Sat, 1 Dec 2001, 09:07 AM $150,000 in Prizes for First-Ever IHRA Summit (ET Bracket) World Champion

Courtesy of IHRA Communications

NORWALK, Ohio -- The IHRA along with Summit Racing Equipment are announcing an innovative bracket racing-based program that will change the face of drag racing.

Skooter Peaco gives the Summit money away.

A true Sportsman (ET Bracket) World Champion will be crowned for the first time in history, following the 2002 season. The Summit Sportsman World Champion is eligible to win a $150,000 prize package; $50,000 from Summit Racing Equipment and if they qualify, an added bonus from Summit of $50,000. From Pontiac, the Summit Sportsman World Champion receives a 40th Anniversary Pontiac Grand Prix GTP, in addition to an IHRA World Championship gold ring, media recognition and will be crowned at the annual IHRA Championship Banquet.

The Summit SuperSeries presented by Pontiac is designed specifically for IHRA Sportsman (ET Bracket) racers. Eighty IHRA member racetracks in five divisions serve as the program’s base. The ‘players’ are Sportsman racers, who are the IHRA members and the backbone of drag racing. The Summit World Championship presented by Pontiac is only one piece of this program. The Summit Team Finals presented by Sunoco Race Fuels, and the Summit Sportsman Contingency Program comprise the other two elements.

"When Bill approached me with the idea, I thought it was the next logical step for Sportsman in the IHRA," Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Manager, Skooter Peaco commented. "What no one liked about the existing program’s format, was that it awarded the racer who may have had a good day at the Summit Team Finals. We wanted to find a way to reward the racer that is consistent all season long, as well as find a way to reward loyal Summit customers. This fresh and unique approach to the weekly racing format accomplishes both goals. This new program is a great addition to Summit’s numerous other programs designed specifically to support the sportsman racers. My hats off to Bill and his staff who worked for over a year to bring the concept to life for the sportsman racers and member tracks."

In order to be a part of the program, racers must participate in points at their local IHRA track, and comply with all participant guidelines for the program. IHRA racers in Top, Modified, Super, and Motorcycle are eligible.

To be crowned the overall winner, participating racers’ performances will be measured against the performance of the other IHRA Sportsman Racers. The racer with the highest performance average at the end of the 2002 racing season (April-Sept), will be crowned Summit World Champion. If the world champion qualifies for the Summit Customer Bonus, the value of the prize package escalates to over $150,000. The top five drivers at each track, as well as the top five in each division, earn cash rewards & are also eligible for the Summit Customer Bonus.

Skooter Peaco and Aaron Polburn

"The monetary payout is pretty substantial," Peaco added. "The new Summit Super Series format, combined with the new Summit Customer Bonus Program, really gives Sportsman racers something to strive for that is consistency based."

The second element of the program is the Summit Team Finals presented by Sunoco. At the end of the racing season, each IHRA track selects the top racers from among their points finalists. This select group of racers form a team which represents their track at the Summit Team Finals.

Thirdly, racers have the opportunity to participate in the Summit Sportsman Contingency Program. The program rewards Sportsman racers on a weekly basis at participating IHRA tracks. This grassroots contingency program brings many companies on board who post cash bonuses to qualified winners and runners-up in the various classes.