Fri, 7 Dec 2001, 04:04 PM IHRA Continues Westward Expansion with Sanction of Budweiser Motorsports

Courtesy of IHRA Communications

NORWALK, OHIO - Park Budweiser Motorsports Park, one of Western Canada’s legendary drag racing facilities has announced it will race under the IHRA sanction beginning in 2002.

Budweiser Motorsports Park owner, Rob Reeves, announced the 318-acre facility, located adjacent to the Edmonton International Airport, will sanction with IHRA next year, following a long relationship with NHRA.

The signing of the Edmonton, Alberta, facility gives IHRA a platform to expand their presence in Western Canada and the Northwest United States. It is estimated that nearly 1 million people live within 20 miles of Bud Park, with another million people within 120 miles.

"I was looking at all options to further drag racing in Alberta, and the Western provinces," said Reeves. "I wanted to bring a higher quality of racing to our fans, and the IHRA clearly proves to me that they have faith in Canadian drag racing. The IHRA is continuing to move West, which is good for us. I think all of the other tracks are going to wait and see what we’re doing before they take the step."

As a part of IHRA’s Division 5 North Central Thunder series, Bud Park’s racers will have the opportunity to participate in the new and improved Summit SuperSeries presented by Pontiac World Championship. In addition to the most anticipated and high paying program ever introduced to bracket racing, racers will also have access to the season ending Summit Team Finals presented by Sunoco and the Summit Sportsman Contingency Program.

Reeves’s eventual goal is to host an IHRA national event at Bud Park. The track committed to an ambitious program of improvements and upgrades, including the construction of eight new hospitality suites attached to the three-story control tower and lengthening the track to 3,800 feet.

The facility currently houses a quarter-mile dragstrip, three-eighths mile clay oval track and a mini sprint cart track. Also on the grounds are a $38,000 playground, a fully functioning 12-window main concession stand, full concourse washroom facilities, and private hospitality suites.

"People have been asking when IHRA is moving west: that time is now" states President Bill Bader. "Canadian race fans have proved how much they appreciate IHRA drag racing. Ron Reeves and his team are building a first-class facility, and we look forward to expanding our brand of drag racing."

Canada currently hosts two IHRA National Events, the Mopar Parts Canadian Nationals at Grand Bend Motorplex, Grand Bend, Ontario and the inaugural IHRA Nationals at the newly renovated Toronto Motorsports Park on August 9-11, 2002.