FAIRFIELD, Ohio — International Hot Rod Association officials announced Thursday that the sanctioning by has aligned its leadership to better support the organization’s rapid expansion across multiple motorsports disciplines with the appointment of Dustin Farthing as President.
Over the past year, as the IHRA has grown quickly and broadened its scope to include drag racing, offshore powerboat racing, personal watercraft, tractor pulling, snowmobiles, and stock car racing, the organization has made several leadership transitions.
While previous leaders brought strong knowledge in their individual areas of expertise, the demands of guiding a fast-growing, multi-discipline sanctioning body required a different and broader set of operational and strategic capabilities. These transitions were necessary to ensure the right experience and structure are in place for the next phase of growth.
“Dustin Farthing brings the combination of on-track credibility, business acumen, and hands-on motorsports leadership that the IHRA needs,” said IHRA owner Darryl Cuttell. “We have put a focused strategic leadership team in place under his direction. This team will develop and execute clear short-term and long-term plans that position the IHRA for continued growth while maintaining the strong relationships we have built with our racers, tracks, sponsors, and fans.”
Farthing added: “The IHRA has an iconic brand and passionate participants across every discipline. My focus, along with the new leadership team, is to build a sustainable foundation that allows us to grow responsibly. We remain committed to treating our racers and fans with the respect and support they deserve. That means making thoughtful decisions today that protect and strengthen the organization for the long term.”
As part of the strategic planning process currently underway, the IHRA will address legacy structures to align with the organization’s current scale and future direction. These steps are essential to ensuring the IHRA remains strong, competitive and able to deliver the highest level of experience to everyone involved.
The new leadership team will collaborate closely with stakeholders across all IHRA disciplines to develop detailed plans that balance growth and the core values that have defined the association for more than 50 years.
