IHRA Nitro Returns; Day Two Brings Weather Delay and Eliminations with Finals Postponed

(Photo Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh)

By Logan Morris

They say good things come to those who wait, and that’s exactly what the Columbus, Ohio area had to do for two decades. Sunday felt like the culmination of something bigger than just a race weekend, and for much of the day, that’s exactly what it was.

Unfortunately, the fans at Darana Raceway will have to wait a little longer for the ultimate payoff. Due to an incredibly long weather delay earlier in the day and dew on the track, the IHRA finals were pushed to Sunday morning at 10am.

Still, Saturday was a day to remember. Two-time IHRA Funny Car champion Dale Creasy Jr. squared off with the series’ most recent Funny Car champion, Terry Haddock, in the first round. Haddock took the win after Creasy Jr. and was forced to shut his machine off early. Jack Wyatt would defeat Todd Barker, and No. 1 Qualifier Mike McIntyre would go on to best Jody Austin.

In the semi-finals, Mike McIntyre would run a 6.645 ET at 171.58 MPH and that would be good enough to best Jack Wyatt in a pedal-fest who ran a 7.340 ET at just 126.03 MPH.

(Photo Credit: Peyton Lohr/Racing Refresh)

In Top Fuel, No. 1 qualifier Scott Palmer beat Chuck Loftin, and Doug Foley would get the best of Cameron Ferre. Krista Baldwin beat Mitch King, and in the semi-finals, Baldwin would do a single run of 4.100 ET at 248.02 MPH after Lex Joon couldn’t get his machine started. Scott Palmer advanced to the finals after getting the best of Doug Foley with a run of 4.201 ET at 211.53 MPH, who ran a 5.202 ET at 156.59 MPH.

In a weekend filled with nostalgia, it’s fitting that two familiar names will battle it out for the first Ironman trophy of the IHRA’s return. 

Pro and Sportsman finals will resume Sunday morning, July 13th, at 10am EST.