The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has recently experienced significant turmoil, leading to the dismissal of at least two division directors and casting doubt on its commitment to sportsman racing and upcoming events, including division finals and World Finals. Maurice Allen, CEO of IHRA Australia and New Zealand, announced a pause in the planned merging of these satellite organizations with the U.S. body due to political and economic challenges affecting IHRA globally.

Allen emphasized that operations in Australia and New Zealand would continue as usual, allowing their resources to focus on maintaining tracks and events without immediate changes to the existing structure. On the same day, Emily Mawhinney, general manager of Heartland Motorsports Park, shared her emotional response to being terminated via email, expressing pride in her team’s accomplishments during difficult times.

Adding to the concerns, a report revealed that IHRA CEO Darryl Cuttell had been attempting to sell the organization and its assets, with Richard Freeman confirming Cuttell’s outreach about a sale on July 23. This news surfaced alongside the cancellation of several upcoming events and reports of missed payments to racers and contractors across various racing sectors. Despite these upheavals, some IHRA series continue operations, including the Professional Watercraft Series and the Pro Pulling League, although the situation remains precarious for the organization overall.



Source: www.dragzine.com