For the last few days, the drag racing rumor mill has been cranking over at about 9,000 RPM on the news that major changes were afoot at the IHRA, again. Scott Gardner who was named president of the company in 2013 “resigned” effective immediately earlier this week. In his stead the IHRA has promoted Skooter Peaco to the position of Interim President while the company has formed a search committee that will go hunting for the next person to lead the IHRA. What’s doubly interesting about that is these lines from the press release:
“improve the performance of the Company and drive long-term growth for the Company upon a newly formed platform that will be announced in the fourth quarter of 2016.”
We get the “improve the performance of the Company” part and we get the “drive long term growth for the Company” part but we’re really interested to hear about the “newly formed platform” part. The IHRA has operated under several “platforms” over the last number of seasons moving from a traditional open style field event series to a booked in event series, to a quasi-mutated version of both. While the company says it will reveal all in the fourth quarter of 2016, the rumors have already started on that front and they range from the abandonment of sportsman drag racing to the addition of top fuel. No one will know for sure until the official word comes out. We’ll be waiting.
Also mentioned and buried at the very bottom of the release, you know, in the place where they hope you have already stopped reading before is the announcement that the 2016 schedule has been reduced by two events. This brings the total number of events for the year to seven races. The events that will no longer be contested at Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Cordova, Illinois. No direct reason was given for either cancellation. The Baton Rouge cancellation is quizzical but the Cordova cancellation is downright juicy. That’s the track that the now former president of IHRA, Scott Garnder owned and sold to the company in a deal when he was brought on as president. Does he still have a stake? Is there an ulterior motive to this cancellation? Again, no one is talking.
Finally there was a non-press release announced piece of news that was apparently mistakenly announced on he Facebook page of Ohio’s Dragway 42. It seems that the Norwalk offices of the IHRA which have served as the core of the business since the days that Bill Bader owned and successfully operated the series will be closed and the work being done there will move to the Florida offices of IRG, the parent of IHRA.
As you can expect, from this point forward, lots of eyes will be watching the IHRA to see what happens next. Ours among them.
Update: Here’s the post that was on the Dragway 42 Facebook page. It gives details into some of the things hinted about in the release:
I was part of a conference call today discussing the future of IHRA. The rumors and speculators have the IHRA done and gone which couldnt be any ****her from the truth.
As one of only 6 tracks invited out of 106 tracks to participate in this call here’s what I found out.
The IHRA has been purchased by a equity firm that is the fourth largest in the world. No money worries here.
The new CEO is a major player and has a plan in place to take the IHRA to heights it’s never been before.
The IHRA recognizes and embraces Sportsman Racers and knows they are the lifeblood of IHRA, they will not be forgotten and in fact will be the focus of TV coverage and sponsor money.
The IHRA has reviewed all there National Event tracks and the profitability of each and have decided to drop a couple of events due to losing money.
The direction that the IHRA is taking is super exciting and there are so many more things they have planned for us the racers it’s incredible.
The purpose of this post is the IHRA is not closing the door’s just being smart business men. They are moving the Norwalk office to Palm Beach, the home of the equity firm so all will be in house.
I will post more news when I am allowed by the IHRA and lastly Dragway 42 will have a National Event this year as per the new CEO.
UPDATE 2: More information has come to light regarding a conference call held by the IHRA with a small number of their tracks. There is apparently a three year plan being put into place starting with the 2017 season to being building a media/television program around the series.
Top Fuel will be contested in 2017 according to those who listened to this call.
The World Series of Drag Racing, which has been run for half a century at Cordova may be turned into a special event for the series after 2016.
For Immediate Release
IHRA Announces the Appointment of a New Interim President
IHRA Adjusts 2016 National Schedule
NORWALK, Ohio (January 19, 2016) – The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) (the “Company”) (www.IHRA.com) announced that the IRG Sports + Entertainment™ (IRGSE) Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company has appointed Mr. Skooter Peaco, as Interim President of the Company effective immediately.Mr. Peaco replaces Mr. Scott Gardner who resigned as President of the Company, effective as of the same date in order to pursue other interests.
Mr. Peaco possesses a deep knowledge of the Company’s business and he assumes his responsibilities as Interim President with the full support of the Board. Since 2003, Mr. Peaco has served as the Director of Racing Operations and most recently as the Vice President of Racing Operations at the IHRA.
The Board also wishes Mr. Gardner well in his future endeavors and thanks him for his service over the past two years.
The Company also announced that a Search Committee within the Board of Directors has been created, which will oversee the process for the identification and selection of a permanent President. The Committee has been charged with selecting an experienced individual to take over as the permanent President, improve the performance of the Company and drive long-term growth for the Company upon a newly formed platform that will be announced in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Additionally, the IHRA announced the revision to the 2016 National Schedule by reducing two national events; the current Baton Rouge, Louisiana event on March 18-19 and Cordova, Illinois June 2-4. These are the only schedule changes to the 2016 National Schedule.