Sports Business Journal Reporting Mike Dunn As New IHRA President – We Nailed It – More News Here


Sports Business Journal Reporting Mike Dunn As New IHRA President – We Nailed It – More News Here

(Photo credit: ESPN) – The Sports Business Journal and other publications are reporting that Mike Dunn is in fact going to be the new president of the International Hot Rod Association. We reported on this last week when the rumors grew so loud that they could not be ignored. We are still pretty surprised that it is true but with other outlets reporting the whole deal as fact at this point and we’re following suit.

A second major piece of information that we have a line on is the fact that the famed World Series of Drag Racing that has been an absolute staple at Cordova for half a century will be moving to the surprising location of Memphis. We do not know how or why the move is being made but we know that it will be announced in the coming weeks. We have a feeling that this will not sit well with the people who have supported the race for half a century in Cordova and we’re not quite sure what the people of Memphis will think about it. The event was insanely popular at its (apparently) former home but will anyone in Memphis know or care what it is? Time will tell and we’re interested to see what the plan for the event is.

Back to Mike Dunn as IHRA president. There was scheduled to be a teleconference announcing this news tomorrow but IHRA has decided to drop the knowledge a day early, likely because the cat may have escaped the bag ahead of what they wanted. We’re hoping that call is still on because we’re interested to see what Dunn has to say about his new role and what he wants to do with the series.

As we mentioned in the previous story, there’s not a lot of drag racing management or operational management experience in Dunn’s past. He was a successful racer and certainly a successful television figure for the NHRA over the 14 years he spent on the air but we’re interested to see his experience translate into operating the IHRA and what his day to day role will be.

Of all the stuff Mike Dunn had thought about doing after television, we’re not sure that sanctioning body president was on the list but here he is. Hey, everyone’s got to pay the bills, right?

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30 thoughts on “Sports Business Journal Reporting Mike Dunn As New IHRA President – We Nailed It – More News Here

  1. michael dakin

    it is a great move, and he’ll do just fine running IHRA and I can’t wait to see what’s about to be implemented. good luck

  2. OldBob

    I’m happy for Mike Dunn if that’s what he wants. Great guy. BUT WHY in all that’s good in drag racing would it even be considered to move the World Series from Cordova. BS indeed

    1. Steve Smith

      The only thing I can figure is they think Memphis is more centrally located and will draw more racers from the east and south. Just my guess why they’re doing it.

    2. Pam Behounek

      Just doesn’t make sense to move the Great World Series!!!! WTH are they even thinking?!?! Oh that’s right…..They aren’t!!!!!

  3. Bob Schaecher

    Their first and worst decision they are making is moving the World Series to Memphis. I hope it falls flat on their face.
    All this about is money and greed and more payback because they got pissed off. Sorry for the rant, but I say what’s on my mind. Back to the bigger circus NHRA.

  4. Dennis Thorington

    I will believe this when they actually move the World Series of Cordova…before we go any farther everyone should send an email to Mr Dunn and let him know how we feel about the World Series of Cordova and the very thought of moving it.

  5. Greg Weets

    The World Series has been strongly supported for the last 60+ years by the loyal race fans that live in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas. Moving this race away from Cordova will prove to be a fatal mistake by the IHRA! If you bought the rights to the Masters golf tournament, would you move it to a different golf course? Enough said….

  6. Carlos P

    Omg!!!… Will he bring a dream team from nhra? Will this be the beginning of a new ihra? Will he be pushing for ihra on TV?…. A great year for drag racing… Watch out!!

  7. TRJ

    Dream team from NHRA!? What, so they can treat the sportsman racers like CRAP! NO THANKS!!! Keep the morons at NHRA

  8. Jeffrey Smith

    Is there still anyone out there who thinks the president of the ihra (or the us for that matter) will have anything to say about how thing are run? it’s all the bankers in charge (tpg,irg). . as far as the world series, they will move it, it will tank because memphis people will go what the hell is the world series of drag racing? bringing an end to the longest running race (yes, one year longer than us nationals) the bankers will decide they can make more on industry and make dragstrips into parking lots..if dunn tries to actually do something sensible, he will be ousted. .chris L. would like to close down a quad city icon.

  9. keith harbour

    Lot’s & Lot’s of nitro nostalgia. NHRA attendance is proving people are getting tired of watching multi million dollar slot cars. For success just make drag racing fun again for racers and spectators, you’re just the man to do it.

  10. C Royer

    Hopefully fresh ideas (?) will help grow the ihra, good luck Mike Dunn, moving a successfully run race with history seems odd to me, start a new tradition at Memphis and leave Cordova alone seems like a better plan.

  11. hector barbosa

    Lets hope Mike is savvy enough to get his IHRA as much FREE media coverage as possible.

    We know that many quality streaming media avenues already exist and the sponsors love the exposure.

    He doesn’t have to worry about a car count problem or track issue like the other guys either.

    All he needs is better exposure for his racers than NHRA will offer and he will be a winner!

  12. Boss 351

    Mike Dunn has always been big on the history and tradition of drag racing. I find it hard to believe he would suddenly break stride and move the Cordova event. Perhaps we’ll learn more at the scheduled press conference. NHRA may regret having ever poked this bear. Given the level of racer disgust I read about on various forums, Mike Dunn at the helm of IHRA could be a MAJOR change in the drag racing landscape. I hafta think the “Gods in Glendora” have tightened sphincters with this announcement.

  13. Gary Willis

    Great for Mike Dunn and I H R A , I have always said RACERS should be at the top of the Racing Organizations and a few bean counters below them . Are you listening NASCAR !!!!!!

  14. Wayne johnson

    I guess I can see moving the World Series of drag racing to Memphis. Cordova has one national event the summer nationals. This way it can finally become a national event like the us nationals. That is what bob bartell wanted back in the early sixties. Hope they can make it go if they do move it. I just hope they bring back real racing and close the door on bracket racing. Sorry mike that is not real racing and you know what real racing is. Two guys heads up first one at other end wins you remember.

  15. Glenn Allen

    Leave the World Series at Cordova !!!!!!! You will be spitting in the face of all the loyal fans who look forward to coming every year. Give Memphis a race but don’t take the World Series from Cordova. Don’t you have enough staff to do both??? I would bet the local racers could round up enough people to work it if need be. The World Series means baseball to people in Memphis.. But in the Cordova ,Illinois area it has meant a great drag racing event for thousands of loyal fans since 1957.

  16. Pam Behounek

    This is so messed up!!!! Why would you move the Great World Series from Cordova ?????? What are they thinking????? Oh that’s right……they aren’t!!!!!! Really sucks to take a venue that has been going on for 65 years away from the loyal fans and racers, not to mention the management that has made it what it is!!!!!! Really sucks!!!!

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