With the recent expansion of the International Hot Rod Association’s (IHRA) various racing series, the IHRA is pleased to welcome new division director John Carnahan to the IHRA family. 

Carnahan, who calls Malta, Mont. home, will handle the new Division 6 Border Bandits in northwest Canada and the United States. Carnahan is owner of HiLine Dragstrip and operates an auto repair shop and towing business with his wife Kari and their six children. With his extensive background in drag racing and with the IHRA, he very much looks forward to handling the newest IHRA division now entering its second year. 

“I have been involved with cars in some way or another since I was 16 years old. The second car I owned was a 1963 Plymouth Belvedere and that is when I got hooked on drag racing,” Carnahan said. “Our family grew up around the sport and in 2008 a local group and I formed Phillips County Motor Sports Inc. and opened HiLine Dragstrip along with the help of the IHRA. 

“I am very excited and proud to become part of the IHRA team. We share the same ideas when it comes to sportsman drag racing. After four years associated with the IHRA I understand what teamwork means when it comes to making something become a reality and I look forward to growing the Border Bandits division over the next few years.” 

Still in its infancy, the Border Bandits division will include four races on the Summit Pro-Am Tour in 2012 May 18-20 at NL’Akapxm Eagle Motorplex and July 6-8 at Castrol Raceway and will also welcome the second Summit Team Finals event August 17-19 at Castrol Raceway. In 2011 seven tracks were represented at the Division 6 Team Finals with three of the four Summit SuperSeries qualifiers making the trip to Virginia Motorsports Park to participate in the World Finals weekend. 

For more information on Division 6 and any of IHRA’s racing programs, visit www.ihra.com for complete details. 

   John Carnahan