The two ways to qualify for the annual IHRA Summit World Finals held in October at Memphis International Raceway are to win the Summit SuperSeries track championship at one of the participating member tracks or by winning the IHRA Summit Team Finals in your division.
Many tracks held banquets to recognize 2017 IHRA Summit SuperSeries track champions including those featured here from Memphis International Raceway.
Top (Box)
Buddy Ferrell, a 63-year-old from Memphis, earned the championship in the Rick’s Powder Coating Box class, and also earned the Sportsman of the Year award.
Ferrell drives a 2011 Danny Nelson Racecraft chassis dragster and his granddaughters, Rebecca and Stephanie, help him as crew members. Ferrell won the championship by 51 points over runner-up Michael Hall, although Hall put up quite a challenge, winning the last race of the season.
Ferrell, who won four races in 2017, calls the winner’s circle pictures with family, the most memorable part of the championship season.
Mod (No Box)
Greg Rushing, a 56-year-old from Jackson, Tenn., overcame a 19-point deficit heading into the final race to beat Kyle Rumley by just a single point for the Luttrell Belting No Box championship.
Rumley is an employee of Rushing’s, which made the championship more special. In addition to their own battle, Rumley and Rushing had to keep their eyes on Troy Poindexter, who won the final race and finished just 10 points behind Rushing in the final standings.
Rushing drives a 1980 Chevrolet Camaro with Miranda Smith, James Smith and Suzy Strickland serving as crew members.
Junior Dragster
Devan Lowe, a 13-year-old from Bartlett, Tenn., drove his 2017 Mike Bos Dragster to two wins to capture the Inman Murphy Pest Control Junior Dragster championship.
His consistency was key in beating runner-up Devin Johnson, who made a charge with three wins including a victory in the final race of the season. It was a memorable time for Lowe, who celebrated with his father Michael and mother Suzette, who also serve as his race-day crew.
