Peter Gallen won the Memphis event in Nitro Funny Car.

IHRA Finals at Memphis

Records broken and champions crowned

Words by Larry Crum
Photos courtesy IHRA

The International Hot Rod Association wrapped up its 2014 season Sunday, Oct. 12, with the crowning of champions in 15 IHRA classes during a busy weekend at the IHRA Summit Racing Equipment World Finals at Memphis International Raceway.

Records were broken and trophies were handed out in 15 IHRA classes on a beautiful afternoon just outside of Memphis, Tenn. After a washout on Saturday, IHRA finally got on track on championship Sunday and put on quite a show for the fans. When all was said and done, Peter Gallen (Nitro Funny Car), Brad Waddle (Pro Stock) and Jay Turner (Nitro Harley) claimed wins in IHRA's Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series and a total of 15 world champions were formally crowned across three IHRA series.

IHRA's professional champions for 2014 are Jason Rupert (Nitro Funny Car), Cary Goforth (Pro Stock), Mike Scott (Nitro Harley), Ron Maroney (Nitro Altered) and Elaine Larsen (Jet Dragster).

Mike Koontz, Top Sportsman champion.

IHRA sportsman champions for 2014 are Mike Koontz (Top Sportsman), Kevin Brannon (Top Dragster), Scotty Stillings (Super Stock), Jimmie Hutto (Stock), Jeremy Mason (Quick Rod), Michael Ruff (Super Rod), Tony Jones (Hot Rod), Cody Bayus (Top ET), Mark Pressey (Mod ET) and John Tolisano (Junior Dragster).

"Man, this is just a dream come true. You try year-after-year to win one of these things and to finally get it done, to win a championship with the IHRA, it is really unbelievable. I don't have the words to describe how exciting this is," said Jeremy Mason, 2014 IHRA Quick Rod World Champion.

And that sentiment was echoed throughout the pits among both sportsman and Nitro Jam drivers.

Three-time IHRA champion Peter Gallen was one of those drivers, winning his first IHRA race of the season in Memphis while besting new IHRA record holder Mark Sanders in the process. With Sanders setting a new AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car mile-per-hour record one run earlier at 254.38 mph, Gallen was undeterred and put together a stout 5.801-second pass at 249.07 mph in the Nitro Funny Car final to take home his first Ironman of the season.

"Obviously this was a very good group out here racing this weekend, but we got it done with some luck. Our car was not performing properly at all this weekend. We struggled in a number of areas and it simply did not run what it is capable of," Gallen said. "But we were able to rally around my car chief John Benigni and get the win for him. John lost his father on Friday night and he wanted to stay here and see it out. I wanted to send him home on a plane, but he wanted to stay. That is really something and I dedicate this trophy to him and his family."