NORWALK, OH:  In a groundbreaking move for the world of drag racing, the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) and the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) have announced their first-ever collaboration, setting the stage for an exciting future on race tracks across the nation. This partnership marks a new era where both sanctioning bodies join forces to elevate the experience for racers and racing venues alike.

The IHRA and WDRA are now united in their mission to manage sanctioned facilities, ensuring insurance compliance, licensing, and organizing dynamic bracket racing programs and events. “We have a unique opportunity to combine the strengths of both IHRA and WDRA to help our collective facilities and provide opportunities and stability for our bracket racing members,” said WDRA’s Don Scott. “WDRA’s expertise is on the member track, licensing, and bracket racing side of the sport. As IHRA launches new pro racing programs and events, there is a need for making sure the IHRA tracks and bracket racers get taken care of. The WDRA team is going to make sure that we are there to support the IHRA facilities and bracket programs because this arrangement is simply good for our sport.”

IHRA’s Darryl Cuttell shares this enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “Both groups have the best interests of the tracks and racers at heart. We all agree that we will make our sport better by working together, and each group complements each other perfectly. Anyone that has been around me or our group knows that we are going to make it happen.”

Together, these organizations oversee 110 sanctioned facilities (not including upcoming agreements) and host fifteen bracket racing events, laying the groundwork for a vibrant, supportive racing community. This collaboration is not just an agreement but a promise to racers that their passion and dedication will be met with enhanced opportunities and a robust racing environment. Immediate implementation of this partnership will see further announcements as both groups work tirelessly to forge a new pathway for member tracks and bracket racers, propelling drag racing into a bright, inclusive future.

Historic NY dragstrip rejoins the WDRA with new lessee and management.

NORWALK, OH: The World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) and Skyline Motorsports park (Previously Skyview Drags) will join forces with a multi-year agreement as the facility is under a new lessee and management.

James Robinson (Robbo) brings nearly 35 years of experience in working with multiple tracks in and out of NY state to the picturesque 1/8th mile facility with partners George Coleman and Dave Gennett.

“Having the Skyline racers in the WDRA will feel like a family reunion and I’m excited that a part of the new managerial goal is to bring a team to the Bracket Finals,” said WDRA Director Jon O’Neal. “The goal of providing a platform for racers and racetracks to prosper is not lost on Robbo and the new team.”

Located in Tioga Center NY, Skyline will be opening for the 2025 reunion season on April 11th and the schedule will include Friday night test and tune, Saturday shows, no prep racing, and special events. The biggest change for the drag strip is moving the points program to Sundays. Also planned are car shows, tractor pulls, diesel races, truck night, Jet dragsters, holiday weekend shootouts and once a month Wednesday night grudge racing.

“Staying with WDRA sanctioning, Skyline Motorsports Park will field a team to show their strength at the Summit Bracket finals held in September at Keystone Raceway Park,” said Robinson. “We look forward to bringing a team back to the finals and competing with the best.”

Along with the Accutime equipped drag strip, there is a ½ mile concrete oval which is open to leasing options. The facility also has a nearly completed Hare Scramble track and maximizing the motorsports options of the facility will be a priority to the new management.

The facility and its racers can reap the rewards of being part of The Alliance through several exclusive discounts and benefits provided by WDRA marketing partners. More details can be found at https://www.racewdra.com/wdra-racer-benefits/. Racers can find information on obtaining a WDRA Summit Sportsman Drag Racing Series license by visiting https://www.racewdra.com/license/.

CLICK HERE: https://www.racewdra.com/online-rulebook/

Mahle Motorsport is the latest prestigious marketing partner committed to working with the WDRA in 2025.

NORWALK, OH: The World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) announces MAHLE Motorsport as the “Official Piston of the WDRA” as part of a new marketing partnership for the 2025 season. The most practical connection for the signature WDRA Rod trophy would undoubtedly be a piston, which is why MAHLE Motorsport has stepped up to become the title sponsor of the Race for the Rod events.

“It makes perfect sense for the signature WDRA Rod trophy to be accompanied by a piston company, and MAHLE Motorsport is one of the most respected names in the industry,” said Jessica Spears with the WDRA. “We are thrilled to have their support and look forward to promoting their brand at WDRA MAHLE Motorsport Race for the Rod events throughout our member racetracks this season.”

The WDRA Rod trophy is CNC machined from a block of billet aluminum, stands 21” tall, weighs approximately 11 pounds, and is soaked in 100% Made in the USA prestige. MAHLE Motorsport is etched into the laser-engraved plating to be proudly displayed in the homes of 2025 MAHLE Motorsport Race for the Rod winners. Every WDRA member racetrack is encouraged to add one of these events to their schedule each season as an incentive for their local racers.

North Carolina’s longest-running drag strip joins the Alliance for the 2025 season.

NORWALK, OH: The World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) and Wilkesboro Dragway will join forces, effective immediately, as the historic North Carolina facility has signed a multi-year sanction agreement to become part of the Alliance.  

The Ellis family built the historic facility in 1955 as a quarter-mile dirt dragstrip with no return road.  Seventy years later, David and Stacey Staten have taken control of North Carolina’s longest-running dragstrip with full intentions of continuing the track’s legacy. Several renovations are underway on the track and the facility buildings, with an opening day scheduled for March 1^st. Racing will be held on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday to include various programs, such as grudge, no prep, bracket racing, daily driver, and test and tune events. 

“Wilkesboro Dragway is very important to the North Carolina drag racing community,” said Josh Peake with the WDRA. “The track is going on seventy years now, and multiple generations of racing families have called Wilkesboro home. I appreciate David and Stacy Staten for placing their trust in the WDRA to help them with their new venture running the facility.

The WDRA’s mission of reducing operating costs for member tracks continues with a new program introduced to the sport.

NORWALK, OH: The World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) announces the launch of a new insurance provider option aimed at helping member racetracks navigate the expensive world of insuring their facilities. Crafting a specialty program alongside Laris Motorsports Insurance has been a goal for drag racing’s newest sanctioning body from the start.

“We are proud to welcome a familiar name to our track insurance program,” said Skooter Peaco with the WDRA. “Laris Motorsports Insurance, who has been a WDRA partner from the very beginning, will now extend its expertise into the track benefits program with the launch of their track insurance offerings.”

Racetracks will now have the opportunity to receive quotes from Laris Motorsports Insurance in addition to WDRA’s other insurance providers. Adding another option to the mix will allow tracks to carefully consider the best route for their business and add another element of stability to all the work that goes on behind the scenes. 

The WDRA expansion continues by adding State Capitol Raceway as the latest member racetrack.

NORWALK, OH: The World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) surges to sixty racetracks heading into its third year of operation with the addition of State Capitol Raceway. The Port Allen, Louisiana, facility has entered into a multi-year sanction agreement with the WDRA, effective immediately.

“We are very grateful to have the support of Lanny Lewis, Gary Carter, and Cody Pollage,” said Frank Kohutek with the WDRA. “Starting 2025 with another vote of confidence from another track joining our family is very rewarding. State Capitol Raceway has been operating for nearly fifty-five years and has hosted major NHRA and IHRA events in the past. The SCR team is doing their part to keep the sport growing in Louisiana, and we look forward to helping their efforts.”

The action is nearly non-stop at the southern site, with events filling State Capitol Raceway’s calendar from January to December. They provide an exciting environment for various racers and fans, including points races, Sunday Funday test-n-tunes, big money bracket races, Import Faceoff, the Southwest Junior Dragster Series, car shows, and more.

Now, the racers of State Capitol Raceway will have the opportunity to receive benefits from nearly a dozen companies that support WDRA members through discounts and benefits. The track will be eligible to reap the exclusive benefits and discounts for WDRA member tracks provided by sixteen different marketing partners.

“WDRA is definitely the choice for true sportsman grassroots racers,” explained State Capitol Raceway General Manager Gary Carter. “Their bracket program is the best out there for the tracks, and they have a lot of benefits to offer the tracks themselves.” Track manager Cody Pollage adds, “We have followed the WDRA the past couple of years, and we really like what they are doing for the racers.”

Northern Michigan Dragway becomes the latest facility to choose a sanctioning agreement with the WDRA.

NORWALK, OH: Michigan racers will have another World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) facility to compete during the 2025 season with the addition of Northern Michigan Dragway.

The eighth-mile racetrack in Kaleva was founded in 1970 by Michigan Motorsports Hall of Famers Tom and Jim Ledford. Now entering its 55^th season, Northern Michigan Dragway has experienced tremendous support, with over two hundred racers registering for the points chase in 2024. This growth is credited to the friendly atmosphere and family-forward management of Brian and Wayne Ledford.

Northern Michigan Dragway has made various improvements in recent years, including a complete resurfacing of the racetrack and increased paving throughout the vast pit area, staging lanes, and return roads. Becoming a sanctioned facility again has rejuvenated the excitement and camaraderie that comes with earning a coveted spot in the year-end festivities.  

This partnership with the FOD Control Corporation can assist racetracks in cutting costs on track maintenance in 2025.

NORWALK, OH: The World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) has procured a partnership with the FOD Control Corporation in 2025, adding to its already impressive line-up of discounts and perks that come with being part of the Alliance. The FOD Control Corporation will provide a ten-percent discount to WDRA member racetracks who purchase a FOD-Razor Motorsports Sweeper, which is an innovative drag mat that picks up FOD (foreign object debris) from the racing surface, pits, and staging lanes.

“The beauty of this system is that it doesn’t send the debris airborne,” said Jon O’Neal with WDRA.  “Most racetracks have traditionally used air power to move debris off the racing surface, but that becomes sketchy near cars in the pits or the lanes. This concept of a sweeper was built for airfield use, but the effectiveness of these drag mats on racing surfaces has amazed me. The only other way I know to lift material is a vacuum truck, and the cost savings with a device like this are extraordinary in comparison.”

The FOD-Razor Motorsport Sweeper is an ingenious pull-behind sweeper built to ensure a clean surface while enhancing performance and safety during competitive events. The durable design quickly removes rocks and aggregate, loose tire rubber, glass, fiberglass, carbon fiber debris, and other foreign substances.  It’s an easy and low-maintenance way to prevent tire and vehicle damage, operates seamlessly on various track surfaces, and is compact, lightweight, and easy to deploy. To drive home the positives, the FOD-Razor Motorsport Sweeper can be connected to any motorized vehicle, has a lifetime warranty, and is manufactured in the USA.