The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is coming back in a big way. When the series reconvened this past summer, it showcased racers, primarily in the midwest area, that wanted to see how operations worked with the reborn sanction, now under the auspices of owner Darryl Cuttell, who moved all operations to Fairfield, OH when IHRA was reformed, at the close of the 2024 calendar year.
In its 2025 season, IHRA conducted five IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series events and a single IHRA Outlaw Pro Mod Nationals race, all at Darana Dragway tracks, in Hebron, OH, Milan, MI and Dunn, NC. At the latter season-closing event, there were a total of 20 classes running on an eighth-mile track, the only length IHRA uses. From the start IHRA promoted its Top Fuel, Funny Car, Mountain Motor Pro Stock and Pro Mod classes as headliners.
Cuttell is the owner and operator of Darana Hybrid, which provides electro-mechanical solutions for supply chain sectors. Darana Hybrid became the title sponsor of IHRA at the time of ownership change and allowed the sanction to increase payouts. Cuttell, it must be noted, is an active Pro Mod racer with his 1970 Chevrolet Camaro. A master electrician, Cuttell is a member of the Tuscarora Native American Nation; operating through the Native American Code of Ethics, he’s looking towards collaboration and knowledge sharing in all his professional endeavors.
Cuttell and IHRA made immediate news this December with the announcement they were purchasing the Maple Grove Raceway facility in Mohnton, PA, which had been under the auspices of the Koretsky family the past three years. On December 23, 2025, Cuttell announced the completion of IHRA’s acquisition of the historic dragstrip at Millington, TN, formerly known as Memphis International Raceway and Memphis Motorsports Park.
The facility, which opened in the late 1980s, has hosted drag racing and national touring series events. At one point the track was sanctioned by IHRA and hosted the group’s drag racing events, making this acquisition a full-circle moment, connecting the circuit’s past with what IHRA calls a “renewed vision for its future.”
IHRA intends to use the facility for a number of different events, thereby adding tourism and economic viability to both Millington and Shelby counties in Tennessee. IHRA expects the track to host drag racing, stock cars, grassroots motorsports and added large-scale events aimed to support the area’s tourism and local business entities.
“This is a special place in American motorsports,” Cuttell said of this acquisition. “This facility has a deep history in drag racing and stock car competition, and our goal is to honor that legacy while building a strong, sustainable future. We are committed,” he assured, “to bringing meaningful racing back to this property, while expanding its role as a destination for a wide range of events that serve racers, fans and the surrounding community.”
Chris Thomas, executive director of the Millington area Chamber of Commerce, recognized that the purchase and subsequent investment “supports the continued use of the track as a regional destination while creating opportunities for local businesses and future growth. We look forward,” he said, “to working with IHRA as this next chapter takes shape.”
In the coming days, IHRA will begin facility improvements and operational preparations. Further announcements regarding the track’s schedules and programming are imminent. Leah Martin, IHRA president noted, “This acquisition represents more than reopening a racetrack. It is restoring opportunities for racers, families and the community. This facility aligns with IHRA’s racer-first vision and our commitment to grassroots motorsports, while also allowing the property to support uses that strengthen its year-round impact.”
To close out the year, IHRA announced it has purchased Topeka, Kansas’ Heartland Motorsports Park, which began operation in 1963 as Topeka Dragway. “Heartland Motorsports Park is one of those places that simply matters to racing,” Cuttell said. “It has history, soul and a footprint that allows us to think bigger than just a racetrack. Our goal is to restore this facility with respect for its legacy, while building something that serves racers, fans and the community, for generations.”
IHEA intends restoration and redevelopment efforts for the Kansas facility, to focus on year-round operations, blending racing activities with live entertainment and community engagements. In addition to racing activities, IHRA intends to produce live music, concerts and festival experiences at Heartland, along with enhanced hospitality, vendor and fan experience areas on the grounds. Cuttell envisions community-focused events designed to drive tourism and the area’s economic impact, he said.
IHRA believes this acquisition aligns with its broader racer-first philosophy, which includes direct investment in facilities and infrastructure, that strengthen grassroots racing, elevates national competition and creates sustainable motorsports ecosystems. Cuttell expects renovation planning to begin immediately at both the Tennessee and Kansas facilities, with added announcements regarding the redevelopment phases, event schedules and community partnerships coming in the next few months.
It is unknown at this time if the former Memphis Motorsports Park will have a name change. Or if IHRA will adopt the Darana name for the Tennessee track, at Maple Grove or at Heartland Motorsports Park.
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