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IHRA to open 1998 season in Florida

The Winter Nationals will be held at DeSoto Memorial Dragway in Bradenton, Fla., March 27-29. All Snap-on Tools Drag Racing Series categories will be contested at the event. The addition increases IHRA's 1998 national event schedule to nine races. For the first time in the association's 27-year history, no track on the schedule will host two events.

It will be a return to the facility for IHRA, which last held a national event there in 1988.

"Tradition-rich DeSoto Memorial Dragway will make a very nice addition to IHRA's growing family of race facilities," said IHRA Administrative General Manager Gary Schuetz. "This is a really big hit for IHRA, to be afforded the opportunity to race in a warm climate early in the season. I feel the Tampa market is going to be a big asset and the event is going to be a rewarding venture for all involved -- the dragway, fans, racers, sponsors and IHRA."

DeSoto Memorial Dragway, owned and operated by Troy and Jeanette Williams, is located just south of the Tampa Bay area, nine miles off I-75 (exit 42) on state route 64. The track is known throughout the drag racing community for hosting the popular Snowbird Nationals every December. The facility has operated under another drag racing sanctioning body during the last decade.

"We're very happy to be back on board with IHRA and are looking forward to having a very good working relationship," Jeanette Williams said. "This is a very exciting time to be involved with the new IHRA. The organization is very progressive and we're interested in moving forward here at DeSoto Memorial Dragway. IHRA has a very exciting national event package and we're ready to showcase it to Florida."

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