IHRA at Rockingham

Words and photos courtesy IHRA

New world records, stunning upset winners and a showdown for the ages, the International Hot Rod Association's return to Rockingham Dragway provided enough drama for an entire season.

With nostalgia flowing through the pits in IHRA's return to its traditional stomping grounds, the ghosts of drag racing's all-time greats witnessed a classic as IHRA's most dominant driver, Jason Rupert, and a brand new face, Brad Waddle, headlined a weekend full of great racing in the heart of drag racing country at Rockingham Dragway.

Rupert won a race for the ages in the finals of IHRA's nostalgia Nitro Funny Car class, as the driver of the Bays & Rupert "Black Plague" '69 Camaro bested three-time IHRA Nitro Funny Car champion Peter Gallen by four thousandths of a second at the line. Rupert joined Kansas native Brad Waddle, winner of Mountain Motor Pro Stock, in the winner's circle, along with pro winners Mike Scott (Nitro Harley), Ron Maroney (Nitro Altered) and Marisha Falk (Jet Dragster).

Sportsman winners during day two of the IHRA Summit Racing Equipment Pro-Am Tour presented by AMSOIL were Mike Koontz (Top Sportsman), Jeffrey Dobbins II (Top Dragster), Jim Reynolds (Super Stock), A.J. Currie (Stock), Dale Harrison (Quick Rod), Gerald Pierce (Super Rod), Michelle Pelo (Hot Rod), Zach Pennington (Junior Master), Wallace Wilson (Junior Advanced) and Mallory Logan (Junior Beginner).