Dale Scates has participated in the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Summit SuperSeries World Finals twice before in 2012 and 2013 facing some of the stiffest competition he has ever raced against. However, he credits those experiences in helping him to prepare for the challenges that were ahead of him this year. After two unsuccessful tries at claiming the title of IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Champion, the Center, Texas native felt winning the prestigious championship was slipping out of his grasp. Scates made it back to the IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals this year by winning the Top ET Championship at Pine Valley Raceway in Lufkin, Texas. However, after claiming the track championship, Scates discovered motor issues on his race car and figured he might not even make it to Memphis. That was until a call from his sister allowed him to borrow her ’96 undercover dragster featuring a 496-big block engine running on E85 racing fuel with Mark Sullens E85 carburetor. For Scates, winning the IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Championship will help his efforts in rebuilding the motor over the winter. “I wasn’t sure how I was going to the accomplish that,” Scates said. “When reality set in a few days after getting home I realized that rebuilding the motor in my car was a lot easier now.” During race weekend, Scates felt like he wasn’t cutting good lights and all but wanted to pack up and head back to Texas. Scates fought through adversity even after red-lighting in two of Saturday’s time trials. Third Time’s a Charm for Scates Dale Scates Claims IHRA Summit SuperSeries Top Championship at IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals 6