WDRA And Winlight Bets Continue Fan Engagement Partnership

SPRINGFIELD, IL: The WDRA and Winlight Bets will continue their Official Fan Engagement Partnership in 2024 as the company recently renewed their marketing program.

“WDRA has been supporting the efforts of Winlight Bets since the beginning.  They are a groundbreaking company that is looking at non-traditional ways to grow the sport much the same as the WDRA is trying to do,” said WDRA’s Jon O’Neal.  “Rex and the team at Winlight Bets are continually moving the vision of legal sports betting for Drag Racing forward and they have the WDRA’s full support.  We see this as a revenue game changer for our member track facilities once this platform is fully built out.”

Winlight Bets will continue to activate various marketing programs through WDRA tracks and at live events, while continuing to build the groundwork for future programs as the company pushes towards its ultimate goal.    

I29 DRAGWAY TO RESTART BRACKET PROGRAM UNDER WDRA SANCTION

SPRINGFIELD, IL: On the heels of the recent announcement of the Skyview Drags facility reopening, more good news for the bracket racing community comes today as I29 Dragway will be restarting its bracket program in 2024.  The track has signed a multi-year sanction agreement with the World Drag Racing Alliance for their racers to participate in WDRA programming.

The 1/8th mile facility is located in Southwest Iowa, close to the Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri state lines.  Just two hours North of Kansas City, I29 hosts a variety of street car, no prep and roll racing events which the bracket program will now join. 

 “We are excited to introduce a bracket racing element to our schedule and the offerings the WDRA has for our facility make this an easy solution for our racers,” said I29 General Manager Doug Whitworth. “We are looking forward to being a part of the Summit Midwest Bracket Finals and Summit World Championship programs.”

The drag strip is a part of the 200-acre I29 Speedway complex which also is home to a 2.23 mile road course.  The property is just 2 miles from the Missouri River, which proved devastating in 2019 when sixteen feet of floodwater completely put the track underwater submerging the ground level of the timing tower and the top five rows of grandstands visible.  Since that time, the track has recovered and is ready to start a new chapter under new ownership for 2024.

SKIVIEW DRAGS RETURNS TO LIFE WITH WDRA SANCTION

SPRINGFIELD, IL: During a time when more racetracks are closing than opening, the revival of Skiview Drags becomes the drag racing community’s latest feel-good story. Skiview Drags’ first chapter begins with a multi-year sanction agreement with the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA).

Founded in 2004, but subsequently closed in 2018, racers around Skiview Drags are fortunate to have a new owner who is committed to restoring the facility to even better standards than before. The goal is for Skiview Drags to become a thriving part of the New York motorsports landscape once again with its eighth mile drag strip and half-mile concrete oval track.

“It’s been an exciting development to watch the rebirth of such an amazing facility,” said WDRA Director Jon O’Neal. “The time, effort, and money it takes to take on such an endeavor can be staggering. Luckily, there’s a dedicated group of individuals along with a supportive community surrounding the cause at Skiview. I feel privileged to be able to be a small sliver of that.”

Pat Schrader, a veteran racer, is the new drag racing operations manager and will oversee that portion of the 440-acre facility located in Tioga Center, New York. Schrader competed at Skiview during its original fourteen-year lifespan which sparked a sentimental desire to facilitate its rebirth.

WDRA Support Continues to Climb in Canada with the Addition of Northwest Regional Raceway

SPRINGFIELD, IL: Northwest Regional Racewayhas reached a multi-year sanction agreement with the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) leading into the 2024 racing season. This addition marks the twelfth new facility to join the rapidly growing WDRA member track family and the ninth WDRA-sanctioned racetrack in Canada.

Nestled in thick forestry and scenic mountain views, Northwest Regional Raceway is an eighth-mile facility located in Terrace, British Columbia. In 1995, a passionate group of racers and drag racing enthusiasts formed the Terrace Drag Race Association (TDRA), which continues to operate the facility. The TDRA focuses on giving British Columbia an enjoyable place to race, spectate, and experience the high-octane energy that only drag racing can provide.

“These are the kinds of opportunities and projects we love to get involved with,” said Frank Kohutek with the WDRA. “The TDRA is a group of passionate people that love our sport, and they work their tails off keeping drag racing alive. They do this as a labor of love which aligns with the WDRA’s overall mission of assisting facilities to grow our sport. An overwhelming 97% of the association asked to pursue sanction with WDRA and we appreciate their trust in our experience and programs,” said Kohutek.

WDRA representation continues to grow with Northwest Regional Raceway becoming the third member track located in British Columbia and fifth racetrack in Western Canada. Although the distance between facilities may seem intimidating for some, the WDRA team understands that every racetrack deserves the support they can deliver, even if they aren’t nearby.

WDRA Summit Sportsman Drag Racing Series Welcomes New Tracks, A New Class And A New World Finals Location

SPRINGFIELD, IL: The second installment of the WDRA Summit Sportsman Drag Racing Series (SSDRS) will include a few changes in response to the rapid growth of the World Drag Racing Alliance. Ahead of its second season, the WDRA has welcomed ten new facilities to the member track network to participate in the lucrative programs. To provide a more centralized venue, the WDRA Summit World Championship qualifiers will now congregate at the world-class Montgomery International Dragway this October. The recently announced addition of a Motorcycle/Sled class now provides an opportunity for those racers to compete for the inaugural WDRA Summit Motorcycle World Championship title. However, one thing that will not change is the amount of dedication and drive it takes to earn an invitation to the WDRA Summit World Championships presented by SunCoast Performance.

“What makes this program different from the rest is how strict our rules package is when it comes to eligibility for attending the WDRA Summit World Championships,” said Skooter Peaco with WDRA. “The lengths we go to internally to validate the authenticity of every single qualifier before they get an invite ensures that each person in the staging lanes is equally as qualified to be racing for the World Championship.”

The WDRA qualifying process and rules package prevent substitutions for SSDRS track champions who are unable to attend the Summit World Championships and there aren’t any local races that can qualify a racer to compete. Although this limits the number of entries at the event, it provides the prestige that should be awarded by being crowned a national champion.

MOTORCYCLES AND SLEDS JOIN THE WDRA SUMMIT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE IN 2024

SPRINGFIELD, IL: The World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) expands to accommodate motorcycle and sled competitors by adding their own class to the Summit Sportsman Drag Racing Series (SSDRS) program in 2024. WDRA member tracks will now be able to crown a motorcycle or sled track champion who will represent them during the WDRA Summit World Championship presented by Suncoast Performance at Montgomery International Dragway on October 24-26, 2024.

“We’ve built a strong foundation during our first season and it’s incredible to see the growth coming into year two,” said Skooter Peaco with WDRA. “A large number of tracks have made the switch to WDRA for 2024 and a large percentage have a motorcycle or sled program already in place, while some tracks run a mixed program. We have listened to the feedback from our racers and member tracks and are excited to add this new category to our Summit Sportsman Drag Racing Series where we will ultimately crown a WDRA Summit Motorcycle World Champion.”

Every racer that qualifies for the WDRA Summit World Championship presented by Suncoast Performance will have the opportunity to compete in a Free Friday $5K gamblers race for their respective class (Box, No Box, Sportsman, Junior Dragster, and Motorcycle) in addition to receiving tow money to help with travel expenses. The talented racer who earns the 2024 WDRA Summit Motorcycle World Champion title will also earn $5,000 cash, the coveted WDRA Rod trophy, and a WDRA Champion Card redeemable during the 2025 season. 

Momentum Builds as Nitro Motorsports Park Joins the WDRA

SPRINGFIELD, IL: Nitro Motorsports Park has reached a multi-year sanction agreement with the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) to become the tenth new facility to join the WDRA member track network. The WDRA continues to expand its relationship with racers across the border as Nitro Motorsports Park marks the eighth WDRA-sanctioned racetrack throughout five Canadian provinces.

Previously sanctioned by IHRA, the quarter-mile dragstrip located ten miles north of Prince George, British Columbia, is an example of what people can do when motivated by their passion for the sport. Originally named North Central Motorsports Park, the 138-acre facility was opened in 1978 under private ownership. In 2015, a group of individuals banded together to create a non-profit group called the Northern Interior Time Racing Organization (NITRO). Their sole purpose was to protect the future of the racetrack and ensure it would never become extinct or turn into a subdivision, so they purchased the facility and continue to manage it to this day.

“We love what NITRO has done in terms of securing the future of drag racing in Western Canada, and how their views and values line up with WDRA’s mission,” said Frank Kohutek with the WDRA. “The passion and commitment to our sport from Andy Closkey and the team that runs Nitro, is second to none. These folks all have full-time careers in other industries but come together and work as a team in their spare time to ensure Nitro Motorsports Park is around for generations of drag racing fans to enjoy. It is awesome to see what they have accomplished, and we are honored to help them grow and be a part of their journey.”

London Dragway Shifts to WDRA Sanction

SPRINGFIELD, IL: London Dragway marks the ninth new facility to reach a multi-year sanction agreement with the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) and eagerly joins 51 additional racing facilities in the growing WDRA member track network.

Formally sanctioned by IHRA and located in London, Kentucky, the scenic racetrack has been owned and managed by Craig Boone for the last 17 years. As a racer himself, Craig is passionate about providing a great experience at the racetrack from start to finish, which includes a hands-on approach.  From welcoming racers at the front gate, handling payouts, working the concession stand, or even taking on-track photos, you don’t have to look far to find a friendly member of the London Dragway team ready to make your visit to the track a memorable one.

“As a family-operated dragstrip, London Dragway thrives by making the local racers feel at home,” said Jon O’Neal with WDRA. “The beautiful facility, nestled alongside the Daniel Boone National Forest, is under constant improvements to better serve the needs of the growing program. We look forward to providing a helping hand through our efforts and those of the Alliance to the facility and the racers who call London home.”

Fuel Factory Announced as Official Fuel of WDRA

SPRINGFIELD, IL: Fuel Factory and the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) have reached a partnership agreement that names the Pennsylvania-based fuel manufacturer the Official Fuel of WDRA with their leaded, unleaded, methanol, and ethanol race fuel products. Furthermore, Fuel Factory becomes the title sponsor for the Race of Champions events held at each of the five WDRA Summit Bracket Finals presented by Laris Motorsports Insurance.

“From the first round to the eighth round, Fuel Factory was made for racers who bring their best and work their way through every round,” said Michael Tedesco, Fuel Factory CEO. “We are created by the racer, for the racer. Our fuels are dependable, reliable, and are built for speed. Being bracket racers ourselves, we wanted to support the bracket racing community during the Summit Bracket Finals events, and this is a perfect platform to introduce our high-quality fuels to a large range of competitors.”

By sharing a passion for racers and unstoppable drive, both companies have garnered attention and rising success since bursting into the motorsports world last year. In fact, the Fuel Factory F14 fuel produced a winner’s circle appearance just one week after its brand launch in December 2022.