STEELE, Ala. — The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Summit SuperSeries World Finals, scheduled for Oct. 16-18, will take place at a new venue: Alabama Int’l Dragway.
The Steele, Alabama, track boasts a long-standing relationship with IHRA, dating back to its opening. Alabama Int’l Dragway hosted the IHRA Super Nationals from 1993-’95, with notable winners including IHRA Hall of Fame drivers Scotty Cannon and Anthony Bertozzi.
Other champions included Top Fuel drivers Clayton Harris and Rhonda Hartman, Pro Mod standout Tommy Mauney and Pro Stock legend Roy Hill.
The venue features both one-eighth-mile and quarter-mile track configurations, earning it the well-deserved tagline, “Where Records Fall.”
Spanning 100 acres, the facility includes asphalt pit areas, 10,000-seat bleachers, concessions, restrooms, and trackside RV lots. One of its most significant advantages is its convenient location between Gadsden and Birmingham, just off Interstate 59 at Exit 174.
“Alabama International is a fantastic location centrally positioned and, in the South, which gives us an advantage with the weather,” IHRA President Rich Schaefer said. “Of course, weather is always a factor, but temperature isn’t a concern here.
“It’s an outstanding IHRA track in an ideal spot.”
For the past three years, Holly Springs Motorsports Park in Mississippi hosted the IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals. The move isn’t a reflection on the previous venue but rather an effort to refresh the event and highlight IHRA’s premier national championship in bracket racing.
“Holly Springs has been a great partner, and I’m sure it will continue to be, along with (track co-owner) Dominic Blasco and his team,” Schaefer noted. “This decision wasn’t about their performance or anything they’ve done in the past. We just wanted to rotate the location and ensure the World Finals weren’t held at the same venue as a Division Finals.”
The updated schedule also benefits racers who qualify for both the IHRA and WDRA World Finals. The WDRA Finals are set for Oct. 25-27 at Montgomery Int’l Dragway, just two hours south of Alabama Int’l Dragway.
“Having the WDRA Finals so close is a huge advantage. Some racers qualify for both series by competing at different home tracks,” Schaefer said. “A racer can compete for an IHRA World Championship at Alabama International, then either stay in Alabama or head home before returning for the WDRA Finals.
“It’s a great opportunity and a cost-saving option for many competitors.”
