Motorsports Venues - Memphis International Hosts IHRA Round

Racers from 5 State Area Descend on Millington for International Hot Rod Association Pro-Am August 16-19

Millington, TN (July 30, 2012) – Memphis International Raceway will host IHRA’s Division 4 Pro AM August 16-19, 2012. Racers from Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi will descend upon the Greater Memphis Region to participate in the Pro- Am and earn points for the opportunity to race in the IHRA World Finals also hosted at Memphis International Raceway later this year. IHRA Pro-Am, presented by AMSOIL, will feature racers in Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Super Stock, Stock, Quick Rod, Super Rod and Hot Rod classes competing for both Pro-Am and World Championships. These skilled and competitive racers are considered the back bone of IHRA drag racing.

Pro-Am Champions in each class will receive $1,500.00 and runner ups will earn $500 each. Champions will also receive an Ironman and IHRA Gold Card. The top three in the Pro-Am classes in their division will earn automatic entry into the Summit Racing Tournament of Champions. The winners of the three contested classes in the Junior Dragster Divisional Championship will receive $750, and Ironman and Gold Card. Runner ups will receive $250 and a plaque. To participate, racers must be licensed with IHRA. Any licensed NHRA racer can register and receive their IHRA license the day of the event.

“It is an honor to host not only the IHRA Pro-Am, but also the IHRA World Finals at Memphis International Raceway,” said Pam Kendrick, Vice President and General Manager at MIR. “This is an outstanding event for racers. We welcome them to our facility and community. This is also a great event for those interested in learning more about the sport,” said Kendrick. Spectators will be given the opportunity to see the best of the best competing in 8 classes: Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Super Stock, Stock, Quick Rod, Super Rod, Hot Rod and Junior Dragster. For more information about this event or how to acquire complimentary tickets visit www.racemir.com, call 901.WOW.RACE, or www.facebook.com/RACEmir.

Below is additional information on the Pro-Am racing classes:

· TOP SPORTSMAN

As the class that spawned Pro Modified, Top Sportsman remains the “baddest” sportsman class on the planet. Covering the spectrum of passenger car body styles and power plants, Top Sportsman racers are not encumbered by displacement limitations or customizing rules, offering some of the most radical visual and mechanical thrills in drag racing.

· TOP DRAGSTER

The fastest sportsman category in drag racing, Top Dragster is also renowned as one of the most innovative classes in IHRA. Combining dragsters and altered vintage roadsters, the class presents handicap racing with six second, 225 mph contestants.

· SUPER STOCK

As the arena for factory muscle car showdowns for decades, this class spotlights some of the most powerful production vehicles ever built. Cars run on a handicapped start, but each must run under their sub-category’s National Index, determined by a power to weight ratio. In addition to traditional Super Stockers, there are also sub-categories for GT entries, front wheel drive conversions, trucks, and Super Stock production entries.

· STOCK

Considered drag racing’s “entry level” division, this class offers economical racing machines in an incredibly competitive forum, with everything from 130 mph muscle cars to 75 mph family sedans. All demand original production equipment with which the car was marketed to the public. Cars run on a handicapped start, but each must run under their sub-category’s National Index, determined by a power to weight ratio.

· QUICK ROD

The fastest of the “Rod” categories, Quick Rod offers dragsters, altereds, vintage roadsters, coupes, and passenger cars racing with a heads up start. The objective of the class is to beat an opponent to the finish line without going under the 8.90-second Class Index, or 5.70 in the 1/8th mile.

· SUPER ROD

This class features passenger cars and vintage roadsters also competing on an even start. Like Quick Rod, vehicles are permitted virtually any engine modification. Races are run on a 9.90 Class Index, or 6.40 for the 1/8th mile.

· HOT ROD

This class may appear as an entry-level division with its slower 10.90 Class Index or 7.00 in the 1/8th mile, but it presents some of the closest competition of any category

· Junior Dragster

Racers between the ages of 8 and 18 may race a half scale version of the sport's fastest car, Top Fuel Dragster. Juniors run as following: 12.90-slower for 8-9 year olds, 10-12 year olds at 8.90, and 13-18 year olds 7.90 and slower at a top speed of 85 mph. These cars race at 1/8 mile or 1/16 mile.