Behind the Wheel with IHRA Division Director Doug Foley
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Behind the Wheel with IHRA Division Director Doug Foley
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Welcome to another in-wheel-time podcast, a 30-minute mini-version of the in-wheel-time car show that airs live. This is your way from all things to a level of the award-winning in-wheel-time car talk show. Coming up, I.H.R.A. division director Doug Foley, and talk about drag racing on a different note. Later, Jeff has the racing calendar. Mars has this week in auto history, and I'll get you caught up on the stories making automotive headlines. Howdy, along with Mike out of this world, Mars, we always need more Jeff Seacon. I'm Don Armstrong.
He's a chief engineer, David Ainsley, getting ready for his big trip up north. Big, big, big trip. Yeah, he's going to be gone for a couple of weeks. Two or three, something like that. Three, three, yeah. Three weeks. So timing has worked out just fine. I think we don't have any remote broadcasts coming up, so that's always a good thing for him. You know, we should do in like a week, we should fly up there and just knock on his door. You know, it's not as easy as you think. I know, I know, I know, I know the area. Yeah. All right. Joining us now, I.H.R.A.
Which is the International Hot Rod Association is the division director. His name is Doug Foley. Doug, good morning to you. Oh gosh. Oh, Doug, we're muted. No, he's not muted. We're just not getting his voice here. Doug, can you say something to us? There you are. Yeah, he's a little bit better now.
He's kind of gargly, isn't he? Is he Mr. Mars? Yeah, he's internet. If he moves the wrong place, his internet drops. Yeah, you're, you're internet sucks. So we're going to, we're going to put you on hold for a minute. You and Mars are going to work out this so we could hear every stinking word you got to say. So you just hang in there. Mr. Mars will lead you through what we need to go through. Are you sure you wanted to do that? Yeah, I don't know. I'm not sure about that.
So I will give you this. I.H.R.A. They were, they were a force back in the day. And they were the competitor to NH.R.A. And different rules, different regulations, different sanctioned racetracks. Different cars. Well, they were, yes. Yes. Yes. Well, because of the different rules, they car builders built cars to the I.H.R.A. rules as opposed to the NH.R.A. rules. So there was this kind of a divide there.
It was founded in 1971 by Larry Carrier has since become a prominent organization for grassroots drag racing, including the I.H.R.A. Summit Super Series, a prominent bracket racing championship.
In recent years, I.H.R.A. has seen ownership changes and a renewed focus on its core values of integrity and passion for the sport. And so I told you that we're talking about Larry Carrier started in 71.
And the events are different and a different race tracks. It started at Carrier's Bristol International Speedway Dragway. It says here, I.H.R.A. sanctions races across the North America with a particularly strong presence in Canada, where it holds three national drag racing events according to Wikipedia. Now that'd be a fun road trip. Yeah.
Go to Canada. Our grassroots focus, I.H.R.A. was found success as a hub for grassroots drag racing with its Summit Super Series, being a notable example of its commitment to bracket racing. In recent years, I.H.R.A. is undergoing ownership changes, Gerald Cattell becoming the new owner of the organization has also seen a renewed focus on free speech, equal opportunities and a fact-based approach reflected in its return to the X social media platform.
It says X dot com. I think Doug's got his internet connection hooked up right or better. Yeah. So I think we're good to go. Well, I think that we'll be the judge of that. He's smiling. So I know he can hear us. Say something good, Doug. How about now? How's that? Oh, my God. You plugged it from the TV remote into the actual internet. Listen, technology sometimes is difficult. Yeah. It's not my friend that very often. Yeah. It eludes some of us and we believe me. We can understand.
Welcome, Doug. Welcome. Yeah. Well, thank you guys for having me. Yeah. So I've been able to hear you the whole time. Oh, good. I'm glad to hear that because you know, I remember when I.H.R.A. come into existence and NH.R.A. was really scared because they thought, Oh, gosh. What are we going to do? We've got some competition here. Well, good. Competition is good. And well, I guess what divided the two? You correct me if I'm wrong, where the different rules for the different categories of cars because not all of the
rules from one series transferred to the other. And if you wanted to race in both series, generally speaking, if you had the money, you had two cars because some of the, some of the changes that you had to make to the cars were significant back in the day. Yeah, I think that played a part in some of it. But, you know, the I.H.R.A. is usually ran between eight and 12 national event races. So that that plays a big part in it too, you know, especially on the professional side. You know, these guys.
That run 20 races. They're spent three or four million dollars a year when you can come over the I.H.R.A. and we have, you know, this year we have five national events. And, you know, you cut that, cut that budget in and half if not more. So it's a little more racer friendly. It's, it's a little bit. We're, we're geared a little more towards the, the working folk than just the guys that own billion dollar corporations that can afford to come out and, you know, realistically outspend everybody else.
What a, what are the top top 10 top eight? How many of you want to put together their classes of cars? Do you have, you got nitro cars? Oh, yeah. So we'll have top fuel, funny car, which we opened up our pre, pre entry a couple of weeks or a week ago or so. And so we have eight car fields in both of our nitro categories. And we have more than eight entered in each class. So I have full fields. We have pro mod mountain motor, pro stock pro nitrous top out.
Jack's your top out called funny car. So that's probably our, you know, upper echelon of, you know, our faster cars. Anyway, yeah, anyways, of course, do, when do you kind of enter mingle with the NHRA?
Because I know that they do run pro mods and things. And you can see a telecast on some of their events, but not as a, as a feature. So do you kind of intermingle with that other events?
We don't really, we don't really have anything to do with, we don't have anything to do with NHRA, but that the cars and the classes and the rules.
You know, they're all similar enough to where you can come over and race either sanctioning body and still, you know, not have to spend a fortune to, to be able to do so.
The category is new categories for NHRA is the mountain motor category. And I heard you say that you've got that in a IHRA as well. What, what is mountain motor? What exactly is that?
Mountain motors are, they're just big cubic inch pro stock cars. So they're still allowed to have car breeders. They have the hood scoops, but that big motors, big horsepower. And they're going, you know, six 20s, 200 and almost 30 miles an hour.
So they're a little different than the 500 cubic inch pro stock cars that everybody's kind of used to seeing. But mountain motor pro stock is it was born and bred here at IHRA.
So that's a class that's near and dear to us and the interest level that we have for this class right now is surpassed our expectations coming into this year.
So we're really looking forward to having those guys back. How did you get involved with IHRA?
Well, so I grew up, my dad raised his top fuel and he started an IHRA back in 2003. He won the rookie of the year back then in top fuel. And then just he obviously has kept racing the last 20 something years.
And when Larry Jeffers bought the IHRA a few years ago, he gave me a call and wanted to see if I had any interest in coming on board and helping out and then, you know, at the end of 24 Larry Jeffers sold it to Darryl Cuddle.
And we've been rolling right along. I mean, we've we bought I think IHRA on five race tracks now. I'm actually at one right now. We have our night of fire event here at National Trail Raceway.
So when you say if you hear burnouts in the background, that's why that's great. But when you say you bought the organization bought the track, you didn't just buy rights to it. I mean, you physically on the property.
Yeah, we physically on the property. Well, NHRA has got several tracks like that. So it's a full quarter mile, right?
Yeah, National Trail. It's a full quarter mile facility. We also own a lot of motorsports park down in done North Carolina. We own Killcare Raceways,
Zignio, Ohio, Myland Dragway, which is in Myland, Michigan.
Myland, Michigan, yep.
Yeah. So we got a we got quite a few tracks that have been purchased. Got quite a few more that are on the on the dock.
You said you said you've got eight eight drivers or eight cars in a class. Do they follow you around the country? Or is it just eight for this particular van? And then you've got eight more for another part of the country.
So we, I mean, you know, there's cars that are going to race full time with us.
You know, the Nitro cars that have committed to full time racing with the IHRA this year is Scott Palmer Dale Creasy Jr.
Jack, why Terry had it is coming to most of them. So we have we have a good.
You know, we didn't start this deal really till beginning of May and April beginning of May for this year.
So obviously there's been a lot of talk about it, but going out and actually doing it.
Now we're we're two weeks away from crowning champions at our first event since the IHRA has been bought and rebranded.
The IHRA hasn't had a top fuel car race in over 15 years.
Wow. Well, now you got a full field car.
Yeah, a full field of cars. There's a lot of excitement.
You know, a top fuel funny car that pays $50,000 to win.
It pays $15,000 just to qualify.
Well, your dad, he didn't he used to race the IHRA.
Yeah, he's actually up at he's at Norwalk this weekend.
Gotcha.
Yeah, but he'll be down here.
He's bringing his his car out. He's got a few spotters right here in Columbus with United garage door and alloy employer services.
So this will be a big race for him being able to get all of his guests out here and check out the drag races.
So you've been going to drag races since you were born.
You had just about. That's right.
Well, obviously it's worked out for you, your division director, which division are you running?
So I've run division one and nine basically up and down the east coast.
Yeah. And it's a full time gig for you.
Do you still have a full head of hair?
So far, but it's turning gray.
Turning grayer.
Yeah, I was going to say this big chunks missing from pulling your hair out.
Yeah, you know what the next step is after that.
What's that? Well, we'll see.
Yeah, we'll see.
Exactly.
Well, I kind of like the idea that eight car feels.
Yeah, I mean, things are going to move pretty quick when you go to the track.
And you're not going to be sitting there for three hours trying to get 16 cars through.
We can want them blew up or whatever, whatever.
Yeah.
Yeah, I'm part of it is obviously the group we have here in it here, we're all racers.
So, you know, Josh Peak is here, Larry Morgan.
So the old Larry Morgan.
Yeah.
He's my lover's Morgan.
I don't know where you want to go with that.
He's one of a kind.
He's done it his whole life and we're really glad he's part of this.
He was actually he's instrumental in this operation.
So having having all of these racers here, we kind of can pick and choose, you know,
what we want to adopt and what we don't want to adopt.
And, you know, our shows are two day shows Friday and Saturday.
You know, you get two qualifying rounds Friday and then eliminations on Saturday.
So that's one of the big things with the Nitro teams is, you know, you get four qualifying rounds
and it's 16 car fields.
So you have to make eight runs to win $50,000 over here at IHRA.
Our winters person is $50,000, but you only have to make five runs to get there.
So are the rules for IHRA?
Are they pretty much the same as NHRA?
I'm sure you got to have all the safety effects in place.
Yeah, every all the rules basically are the same.
I think we're trying to make it a little more racer friendly with being able to open up a few different options.
You know, there's a lot of top fuel cars in this country.
And, you know, in the between the states and Canada, there's a lot of Nitro cars that some of them just,
you know, there are some rules that I don't feel that are that necessary
that these teams have to park their cars because they can't afford to do those updates to their cars or ignition boxes
or, you know, whatever the rules are, whatever that particular rule is,
it gets expensive quick.
You know, one of these a lot of fans don't know that these top fuel cars,
they have to send out their valve covers every year to get recertified.
The blower restrained bags, I mean, the list goes on and on just to do that.
You're talking thousands and thousands of dollars.
So, if we could not that were eliminating that, but that was just a kind of example here.
Let me ask you a little bit about the insurance aspect of it.
That you guys apparently provide significant insurance coverage for your members.
Tell me a little bit about that.
Yeah, our insurance is on next level compared to, and it's not even just drag racing.
I mean, any racing, sanctioning body, you know, we have surpassed all of them.
So, we have, yeah, a million dollars worth of liability insurance for each racer.
So, if you aren't a, if we have accidental death, dismemberment insurance,
we have, you know, if you get hurt at the racetrack,
there's, you can get paid up to whatever, 26 weeks or something like that for workers' car.
Like, we're trying to make it to where it's worth,
we're trying to make it to where it's worth, we're not trying to copy anybody else.
We want to set out into our own thing and make the racers kind of, you know,
see what we can, we want to do whatever we can to make it better for everybody
and not just do the same old song and dance.
Gotcha.
Well, so, what is your big event at the end of the season?
Where is that? When is it?
So, our World Finals would be at Galott Motorsports Park,
which is done in North Carolina.
And that's November 5th through the 8th.
But our first one, our season opener kicks off here, like I said,
in just two weeks here at National Trail Raceway in Hebrew on Ohio,
which is just east of Columbus, probably about 30 miles.
But that's our first one. It'll be July 9th through the 12th.
And you'll be able to see a full slate of top fuel cars, funny cars,
all the way through stock, super stock.
I assume that you don't have a big television contract.
Can you watch the races online?
Yeah, you will be able to, the races will be live streamed.
We haven't announced with who yet.
But that'll be coming pretty early this week.
So, we're looking forward to that.
And I think all the fans at home that won't be able to make it out to the races will.
Yeah, online watching.
Appreciate it as well.
You just lost its none on prime.
Yeah, that's it.
So, is it is it?
Is it IHRA dot com?
Doug, is it IHRA dot com?
Yep, IHRA dot com.
You can go on there and look at the schedule by your tickets.
And then on our Facebook page, we've been releasing some of the drivers' names
out of entered for our events.
So, I guess that's Scott Palmer.
He's, uh, he's entered Christa Baldwin's coming.
Dale Creasy, Jack Wyatt, Terry Haddock.
Doug Foley.
Doug Foley's going to be here.
So, there's, uh, there's a lot of really good cars.
We're really looking forward to it.
Well, Doug, it's great to talk to you.
And, uh, the best of luck to you.
And let's stay in touch.
You got something new to tell us.
Hey, we'll put you on the air and you can tell everybody.
Yeah.
Really?
Or, appreciate your time.
And, uh, thanks for having me on.
Have a good season.
Yeah, best of luck.
Doug Foley, division director, IHRA, just ahead.
Jeff has the racing calendar.
Mars has this week in auto history.
And I'll bring you the week's auto news headlines.
All coming up on the in-wheel time car talk show.
Stay with us.
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Time now for the racing calendar sponsored by Texas Muscle Car Club Challenge.
Yeah, it's a holiday weekend coming up next weekend.
So we've got some stuff cooking.
Imsa is actually off this week.
They'll be back in a couple of weeks.
So check that out.
They're going to be at Motorsports Park.
Exfinity series.
Yesterday, the Exfinity ran in Atlanta.
I didn't get any details and really didn't have an opportunity to watch it
because I was doing other things last week.
Yesterday.
Yeah, yesterday.
The 27th.
And the NASCAR Saturday today, they're in Atlanta.
NHRA 26th through the 29th, which is happening right now.
The Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.
And that's it.
Equipment Motorsports Park is what they're calling it.
And then Formula One, not till the end of the month,
but they're going to be in the Austrian Grand Prix.
So check them out if you want.
They're going out your accordion and put on your leaderhose.
And get your Steinabee here.
Speak at our leaderhose.
And Mr. Morris has this week in auto history.
Yeah, buddy.
Lots of things going on this week in auto history.
So starting this week in 1906, it was the first French Grand Prix.
And this was organized by the automobile club de France.
Oolala.
And it was the first official motor racing Grand Prix
which set the stage of the precedent for the modern Formula One racing.
Now, also this week, coming up in 1956,
the last true Packard Rolls-Off the assembly line.
Now, you say that because it happened at Detroit's Conor or Avenue Plant.
It came off, but there were some Packards that were made
and rebadged as stewed bakers after that.
But this is when the last true Packard came off the line.
Also in 1957, Illinois enacted the first US seatbelt law.
Now, this became, originally compliance was kind of low.
Nobody really kind of cared about it, but they really started pressing on it.
And now it's mandated across the whole country.
Then in 1966, the US Senate passes the landmark auto safety bill.
Now, if you recall back Ralph Nader produced in 1965,
came out with his book Unsafe at any speed.
And this mandated the law,
which led to this law, which mandated dashboard seat belts and crash testing,
and actually reorganized and revolutionized cars safety.
Then in 2001, the first installment of Fast and Furious premiered in US theaters.
Now, for some reason this thing took off about underground street racing,
heavily modified cars like the Mazda RX-7 and the Dodge Charter.
I never saw that movie.
You never saw it.
Never saw it.
I don't get out much to you.
Well, it hit the big interest me.
That's the first one.
If you go watch any of them, that's the one to watch.
That's crazy.
Also in 2001, the last Plymouth rolls off the line.
Now, this was the Christ's longstanding marquee and its seat production.
And the final model was a silver neon coming off the assembly line.
And marked the end of Chrysler, which started in 1928.
Not the end of Chrysler or the end of Plymouth.
Yeah, what do I say?
Kind of Chrysler.
Oh, yeah, you're right.
It says Chrysler Consolidate.
Oh, the Dodge had a neon.
Chrysler had the...
Was it Dodge?
Chrysler neon.
Plymouth neon.
Plymouth neon.
Okay, yeah.
I was confused because I know that they were small cars.
Well, we've got to blow the dust off of these things, you know, so we can bring them out.
I live confused.
Days and confused.
There you go.
Okay.
News headlines.
Yesterday after dinner and days and days meant.
Is it a word and days meant?
It is not.
Tesla incorporated self-driving taxi, appeared to violate traffic laws.
During the company's first day offering paid rides.
With one customer capturing footage of a left turn gone wrong.
And others traveling in cars that exceeded posted speed limits.
Yeah.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is aware of those incidents.
And is in contact with the company to gather additional information.
In a video taken by Rob Morrer, an investor who used to host a Tesla podcast.
The model wise, he might have why.
He is riding in, enters an Austin intersection in a left turn only lane.
The Tesla hesitates to make the turn, swarves right and proceeds into an unoccupied lane
meant for traffic moving in the opposite direction.
Nice.
Nice.
And it was 14 years old and you did the math.
Honking horn can be heard as the Tesla re-enters the correct lane over a double yellow line,
which drivers aren't supposed to cross.
In two other posts on X, initial riders and driverless model wise shared footage of Tesla's speeding
of vehicle carrying Sawyer Merritt, a Tesla investor, reached 35 miles an hour,
shortly after passing a 30 mile an hour speed limit sign.
Well, I guess they got a little work to do, represented its Tesla
in the Austin Police Department, didn't immediately respond to requests for comment on the videos.
The automaker recalled more than 362,000 vehicles in February of 2023.
After Nitsa said its driver assistance system may allow cars to infringe on local traffic laws.
A spokesperson for the City of Austin said it didn't receive any safety incident reports
regarding Tesla's Robo Taxis over the weekend.
People were too scared.
Well, in that of they closed down the particular part of Austin that these things were going around in circles in.
I don't know.
So crosses double stripes speeding all that.
And you hear horns from the other people.
Ford Motor is recalling the majority of its salary and workforce back to the office four days a week.
Employee automaker's latest effort to boost employee in company performance.
spokesperson said the new policy affects the majority of its global salary and workforce
but declined to provide a specific number.
Ford notified employees June 25th takes effect September 1st.
Businesses around the world have grappled with how much flexibility to allow workers since the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.
Some such as JP Morgan and Amazon have mandated that hybrid workers return five days a week.
Everybody back to work.
All right.
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About this episode
Doug Foley, the IHRA Division Director, shares insights into the International Hot Rod Association's evolution and its focus on grassroots drag racing. He discusses the differences between IHRA and NHRA, including rules and class structures, and highlights the new ownership's commitment to racer-friendly policies. Doug also details upcoming events, including the return of top fuel racing after a 15-year hiatus, and emphasizes the importance of safety and insurance for participants. The conversation is filled with personal anecdotes and excitement for the future of drag racing.
Original notes
Labor Day Replay:
Drag racing fans rejoice! The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is roaring back onto the scene with a full revival that includes the return of Top Fuel racing after a 15-year absence. Division Director Doug Foley joins us to share the exciting developments happening within one of drag racing's most storied organizations.
Founded in 1971 by Larry Carrier at Bristol International Speedway, IHRA has long represented an alternative approach to drag racing. After recent ownership changes, the organization has recommitted to both grassroots racing and professional nitro categories with a fresh perspective. Foley reveals that IHRA now owns five racetracks across the country and has attracted full fields of Top Fuel and Funny Car competitors for their upcoming national events.
What makes IHRA's approach different? Their racer-friendly philosophy shines through in everything from event structure to insurance coverage. While maintaining similar safety standards to other sanctioning bodies, IHRA has streamlined their competition format to two-day shows with fewer qualifying sessions, allowing teams to compete for substantial purses ($50,000 to win) with significantly lower operating costs. Their comprehensive insurance program provides racers with $1 million in liability coverage plus additional benefits rarely seen in motorsports.
The 2024 IHRA season kicks off July 9-12 at National Trail Raceway near Columbus, Ohio, featuring a diverse lineup of classes including Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Mod, and the IHRA-originated Mountain Motor Pro Stock category. With notable drivers like Scott Palmer, Dale Creasy Jr., and Terry Haddock committed to competing, this revival represents not just a trip down memory lane but a viable new path forward for drag racing that balances spectacle with sustainability.
Whether you're a longtime IHRA supporter or simply a drag racing enthusiast looking for more nitro-powered action, this renaissance deserves your attention. Follow IHRA.com for event updates, driver announcements, and streaming information as they continue writing an exciting new chapter in drag racing history.
Be sure to subscribe for more In Wheel Time Car Talk!
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In Wheel Time Podcast: Your Go-To Automotive Talk Show
In Wheel Time Podcast | Automotive talk with Don Armstrong, Michael Marrs, and Jeff Dziekan
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