HOUSE SPRINGS, MO — The International Hot Rod Association continues to celebrate the future of drag racing by you know about the great Junior Dragster racers across North America.

So many great Juniors come from the Lone Star State. Such is the case Lucas Graves, a 15-year-old from Burleson, Texas, who has been drag racing over half his life. He first started racing when he was seven, and now drives a 2009 Motivational Junior at Xtreme Raceway Park.

DARLINGTON, S.C. — The excitement is through the roof as legendary Darlington Dragway will be the site for the IHRA Hot Rod Classic on May 2-4.

Big money and awesome prizes like unique black and chrome IHRA Ironman trophies and specially-designed IHRA medals are on the line for racers. It’s crucial for bracket racers to get your entries in early as pre-sale for 64-car, $5,000-to-win Box and No Box Shootouts. Even though it might look like some are available, they fill up fast in the days leading up to the race. There is a waiting list if sold out before you buy.

HOUSE SPRINGS, MO — International Hot Rod Association officials will be hitting the road this weekend to help racers with memberships and other needs.

IHRA Northern Division Director Christopher Eager will be at Great Lakes Dragaway doing chassis certifications and helping with memberships. IHRA Director of Racer Relations Staci Kettles is headed to Bonne Terre Drag Strip to sign up racers as members and assist in other ways needed. Darlington Dragway will have a special visitor Saturday with IHRA President Mel Roth on site.

HOUSE SPRINGS, MO — Staci Kettles feels she has been preparing her whole life for a new role with the International Hot Rod Association.

The third-generation racer was recently named the IHRA Director of Racer Relations. It’s a natural fit for the Sikeston, Missouri resident who saw her grandparents and dad race, and her mom work as a crew member. It’s a tradition that Kettles is passing on to her own kids as one daughter helps her in the pits and another races Junior Dragster. 

FERRIS, TX — The International Hot Rod Association wants to thank everyone at Xtreme Raceway Park, all the dedicated IHRA staff and the passionate racers for making the season-opening Hot Rod Classic an overwhelming success.

Xtreme Raceway Park track owners and operators, Clyde Scott, Gaylen Smith and Celeste Smith, put together an amazing crew from the ticket booth to the water box. They made it a thoroughly enjoyable weekend for the IHRA Hot Rod Classic racers. It is a well-run facility from exceptionally clean bathrooms to the terrific track prep. Conveniently located off Interstate 45, XRP should be on every racer’s and fan’s bucket list.