The International Hot Rod Association is pushing forward with a rapid expansion plan, announcing its 2026 season schedule and acquiring another historic drag racing venue just two days after wrapping up its $125,000 Outlaw Pro Mod Nationals in Milan, Michigan.
IHRA owner Darryl Cuttell confirmed Tuesday that Piedmont Dragway in Julian, North Carolina, has been added to the organization’s growing portfolio, which already includes Darana Raceway – Hebron in Ohio and Darana Dragway – Milan in Michigan. The track joins the fold as the IHRA works to secure high-quality venues and build long-term sustainability for its national event program.
Cuttell said Piedmont will undergo infrastructure upgrades, expanded event offerings, and improvements designed to enhance the experience for racers and fans. “We’re putting together events that fans and racers will talk about all year long,” Cuttell said. “This isn’t just about racing — it’s about creating experiences people want to be a part of.”
The IHRA’s 2026 calendar features 10 dates beginning March 4–7. The spring segment continues with April 9–12 and April 21–24, leading into a summer run of May 13–16, June 17–20, July 8–11, and Aug. 12–15. The season closes with Sept. 9–12, Oct. 7–10, and Nov. 4–7.
By locking in dates well ahead of the season, Cuttell said racers, teams, and fans can prepare travel plans while the IHRA finalizes venues. IHRA is expected to release facility announcements and ticket information in the coming months.
The moves are part of an aggressive strategy since Cuttell purchased the IHRA in 2024, blending sanctioning duties with track ownership to ensure consistent event quality and scheduling flexibility. Piedmont’s addition also deepens IHRA’s reach into the Southeast, a region with an intense grassroots drag racing following.
While the track’s leadership team will be announced later, Cuttell said plans for upgrades and event development are already in motion. The goal is to preserve Piedmont’s history while equipping it to host larger-scale events in line with the IHRA’s national ambitions.
The week’s announcements also included a high-profile hire: veteran logistics specialist Scott Woodruff will join the IHRA’s leadership team. Woodruff, most recently with Elite Motorsports, has built a career managing sponsorships, media operations, and event promotion across professional drag racing.
RELATED STORY – SCOTT WOODRUFF HAS MADE A CAREER OF MAKING THINGS HAPPEN
“Effective Monday, I will be working with the group at IHRA to lead growth on and off the track,” Woodruff said in a social media statement. “My skill set, experience, relationships and work ethic is going to help me excel in this new position that I am excited about. I will be working directly with Darryl and his team to help unfold his vision, while continuing to make enhancements surrounding the experience for the fans, partners, racers, viewers, and the communities we have events in.”
Woodruff said leaving Elite Motorsports was not easy, but that the IHRA role represented a longtime goal. “Richard Freeman understood and was supportive from the start,” Woodruff said. “We were friends long before I started working for him, just over three years ago. To have the support of the entire family at Elite Motorsports, the Freeman family, and my longtime friends Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Troy Coughlin Jr. means a ton to me.”
His addition bolsters a growing IHRA staff that also includes longtime drag racing advertising and media specialist Bret Underwood and social media and digital content producer Kayla Zaydel. Together, the team reflects IHRA’s push to modernize its marketing, enhance fan engagement, and strengthen the sport’s visibility across platforms.
The rapid pace of announcements — a record-setting Pro Mod payout, the 2026 schedule, a track acquisition, and key personnel moves — signals an organization intent on expanding both its competitive and commercial footprint. Cuttell’s approach integrates venue control, big-event promotion, and an emphasis on fan experience to position the IHRA for long-term growth.
For racers, the combination of stable scheduling, upgraded facilities, and large-purse events offers a clear path for participation. For fans, it represents an effort to deliver consistent, high-quality racing with the added value of entertainment-driven programming.
