They started the races hoping to attract the HAMB organization, which was running an annual race at Mo-Kan Dragway in Missouri. That didn’t transpire, so Phillips booked a 1964 and earlier race at the former military base. Now, it has expanded where they’re running different classes of race cars.

“We’re doing bracket racing now and we have four categories — Gasser (’66 and earlier), Mean Street, Open Comp and Junior Dragsters,” Phillips said. “We have two big events per year which are a celebration of drag racing. We will be changing the Mean Street to Sportsman and the Open Comp to Modified.”

They also feature five classes of heads-up racing.

Eagle Field was constructed in 1942, just months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Joe Davis owns the property and some of the non-racing events include fly-ins. Phillips got to know about the property through his employer moving equipment from Eagle Field for a fly-in at the Fresno airport.

Phillips later met with Davis and started the Eagle Field Drags. The track features concrete walls and there are restrooms and showers on property. There is plenty of room for recreational vehicles, while the Lions Club and a local Mexican restaurant serve as food vendors. For those staying the weekend, music and dancing are offered on Saturday nights.

Now, the addition of IHRA sanction gives racers a chance to take advantage of membership benefits.

“I’m proud to be an IHRA member and start that on the West Coast,” Phillips said. “It gives us some clout and support.”

Phillips looks forward to working with other West Coast tracks and putting together a shootout near the end of the year. One of the neat events is a celebration of old-school drag racing, an evening where they use a flagman at the start.

It’s a part of Eagle Field’s mission to help fans and racers relive the glory days of drag racing. The main event on Friday pays tribute to former Fremont Dragway starter Eves Tall-Chief, who died in 2020.

“We call it ‘Flag Start Friday’ and do it for fun to remember Chief,” Phillips said. “It’s fun and exciting, but otherwise, we race with the tree.” 

Click here to check out the Eagle Field Facebook page and learn more about this facility. To become an IHRA member, click here to visit our membership or call 85.JOIN.IHRA where our friendly IHRA membership coordinator Heather Roth can take you through the process of getting you on track.

Other terrific opportunities await as racers can gain entry to the IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals presented by Strange Engineering by winning the main event in the Box, No Box, Sportsman and Junior Dragster classes in conjunction with entering at least two other IHRA races (an IHRA-member track Summit SuperSeries team race or Sportsman Spectacular) before the IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals. Current IHRA membership is required. 

Trailer Ranch LLC will sponsor as an event sponsor at South Carolina Motorplex with a $1,500-to-win and $80 entry fee for the Top (Box) race. The Mod (No Box) class features a $1,000 winner’s purse and $60 to enter. Sportsman (Street) and Junior Dragster classes offer $300 to the winner with a $40 entry fee.  

Spectator tickets are $20 with kids 12-under admitted free.There is a test-and-tune Friday night before Saturday’s main event. It’s a jam-packed weekend as Sunday features a full day of IHRA Summit SuperSeries points races. Click here to check out the South Carolina Motorplex Facebook page.

Beacon Dragway offers a $1,500-to-win top prize and $60 entry fee in the APD Carbs Super Pro (Box) class for Saturday. There is a $1,300 winner’s purse and $50 entry fee in the BTE No Box class. Both the Hoosier Tire / Rupert Carbs Sportsman and the Mohler Maintenance Junior Dragster classes feature $600-to-win with a $30 entry fee. 

Spectator tickets are $10 each with kids 12-under admitted free. Click here to check out the Beacon Dragway Facebook page with IHRA Summit SuperSeries points races the next couple of Saturdays, followed by the IHRA Sportsman Spectacular

Be sure to take advantage of the weekend and enjoy all the benefits of being an IHRA member. Click here to visit our membership or call 85.JOIN.IHRA where our friendly IHRA membership coordinator Heather Roth can take you through the process of getting you on track.

Graves, who captured a huge Gamblers win at Xtreme last November, calls “Big” Ty Janousek his racing hero. Cutting fast cars is what he likes most about the sport. It’s no surprise that this Texan’s favorite sport besides racing is football. He has plans beyond his time in the Junior Dragsters with a 1971 Chevrolet Nova he plans on competing in.

More Junior Dragster racers will be highlighted on IHRA.com and our social media pages soon including one from Illinois, one from Pennsylvania and another from Texas.

Entries for all other classes and spectator tickets will also be available. While registration will be available at the track, racers are highly encouraged to get their entries in early as planning for parking and other items take place. Click here for the pre-sales link.

Partners like Don Baskin Trucking LLC, M&M Transmission, Stroud Safety, Hoosier Racing Tire, Extreme Racing Oil, LJ1 Oil Products and TMF Metal Solutions are IHRA Hot Rod Classic sponsors. Trailer Ranch LLC will also have a display set up.

Pro Mods are competing for a $10,000 winner’s purse with $3,000 for the runner-up. Real Steel N/T racers will see $5,000 to the winner and $1,000 to the runner-up. Top Dragster and Top Sportsman payouts include $3,000 for the winner and $1,000 for the other finalist.

Quick Rod, Super Rod and Hot Rod feature $2,000-to-win and $750 for runner-up with all the races broadcast on the IHRA-TV channel on YouTube.

Bracket racers have big-money showdowns in Box and No Box with $5,000 for the winner and $1,000 for runner-up. Junior Dragster racers face off with $750 for the winner and $500 for runner-up.

Each entry must be an IHRA member and have an IHRA competition license in the ET range of the vehicle utilized during competition.

Crew weekend passes are $75 and a single-day pass for Saturday is $35. VIP Pit Parking Pass is $50 plus credentials for each occupant. Spectator costs (No restricted area access) are $70 for the 3-day weekend, $55 for a 2-day (Friday-Saturday) wristband and $30 for a single-day ticket.

Click here for a listing of the Darlington HRC schedule, payouts, entry fees and rules. You don’t want to miss out on this exciting event as it’s never been easier to become an IHRA member. Click here to visit the IHRA membership center or call 85.JOIN.IHRA where our membership coordinator Heather Roth will get you ready to race down the track.

Please come by and say hello to these officials as we always welcome the racers’ input. Be sure you are eligible to compete in the IHRA Summit SuperSeries, the most prestigious national championship in all of bracket racers. Click here to visit our membership center online. You may also call 85.JOIN.IHRA where our friendly IHRA membership coordinator Heather Roth can take you through the process of getting you on track.

“I literally live and breathe racing,” she said. “I want the racers to know I’m a racer too.”

Kettles is a racer first and foremost, but she’s also brings the diverse experience of working other roles. She’s been a track announcer, a track manager and has run her own No Prep series. Still, her biggest thrill is getting behind the wheel of the 1962 Plymouth that was her dad’s car when she was growing up. Built to be a 6.50 index car, she races it in No Box when time allows.

“I’ve worked so many weekends that I haven’t gotten much seat time,” she said. “The ’62 was my dad’s car the whole time I was growing up. I was able to take ownership of it before he passed away. I didn’t get to finish the build on it until he passed away and I’ve only had it on the track about a year.”

Staci’s on-track history began racing a slant-6 Duster at age 14. But, the role as announcer at her hometown track is how she got to really know IHRA CEO and Owner Larry Jeffers. She appreciates how Jeffers has put his heart and soul into bringing the sanctioning body back to its former glory.

In turn, he saw the passion that Kettles has for the sport. So have the racers who have interacted with her. Kettles, who has been working with IHRA Membership Coordinator Heather Roth, has been visiting different tracks like Newport Raceway in Arkansas last weekend.

“We wanted to be at Newport at their first IHRA points race Sunday,” she said. “People are sometimes overwhelmed with the memberships online, so it’s good to have a physical body at the track.”

Kettles plans to attend the races at Bonne Terre Drag Strip this weekend. She will again help with memberships as it’s the facility’s first season as an IHRA-sanctioned track. For Kettles, it’s a joy to meet the racers and make new friends. Thanks in large part to her history, she’s able to see things from multiple perspectives.

“It’s a huge benefit because if there’s a situation it’s easier for me to understand both sides because I’m a driver,” she said. “I love racing period, but bracket racing is where my roots are. Sometimes the racers just want somebody to talk to and tell a story. That’s where I feel I can help as a people person.”

Please welcome Kettles to the IHRA team. Racers feel free to contact her with any questions at skettles@ihra.com.

IHRA assembled a staff for the Hot Rod Classic that was second to none. Doug Foley, IHRA Division 1 and 9 Director, ran an efficiently smooth event as race director. He also announced the event with great professionalism and enthusiasm. He did a great job keeping the live crowd and those watching on IHRA-TV informed and entertained with what was happening down the race track.

Longtime track operator Steve Keys has joined the IHRA for our key races. Steve assisted in everything from racer pit parking to running the staging lanes. A true pro, he did everything in a skillful manner. It included handling the chip draw for the no-time cars and making sure everything ran on time.

Nick Bacalis, an employee of Bullet Racing Engines, handled the Pro Mod class from start to finish. He took care of everything from pairings to getting racers to the staging lanes. A huge thank you for Nick in how he handled every task. Tammi Moore worked the IHRA trailer, signing up new members and helping others with their renewals. She also took care of the payouts, greeting racers with a big smile.

Chad Reynolds set up and operated the IHRA-TV channel on YouTube. His work helped IHRA reach hundreds of thousands viewers during the broadcast. He took particular care of the IHRA’s partners and made sure their logos were prominently displayed. If you missed the IHRA Hot Rod Classic, you can catch it from beginning to end on youtube.com/@IHRA-TV.

In the days leading up to XRP’s Hot Rod Classic, Heather Roth made the process easier for several racers. She patiently answered many of their questions and helped them get signed up for memberships prior to the event.

What else can be said about the IHRA Owner and CEO Larry Jeffers? He greeted racers and chatted with them in the staging lanes. He put in the elbow grease and worked the water box all day during Thursday’s test-and-tune. A true jack-of-all trades, Larry served as a handheld camera operator for the IHRA-TV broadcasts Friday and Saturday. Larry was even present in the winner’s circle doing interviews with those who earned the prestigious victories.

The owner of the company has the heart and soul to do whatever it takes to make the IHRA great again.

The same can be said for IHRA President Mel Roth, who set up the FOAT for registration, made sure there was efficient pit parking and put together a run schedule that went off without any major hitches. Mel tried his best to talk to all the racers who participated. He took numerous photos of the racers, their cars and posted them on the Facebook page. He also did Facebook Live videos talking to the racers about their cars, racing history and other fun facts.

Mel and Larry enjoyed their time hanging out in the pits as it created an unforgettable time with the racers who attended the Hot Rod Classic. It’s a memory that both will cherish.

Behind the scenes, Kellie Kopp played an important role handling the travel arrangements for Larry and all the IHRA officials. 

Again, we can’t stress enough how much the efforts from those at XRP and the cooperation of the racers were appreciated. Several racers doubled up on parking spaces to make sure everyone had a place to pit and they were on time for staging. It was truly a team effort from everyone involved to create an amazing event.

Bringing back a blast from the past, the excitement was at a high level as class racing returned to the International Hot Rod Association and the sounds of ground-pounding, earth-shaking Pro Mods rumbled down the drag strip. It led to plenty of old-style Texas shootouts in the final round.

John Sullivan earned the $6,000 prize for winning the Outlaw Pro Mod final. He won the holeshot .026 to .168 over Clyde Scott and his Corvette roared down the 1/8-mile in 3.279 seconds at 163.70 mph. Sullivan needed the great start as Scott’s Camaro went 210.48 mph on a 3.598-second pass.

(Outlaw Pro Mod winner — John Sullivan)

Daniel Raff powered to the Real Steel N/T victory despite a better launch by Chris Allen. Raff went 4.509 seconds at 164.77 with a .204 reaction time to earn the $5,000 big check. Allen got off the line in .075 seconds and came up just shot with a run of 4.751 seconds at 148.03 mph.

IHRA racers have been waiting a long time for the return of some of their favorite classes and Larry Harrison captured the Top Dragster victory when Bryan Sandlin was -.007 too quick at the start. Harrison finished with a 4.695-second run at 147.20 mph to earn the $3,000 payout. Sandlin’s efforts offset a powerful 4.43-second pass at 156.63 mph.

Chanse Bullock also won on a foul to earn $3,000 for his Top Sportsman victory. Bullock rocketed down the strip in 4.31 seconds at 151.31 mph. Final-round opponent Mike Atkinson was a hair too quick -.004 to trigger the red light before making a 4.988-second run at 139.71 mph.

Quick Rod, Super Rod and Hot Rod all featured $2,000 winners’ purses. Frankie Radake was quick on the start to drive his familiar red and black Camaro to the Quick Rod victory. Radake had a 5.712-second pass at 119.02 mph after a .011 start. Taryn Rickman was runner-up in her dragster, going 5.706 seconds at 147.11 mph with a .044 reaction time.

Bryan McClain from Gun Barrell, TX was the top gun in Super Rod with a winning package of 6.300-second elapsed time at 112.56 mph and a .027 reaction time. Jim Palmer provided some serious competition with a 6.301-second run at 114.04 mph and a .030 start.

Mallory Dunaway won on a holeshot in Hot Rod, getting off the line in .014 seconds to .087 for runner-up Sid Marrs. It proved to be the difference Dunaway needed as she finished in 6.912 seconds and 96.53 mph. Marrs was spot-on against the 6.90 index with a 6.909-second pass at 97.93 mph.

Big-money bracket racing also was on display with $5,000-to-win shootouts for the Box and No Box classes. Jake Howard drove his black Pontiac to the Box victory when Justin Endicott broke out in the final. Howard went down the 1/8-mile in 6.314 seconds at 103.97 mph, paired with a .018 reaction time on his 6.31 dial-in. Endicott, who won the Gamblers race the night before, had a .004 start, but went 6.005 seconds at 114.39 mph against a 6.02 dial.

What a remarkable turnaround for Kenny Teer, who underwent quadruple-bypass surgery six weeks ago. Saturday night, Teer was in the winner’s circle with family and friends after piloting his red Camaro to the No Box victory. He was on his 6.30 dial-in time with a 6.303-second run at 104.36 mph. Final-round opponent Daryl “Scooter” Hamlin Jr. was a little quicker on the start .019 to .025, but finished right behind a 5.583-second pass at 122.15 mph with a 5.57 dial-in.

The Junior Dragsters also had a shootout with Maddy Poplawski putting together a winning effort of 7.929 seconds and 78.73 mph against a 7.92 dial-in with a .053 reaction time. Colt Saum went 7.691 seconds at 83.64 mph on a 7.66 dial-in, but fouled by being -.006 too quick at the start. 

Papa Freeman ran uncontested in the HHoT Bikes final. After leaving the tree in .020 seconds, he took a victory lap of 4.57 seconds at 144.23 mph.

Join in the fun when the IHRA Hot Rod Classic returns to action May 2-4 at Darlington Dragway. Click here for a listing of the Darlington HRC schedule, payouts, entry fees and rules.

Endicott won the Box Gamblers final with a 6.014-second elapsed time at 113.92 against a 6.01 dial-in. He also held a slight .014 to .019 advantage at the starting line over his opponent Chance Turman. Turman posted a 4.89-second pass at 138.97 mph against a 4.88 dial-in.

(Justin Endicott — Box Winner)

(Chance Turman — Box Runner-Up)

Michael Turman secured the win in the No Box class when final-round opponent Frankie Radake triggered the red light. Turman, who raced his motorcycle to the win, had a winning package of a 5.745-second pass at 121.75 mph against a 5.71 dial-in with a .013 reaction time.

(Michael Turman — No Box Winner)

(Frankie Radake — No Box Runner-Up)

Walker completed the list of Friday winners in the Junior Dragster ranks. He won on a holeshot with a .043 to .092 advantage at the start over runner-up Kash Green Wilkinson. Walker posted a 7.948-second run at 76.43 mph on a 7.90 dial-in. Wilkinson’s sped down the drag strip in 7.91 seconds at 82.15 mph.

(Cayson Walker — Junior Dragster Winner)

(Kash Green Wilkinson — Junior Dragster Runner-Up)

Congratulations to all the winners as the IHRA Hot Rod Classic kicks into high gear Saturday with the main event.