The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is, once again in the news. The landlocked drag racing portion of IHRA had a good start to its Triple Crown at Darana Raceway in Hebron, OH, with good crowds experiencing excellent racing in all classes. Winners were looking forward to the two final events and the possibility of taking home a $1M payday.
Then Monday happened. For IHRA’s land- and water-based communities. Monday, June 29, IHRA announced changes to its boat classes and other series, as well. While this press release didn’t enunciate personnel adjustments, it did note that budgets were a bit off the charts and the series isn’t capable, at the present time, of financing both the racing and the revitalization of owned tracks where it wishes to compete.
Initially noting on-water cancellations, IHRA announced revisions to its 2026 powerboat racing schedule, along with other series under its canopy. Citing budgets “that were exceeded early” in the season, IHRA is stepping back to ensure its long-term future for the marine-based racing operations established by IHRA owner and CEO Darryl Cuttell.
The water-borne revisions impact IHRA’s Offshore Racing Series, F1 Powerboat Series and Outlaw Drag Boat Racing Series. IHRA officials made the decision to abbreviate portions of the current season in order to produce a more sustainable foundation into the next season – and beyond.
“This was an extremely difficult decision, because we know how much passion, effort and commitment our racers, teams, sponsors and fans invest into these series,” stated Dustin Farthing, IHRA president. “At the same time, we have to make decisions based on the long-term future of the organization and where we believe these divisions can ultimately go.”
Farthing said planning for next year’s competition is already underway, looking to develop a schedule that delivers consistency for the racers, their teams, partners and for the host venues. “We simply reached a point where we felt it was important to take a step back, evaluate everything thoroughly and build the kind of structure that can support that vision the right way moving forward,” Farthing explained.
Here’s the balance of the water-borne 2026 IHRA schedule:
· IHRA Offshore Racing Series: Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge, IHRA National Championship – Sheboygan, WI, August 6-9, 2026
· IHRA F1 Powerboat Series: Alton Powerboat Nationals, Alton, IL, July 17-19, 2026
· IHRA Outlaw Drag Boat Racing Series: Spring Creek Marina World Finals, San Angelo, TX, October 2-4, 2026
Once IHRA had given boat racers their news, it also announced plans to shorten the IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series in 2026, citing investments to its facilities that are being performed in order to strengthen the series’ future. While fully intending to return to Darana Dragway in Milan, Michigan, Empire Dragway, Topeka’s Darana-Heartland Motorsports Park and Atlanta Dragway this year, IHRA made the tough decision to remove those events from the current landlocked schedule.
Cuttell has invested in upgrading facilities and making substantial improvements to those drag racing venues where it races. “Rather than continue delaying decisions or opening facilities that do not meet those standards, IHRA believes it is important to be transparent with its racers, teams, sponsors and fans,” its press release states.
“We understand many people will be disappointed by this decision and, quite honestly, so are we,” Farthing stated. “Our goal must be to build facilities and create experiences that our racers, fans, and communities can be proud of. We were optimistic about what could be accomplished with our original time frame; at the end of the day, IHRA has a standard we intend to uphold. Rather than continue pushing timelines back, we felt it was important to make a clear decision and continue the work necessary to ensure these facilities open at the level everyone deserves.”
For this reason, the balance of the IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series contains three events:
August 13-15: Dragway 42, West Salem, OH (IHRA Outlaw NItro Series)
September 10-13: Darana Raceway at Maple Grove Park, Mohnton, PA (IHRA Triple Crown x2)
October 8-10: Darana Motorsports Park, Benson, NC (IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series Finals)
“As president of the IHRA, my responsibility is to do what is best for the long-term success of our organization, our facilities, and the racers, teams, sponsors and fans who support us. Every decision we make will be guided by our commitment to creating first-class experiences that everyone involved can be proud of,” Farthing concluded.
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