RC COMPONENTS TO REWARD RACERS THROUGH AN EXCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH WDRA

RC Components presents a special offer to WDRA license holders for the 2024 racing season.

SPRINGFIELD, IL: RC Components, an industry leader of motorcycle, street, and drag racing wheels for over three decades, announces a unique partnership with the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) to benefit sportsman racers. In 2024, current WDRA license holders who purchase RC Components wheels will receive a free set of twelve-point billet lug nuts. In other words, a $100 WDRA license adds up to $220 in savings when purchasing a full set of wheels.

RC Components is hands-on for the entire wheel-making operation with the designing, CNC machining, chroming, and polishing processes taking place at its facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Producing a wide variety of wheels ranging from the 16×16 one-piece forged F5 to multiple designs in the popular Comp Series and stylish Street Fighter lines, racers can certainly find a wheel to suit their needs and transform the appearance of their ride.

“We couldn’t be happier to be a part of the WDRA,” said RJ Clutter, RC Components Director of Sales and Marketing. “This organization is here to support racers of all skill levels and so is RC Components! If you’re just starting or have put in the work and made a name for yourself, RC has the right wheels, and the WDRA has a place for you as well. This grassroots organization is only going up and we can’t wait to see how big it can get.”

FUELTECH JOINS GROWING LIST OF WDRA MARKETING PARTNERS

FuelTech USA expands its reach in the motorsports market by partnering with the WDRA in 2024.

SPRINGFIELD, IL: FuelTech USA steps up to support sportsman drag racing through a partnership with the World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) in 2024. The easy decision to work together is strengthened by shared core values such as integrity, exceptional customer service, and a passion for motorsports innovation.

Located in Georgia, FuelTech is most well-known for its advanced aftermarket ECU systems but offers a wide range of products including fuel systems, switch panels, ignition systems, and even dial boards. Equipped with a knowledgeable staff to handle customer questions, FuelTech is available to help racers achieve their performance goals through technical support and product education.

“FuelTech is another company that truly cares about the motorsports market and it’s great to have them come on board this season,” said Jessica Spears with the WDRA. “We hope this continues to be a meaningful partnership for both the WDRA and FuelTech for years to come.”

SOUTHSIDE DRAGWAY IS SAVED FROM EXTINCTION AND JOINS WDRA MEMBER TRACK NETWORK

SPRINGFIELD, IL: The roar of racecars will greet West Virginia motorsport enthusiasts once again when Southside Dragway (formerly Kanawha Valley Dragway) opens under new ownership and sanction. Earl Smith sold a portion of his muscle car collection to purchase the facility which had been closed for seven years. Smith has decided to join the growing list of World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) member tracks as he works to resurrect the racetrack.

The eight-mile racetrack located in Southside, West Virginia, originally opened in 1994 and operated until 2017 when it was sold and thought to be doomed for demolition. The facility remained, but years of abandonment created an uphill battle for Smith and his team who have been working nonstop to bring Southside Dragway back up to speed. Multiple members of the community have stepped up with donations and volunteer work toward track upgrades that include two ticket booths, all-new lighting, and a functional PA system.

“These are the kind of projects we love helping with and this one is a huge effort,” said Jon O’Neal with WDRA. “Earl is a racer with a ton of passion and enthusiasm and has rallied a group of other passionate people working round the clock to bring this facility back to life after mother nature had all but reclaimed it. We appreciate them using the WDRA’s member track benefit package as well as our knowledge and connections to speed up the learning curve that this team is going through to get operational.”

ADVANCED PRODUCT DESIGN IS NAMED OFFICIAL CARBURETOR OF THE WDRA

SPRINGFIELD, IL: Advanced Product Design, an industry leader in carburetors and fuel management systems, has been announced as the Official Carburetor of the WDRA ahead of the 2024 racing season. As a racer-owned and operated business with twenty-five years of experience, Advanced Product Design (APD) serves as a valuable resource for consistency, tuneability, and high-quality performance.

APD offers a vast catalog of billet carburetors and fuel systems suitable for all levels of sportsman drag racing with products equipped to handle methanol, E85, or gasoline applications. Located in Genoa, OH, APD employs a knowledgeable staff comprised of mostly drag racers and proudly manufactures everything in-house. The values at APD align perfectly with the mission of WDRA to create the basis of a longstanding partnership.

“I think it’s important to get involved with an organization that is trying to support the racers and is a grassroots type of organization,” said John Kyle, the owner and operator of Advanced Product Design. “The biggest thing is the WDRA is trying to do something that is attractive to not only the seasoned racer but also the entry-level type racer. The fact that WDRA is really trying to listen to the racers is a big deal.”

Aside from being aesthetically pleasing, APD products have proven on-track performance with several successful racers finding their way to the winner’s circle, including the company’s own Chris Bear. And even though APD has sold more than 20,000 carburetors, customer service has remained a priority as well as their commitment to quality.

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.