Drag Illustrated Issue 118, February 2017 | Page 59

DIALED IN
IHRA Begins 2017 Season at
Immokalee Regional Raceway
By Van Abernethy
T
he sportsman racers of the IHRA
kicked off the 2017 season at Immo-
kalee Regional Raceway in Immokalee,
Florida, with the running of the inaugu-
ral Summit Sportsman National Championship,
February 3-5. The season kick-off featured two
complete eliminators throughout the weekend,
attracting racers from 17 states and Canada.
This heavily attended sportsman gathering,
formerly known as the Pro-Am series, is enjoying
brand-new exposure by way of a multi-year agree-
ment with ESPN television network, which will
include more than 200 hours of live broadcasts.
The Immokalee event marked the first time since
1999 that an IHRA event was broadcast on the
ESPN network, as each elimination round was
broadcast live on ESPN3. IHRA president Mike
Dunn, who is well-versed in the challenges of live
television, was on hand in Immokalee to conduct
interviews with class winners, and special award
recipients. Dunn says the collaboration with
ESPN was an agreement that was in negotiation
February 2017
for a long time, and is an excellent opportunity
for all involved with the sanctioning body.
Ralph Hester, who founded Immokalee Re-
gional Raceway 17 years ago, was thrilled to
have Dunn in
attendance, and
was very compli-
mentary of his
leadership and
overall direction
of the sanctioning
body. "This was a
very well-run race,
and I can tell you
one thing, I be-
lieve the future of
IHRA is in very
good hands," com-
mented Hester.
A total of eight
classes were in competition at Immokalee for
the exciting season opener. In Top Sportsman,
two Florida racers met in the finals when Bill
Powell defeated Tom Skubic on Saturday, with
Texas racer Marlon Goates getting past Florida
native Norman Williams on Sunday. In Top Drag-
ster, another all-Florida battle ensued both days
with Mark Horton getting past Troy Williams Jr.
on Saturday. Wil-
liams Jr. would
once again make
it to the finals on
Sunday, with Jim
Shaw getting the
victory.
North Caro-
lina's Chad Duke
won Quick Rod
on Saturday over
Florida's Otis
Henry. Randal
Langley of Flori-
da drove around
Georgia racer
Dave Schmidt during Sunday's Quick Rod elimi-
nator. In Super Rod, Kentucky's Rusty Cook de-
feated Bob Scheefer of Florida on Saturday, while
David Passananti bested fellow Floridian David
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