Alabama International Dragway Roars to IHRA Division 8 Team Title

HARVEST, Ala. —Alabama International Dragway roared to the IHRA Division 8 (South) Team Finals victory Saturday at Rocket City Dragway.

Racers from those tracks and Knoxville Dragway competed both in team and individual competitions. Five individuals — Robbie Smith (Top), Grace Varner (Mod), Van Greer (Sportsman), Jonah Allen (Motorcycle) and John Varner (Junior Dragster) — raced to individual titles.

In the Top (Box) class, Smith powered his dragster to a 4.772-second pass at 143.27 mph on a 4.77 dial-in to capture a $6,000 big check and prestigious IHRA Ironman trophy. He had a slightly quicker reaction time .010 to .015 than final-round opponent, Kaleb McDaniel, who broke out on his 6.56 dial with a 6.559 elapsed time at 103.76 mph.

The Varner family doubled up as Grace Varner was the Mod (No Box) winner and took home her own $6,000 check and Ironman trophy. Varner posted a 6.461-second run at 100.47 mph in her black Camaro. Runner-up Jonathan Hagler was right on his 6.15 dial-in with a 6.151-second run at 110.95 mph. The difference was Varner’s .006 light to .017 for Hagler in an extremely close final.

John Varner won on a holeshot over CJ Handy in the Junior Dragster final. Varner left in .019 seconds to .049 for Handy. Varner went down the drag strip in 7.946 seconds at 78.99 mph on a 7.92 dial-in. Handy was closer to his 7.90 dial with a 7.908-second time at 80.09 mph.

Van Greer, son of former IHRA Funny Car winner Shirl Greer, won the $4,000 check and Ironman Trophy for his Sportsman win. Greer, driving a Chevy S-10 pickup, won on a holeshot .017 to .055 to go along with his 7.918 elapsed time at 85.52 mph on a 7.89 dial-in. Runner-up Tim Smith went 7.494 seconds at 89.71 mph on a 7.49 dial-in.

Jonah Allen was the best on two wheels with a winning package of 5.930 seconds at 110.05 mph on a 5.88 dial-in, along with a .049 reaction time. Motorcycle runner-up Don Chavous had a time of 5.605 seconds at 116.22 mph on a 5.46 dial-in with a .090 reaction time.

Collin Prichett rounded out the list of winners with his TCR victory.

The IHRA Team Finals have concluded as racers now get ready for the most prestigious championship in bracket racing, the IHRA SuperSeries World Finals at Alabama International Dragway on Oct. 16-18.