It was anything but the kind of official statement one would expect to come from a series looking to make an impact on the major drag racing stage.
A so-called statement leaked out in the final hours of Thursday. It was eventually posted Friday morning on IHRA’s social media channels as the sun rose on the East Coast.
As of this posting, it has not yet been posted on the series website. Another detail has only added to the confusion.
At approximately 10 p.m. Thursday, while rumors continued spreading throughout the drag racing community, IHRA’s official Facebook page published a promotional post recognizing Triple Crown Pro Modified winner John DeFlorian. The timing appeared inconsistent with what would have been one of the most significant announcements in recent IHRA history.
That social media post could have been scheduled well in advance, making its publication unrelated to the reported statement. Even so, its appearance only complicated an already confusing situation.
CompetitionPlus.com has also confirmed that multiple racers who competed at the most recent IHRA event, the Triple Crown, say they are still awaiting compensation from those races almost 20 days after the fact. Those competitors declined to be identified publicly, saying they fear speaking on the record could jeopardize receiving the money they are owed.
Those concerns have circulated within the drag racing community since last week’s revised schedule announcement.
One thing that stands out about the statement is that throughout 2026, IHRA has consistently branded its professional series as the Outlaw Nitro Series. The statement, however, repeatedly refers only to the “IHRA Nitro Drag Racing Series” and never uses the established Outlaw Nitro Series branding that has accompanied the organization’s marketing throughout the season.
Whether that distinction is meaningful or simply a drafting inconsistency remains unknown.
Meanwhile, IHRA’s public messaging has remained centered on this weekend’s tractor pull at Darana Motorsports Park in Dunn-Benson, North Carolina. Promotional posts for that event have continued while questions surrounding the future of the organization’s drag racing program remain unanswered beyond the so-called statement.
CompetitionPlus.com reached out to multiple members of IHRA leadership shortly after the statement surfaced with questions concerning the series moving forward.
The statement itself describes an organization stepping away from its remaining nitro schedule while attempting to reassure competitors that its grassroots programs remain intact.
“The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) regrets to announce that the remaining events of the 2026 IHRA Nitro Drag Racing Series will not be contested as originally scheduled,” the statement reads.
It continues by explaining the decision.
“This was an extremely difficult decision. Following last week’s schedule update, IHRA’s management team continued evaluating the operational requirements necessary to complete the season at the level our racers deserve. It became clear we could not deliver the quality, safety, and professionalism that define IHRA competition. Rather than lower our expectations simply to complete the schedule, we believe concluding the 2026 Nitro season is the most responsible decision.”
The document further states that the decision affects only the professional nitro program.
“This announcement applies only to the 2026 IHRA Nitro Drag Racing Series. IHRA-owned drag racing facilities, weekly bracket racing, sportsman competition, Team Finals, and the IHRA World Championship will continue as scheduled. Racers should continue following their individual series and track communications for updates.”
The press release also includes comments attributed to IHRA President Dustin Farthing outlining the organization’s long-term direction.
“Our roots started in drag racing,” Farthing said. “The racers who fill the staging lanes every weekend are the foundation of IHRA. Our focus is on rebuilding from the ground up by investing in our member tracks, sportsman racing, and the grassroots racers who built this organization. We will not lower our event standards simply to say we completed a race.”
The statement concluded with a message from Farthing looking beyond the current season.
“This isn’t the end of national event drag racing, it’s a reset. By strengthening our foundation first, we’ll build a stronger future for our racers, tracks, sponsors, and fans.”
Whether those remarks ultimately become IHRA’s official position remains unknown.
