International Hot Rod Association

History

The IHRA was formed in November 1970 by Larry Carrier, co-founder of the Bristol International Speedway, and was operated primarily from its headquarters in Bristol, Tennessee. Initially, the organization followed the NHRA's professional class structure of Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Pro Stock. In 1984, the IHRA dropped the premier Top Fuel category, but reinstated it for the 1987 season after three years. Carrier is credited with initiating drag racing's long-term sponsorship association with the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company's Winston brand, which has since ended.

In 1988, the IHRA was purchased by Texan racer and track operator Billy Meyer, who moved headquarters to Waco, Texas. Meyer made controversial changes, including restructuring sportsman classes overnight and adding a junior Pro Stock class called Factory Modified, which lasted until the end of the 1990 season. The Texas Motorplex, previously the NHRA's flagship track, hosted two IHRA national events in 1988 and was the site of Top Fuel's first 4-second run by Eddie Hill.

Financial failure ended Meyer's reign after one year, and the association was sold to Ted Jones and Jim Ruth, moving headquarters back to Bristol, Tennessee. In 1990, the new Pro Modified class was introduced, becoming a key asset in the IHRA's recovery. The Funny Car class was dropped for 1991, reinstated for 1992, dropped again, and returned in 2006, only to be dropped again in 2009 due to sponsor problems from a deep recession.

Outside the Continental USA

The IHRA oversees tracks in Canada, Hawaii, and Aruba, in addition to tracks in 30 states in the continental United States. Despite its name, the IHRA was based solely in the United States for years, but later made significant inroads into Canada. Its first major Canadian event was a one-off in 1992 at Toronto Motorsports Park in Cayuga, Ontario, though Canadian events did not become regular fixtures until later in the decade. The IHRA is now the premiere motorsports sanctioning body in Canada, holding three national drag racing events: one in Ontario (Grand Bend) and one in Alberta (Edmonton).

Outside the continental USA, IHRA tracks include Hilo Dragstrip in Hawaii, Alaska Raceway Park in Alaska, and International Raceway Park Aruba in Aruba. In 2015, the IHRA added three Australian tracks—Perth Motorplex, Willowbank Raceway, and Sydney Dragway—as part of the IHRA-sanctioned 400 Thunder series, following a split from the Australian National Drag Racing Association. Cairns' Springmount Raceway joined shortly thereafter. In 2016, Perth Motorplex returned to ANDRA sanctioning after a tender process by the Western Australia State Government, as ANDRA was deemed to have a more comprehensive set of rules and procedures; IHRA Australia does not have a published rulebook.