag strip, which is operated by second-generation racer Aaron Sipple and his wife, Carrie, originally opened in 1963. Aaron has built race cars and done engineering work for decades. He brings that same mindset in running the track.

“When it comes to the track, I approach it like a race car,” Aaron said. “I’m out here searching for my heads-up, tune-up, and I have a great staff here that helps me.”

To say they stay busy is an understatement as Aaron also delivers freight throughout the week. But, he loves the time working as a promoter and said much of the creativity comes from his family’s heritage as blacksmiths. He and Carrie also use their backgrounds of working for outside companies to promote events.

“Our social media thought process came from the dynamic of being a part of some really good companies,” he said. “Michael Beard does our professional flyers, but on a normal basis, I do our Kentucky Dragway page. It’s not glitz and glamour, but it gets the job done.”

Aaron often uses Beard’s work to create a spectator flyer for each event. But the promotion was just a part of why the Ken-Mor (short for Kentucky-Morehead) Bluegrass Nationals turned out to be a big success. 

There were multiple winners at this year’s race including four drivers — Travis Arnett, Gage Stultz, Matt Roth and Chris Moore — who took home the $5,000 big checks. Although there was a huge turnout of cars and drivers, the race was run efficiently thanks to Sipple’s great staff. 

“It was an awesome race,” Aaron said. “Saturday was a 12-hour race and Sunday, we started at 11 and were done by 6 or 7 p.m. When other tracks get that big car count, they finish at 3 in the morning. That speaks volumes of people coming to the race track and not waiting around forever. There’s a lot of value in keeping the track consistent. It provides a great dynamic.”

While the term family is often thrown around in the sport, it’s truly the case at Kentucky Dragway. Families such as Sipples, the Ruths, the Roes and others have helped build an incredible racing tradition that extends well beyond the borders of the Bluegrass State. 

For example, Sipple’s father, Doc Sipple, was named IHRA Track Operator of the Year in 1997 and the IHRA Sportsman of the Year in 2002. Jim Ruth was a former owner of the IHRA while the Roe family has won a ton of big races throughout the country.

“It’s one big family. My whole life, my heart has been with the IHRA,” Aaron said. “We went to another organization for three years, but our racers almost saw it as an extension outside the family. Once we came back to IHRA, no one has looked back.”

Looking forward, Sipple sees the IHRA headed in a good direction.

“I’ve talked to Larry Jeffers and he has a good vision. He’s a businessman. To bring Kenny Nowling on as IHRA President, that’s a bold move. I really think he’s the man needed because racing in this economy, it’s been hurting.”

Click here for the track’s Facebook page to check out the latest at Kentucky Dragway. Keep checking out IHRA.com and our own Facebook page as more track partners are featured.

Since then, the racing community and other neighbors have come together to help get the property back in shape. Less than a week after the storm, the track is scheduled to open this Saturday, August 24. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with an unlimited test-and-tune and runs from 5-11 p.m. 

All this was made possible by the hard work of track owners Wayne and Patty Styles and others who contributed their time and efforts to the cause. Patty described the initial shock as a “nightmare” as the nearby Centerville Speedway also suffered damage and one of their neighbors lost five trees. 

The Suburban that Patty drives and often uses to check-in racers had limbs fall on it and bust the windshield. One of the sheds with golf carts inside was badly twisted. 

“We hate it for some guys who had their golf carts in a shed that got bent up badly,” she said. “We really think it was a tornado that came down the backfield and landed on the track. We got really lucky that it didn’t do more damage.”

Although trees on the dragway property were still being cut up at the time of this interview, they were in better shape than one might expect though thanks to some good neighbors.

“It was a mess, but we had some guys who were logging back behind us,” she explained. “They had the big machines to pick up trees when they were logging and they were nice enough to come to our property and get the trees situated on our burn pile.”

Styles wanted to express her gratitude to all those who have helped. It’s often said how racers are a family, but one truly sees it in a time of need. She was also looking ahead to the weekend where she hopes to see even more of the racers come out.

“It’s awesome how everyone come together to help,” she said. “They know we can’t do it all. We only have Saturday scheduled this weekend, but we’re hoping for a good turnout.”

Keep up to date with the latest Centerville Dragway news by clicking here to visit the track’s Facebook page. 

The IHRA Ironman Classic on August 17 will serve as an IHRA Summit SuperSeries points race.

In the meantime, there are other great events taking place at the historic facility including the Moser Engineering Trip 12’s presented by May Race Carbs on July 12-14 with $12,000-to-win main events Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

It’s actually a four-day event as action starts Thursday, July 11 at noon. There’s a free test-and-tune from 4-10 p.m. and a $5,000-to-win Dead On Racing Products Thursday Super 64 Shootout which starts at 8 p.m.

NYE’s Racing Engines sponsors Friday’s $12,000 race with $3,500 for the runner-up. Precision Balancing Company presents the Friday Super 64 Shootout with another $5,000 top prize. Gates open at 8 a.m. Friday followed by a 9 a.m. time trial and eliminations.

Diamond Engine and Machine brings Saturday action with another $12,000-to-win and $3,500 for second place. There’s the Steve Dillman Memorial Shootout with $5,000 again to the winner. Gates open at 8 a.m. with a new entry time trial at 8:45 a.m. and first round of eliminations at 9 a.m.

Power Chassis Race Cars provide sponsorship of Sunday’s $12,000-to-win main event. In addition to the big cars, the Five Star Roofing Junior Dragster presented by Billy’s Auto Repair will compete for $1,000 winner’s purses on Saturday and Sunday. There’s also a $1,000 bonus for a No Box win courtesy of Mayes Powder Coating. 

Sunday’s schedule sees gates open at 8 a.m. followed by the new entry time trial at 8:45 a.m. and eliminations at 9 a.m. 

It’s $295 for the weekend entry and $110 for daily re-entry. There’s a $150 entry fee for each shootout. It’s an $80 weekend entry fee for the Junior Dragsters. There are plenty of additional round prizes. 

Muncie Dragway has its free spectator appreciation day presented by TnL Welding the following Saturday, July 20 which features racing, a car show and a swap meet.

For more about these and other Muncie Dragway events, click here to check out the track’s Facebook page.