IHRA Announces New “Grass Roots” Stockcar Racing Series

What’s Happening?

What’s happening, Daily Downforce readers? There’s a lot going on in the world of NASCAR right now with the anti-trust lawsuit between 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR gearing up to go to trial on Monday. Perhaps buried beneath all that insanity was the announcement made mid-week by the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA, not to be confused with the NHRA). The IHRA is largely, like the NHRA, a drag racing series. However, the governing body announced this week the creation of the IHRA Stock Car Series, set to take to the track next spring.

The series is set to focus on grassroots, short-track style racing, featuring late-model stock car bodies. The series will have a full-season points format and will hold its inaugural event at Pulaski Motorsports Park in Virginia on March 21, 2026.

You Need to Know:

• One of the main arguments in the teams 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports’ anti-trust lawsuit is that NASCAR is a monopoly, being the only premier nationally-touring stock car racing series. That makes the timing of the announcement, while coincidental, pretty interesting. It makes it all the more interesting when, in the leaked texts, NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps alluded to the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) from a couple of years ago as direct competition to NASCAR. While it’s not clear if NASCAR feels the same way about the CARS Tour, one could imagine that they consider this announcement to be a threat.
• To start, the series will host only 8 races. The main goal, per IHRA officials, is to attract grass roots racers with a more affordable alternative to the NASCAR ranks and the CARS Tour. Many fan favorite short tracks will be featured on the circuit, including Newport Speedway (TN), Anderson Motor Speedway (SC), Salem Speedway (IN), and the Forgotten Speedway, Memphis Motorsports Park.
• In addition to the new series, it was also revealed that the series will consist of two classes (presumably Pro Stocks and Late Model Stocks) and will feature a $2 million purse for the series’ champion.

What do you think of this, NASCAR fans? Do you think a series such as this one can succeed? Do you think it’s direct competition to NASCAR? And what about the CARS Tour? How do you think this will affect them? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.