FAIRFIELD, Ohio — Starting in 1971, the International Hot Rod Association [IHRA] has embraced its roots in drag racing as a trendsetter.

A new IHRA has chosen three of its staple categories, bona fide trendsetters, to showcase the return of the series purchased by Darryl Cuttell.

The IHRA Outlaw Pro Mod Nationals will take place at Kil-Kare Raceway on August 8-9, in a throwback to the old Nitrous Nationals format, featuring multiple classes including Pro Modified, Mountain Motor Pro Stock, and Top Sportsman. The marquee category, Pro Modified, offers a winner’s purse of $125,000.

Mountain Motor Pro Stock will pay $15,000 to the winner, while Top Sportsman will have a payout of $6,000 to win.

Two of the three categories in competition at this event are homegrown under the IHRA sanction. Pro Modified grew out of the Top Sportsman division, most notably the Saturday evening Quick Eight races, and was granted professional status with its debut in March 1990 at Darlington Dragway.

Mountain Motor Pro Stock drag racing also debuted in Darlington in 1977, when IHRA broke away from the traditional pounds-per-cubic-inch formula and developed an unlimited displacement format, separating itself from the two other major sanctioning bodies in operation.

Top Sportsman is a spinoff of the old AHRA’s Top Comp Eliminator. It grew from a 64-car bracket category called Pro Street and underwent multiple name changes before settling on Top Sportsman in 1985. The class was a mix of doorslammers, dragsters, and roadsters until 1993, when it became a full-bodied division exclusively.

The IHRA’s return will showcase these foundational categories of doorslammer racing. The IHRA Outlaw Pro Mod Nationals will include three qualifying sessions for each class on Friday, followed by eliminations on Saturday. After the final qualifying session, a chip draw will be held for all three categories.

Additionally, Friday night will feature a unique Crown Vic charity race at the neighboring Speedway, where pairs of competitors (those who are scheduled to race one another in eliminations) will pair up to race in Crown Victorias. The first-round winners will compete for a $5,000 donation to a charity of their choice through a 50-lap feature, with each driver covering 25 laps.