IHRA NEW 2022        
navbar bottom

Army Veteran Proud to Continue Long Career as IHRA Member Racer

Tuesday, 01 November 2022

HOUSE SPRINGS, Missouri — Retired from a long military service, Dennis Roberts is enjoying a racing career that started nearly 50 years ago.

The Army veteran and International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) member is going strong at 66 years old behind the wheel of his 1980 Chevrolet Malibu station wagon.

Roberts started out racing a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda with a 440 cubic-inch engine and a hemi 4-speed transmission in the Super Stock F class at Speeds Dragstrip in Southern Indiana, a track under the old AHRA sanction. 

When he hears the word’s “no prep” when describing today’s races, Roberts laughs. He thinks back about racing on one track which he recalled had more dirt on the track than in the pits.

AHRASuperStock

Certainly, racing has changed over the years, but a constant has been the station wagon, a surprise from his wife that he has owned since 1996. However, the vehicle needed a lot of work when it came home.

“When she drove up in the driveway, you could dig a potato patch with it,” he said. “It was dragging on the ground. Since I was an IHRA supporter, I knew there was an IHRA national event coming up in Louisville, I wanted to build it as a Pure Stocker. We spent about six weeks building it and we’ve raced it ever since.”

Bessie7

Of course, his racing was halted for times over a 30-year Army career. He served in the infantry before being chosen to serve as a US Army Inspector General Non Commissioned Officer (NCO). The Kentucky native was assigned to the Joint Forces Headquarters in the racing hotbed of Indianapolis.

The Camby, Indiana resident has accumulated dozens of bracket-racing wins over the years with his car now eligible to compete in the IHRA Summit SuperSeries in the Sportsman class. 

123 1

He has competed at different IHRA tracks in the Hoosier State and his native Bluegrass State including the scenic London Dragway. He also likes Central Illinois Dragway, although his favorite track of all is Buffalo Valley Dragway in Tennessee.

Roberts loves the competition from different tracks and racing in the IHRA. With the new IHRA leadership, he’s excited about the future of the sport and the future of his long racing career.

Last modified on Tuesday, 01 November 2022

Social Media Banner IHRA BACKGROUND 300px x 149px

 
DRM Sidebar Banner

  

 

Sunoco Race Fuels Banner



 Facebook IHRA NEW  Instagram IHRA NEW  Twitter IHRA NEW  Youtube IHRA NEW

IHRA calendarheader

Summit Team Finals D6 - Thunder Valley Dragways
Thunder Valley Dragway
Thursday, August 22nd - Saturday, August 24th
Summit Team Finals D1 - Roxboro Motorsports Park
Roxboro Motorsports Park
Thursday, September 5th - Saturday, September 7th
Summit Team Finals D2 - Holly Springs Motorsports
Holly Springs Motorsports
Thursday, September 12th - Saturday, September 14th
Summit Team Finals D3 - Quaker City Motorsports Park
Quaker City Motorsports Park
Thursday, September 19th - Saturday, September 21st
Summit Team Finals D5 - US41 Dragstrip
US41 Dragstrip
Thursday, September 19th - Saturday, September 21st

 

featuredsponsors