Toby Daniels was well prepared for the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Summit SuperSeries World Finals when he got to Memphis International Raceway last week. After all, he had faced some of the toughest competition all season at his home track of London Dragway in Kentucky and in visits to neighboring tracks like I-64 Dragway and Knoxville (Tenn.) Dragway. So, while he was competing for the most prestigious national championship in bracket drag racing, he approached it like facing the competition he does on a weekly basis. “There are some pretty tough ones, quite a few good racers, at London,” Daniels said. “I’ve been racing at London since ’98 and am there about every weekend. It’s 37 miles from my driveway to the track and it’s a great crew of racers. They’re tough racers, but they’re also like family.” Coincidentally, it was Daniels’ family, who first got the 44-year-old from Barbourville, Ky., into drag racing more than two decades ago. Daniels and one brother were playing on local softball teams, while another brother and his father headed to the race track. They got Toby to tag along for a few races and once he got inside the car Toby Daniels Claims IHRA Summit SuperSeries Mod Championship Local Competition Helped Prepare Daniels for Mod Championship 18