The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has been through a lot in the last couple years, including being purchased by two different entities, ceasing to host their popular Nitro Jam / Pro-Am events, and losing sanctioning for several dozen tracks to the new World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) and the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).

But an announcement today about ten events for the IHRA’s Pro-Am 2025 national event schedule signifies a big change in the organization, and a few of the race tracks on the schedule should raise some eyebrows.

The IHRA schedule includes Galot Motorsports Park and Maryland International Dragway, which were under IHRA sanctioning at the start of 2024.

But some of the tracks on the schedule, including Darlington Dragway, Milan Dragway and National Trail Raceway, were under NHRA sanctioning at the beginning of the 2024 season.

Justin Harvey admitted the amount of street racing around the area had gotten to such a peak, that either a street permit to do something, or building a race track were the likely solutions.

While we did write about several track closures in 2023, it was refreshing to hear and see about a few tracks coming back to life as well. It’ll be just a few weeks before a popular track in Alabama re-opens with a new name, Rocket City Dragway, this spring.