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Leagues and Governing Bodies

Face of NHRA named president of rival IHRA

Mike Dunn, a former drag racing driver and owner who has been the face of the NHRA on ESPN for the past 14 years, is the new president of the rival International Hot Rod Association.

The move comes as part of a reorganization engineered by Chris Lencheski, hired as vice chairman and CEO of IHRA parent IRG Sports & Entertainment late last year.

Dunn
“I was intrigued by the new plan and business model, so I jumped on board,” said Dunn, who last raced in an IHRA event in the mid-’90s. “We need to grow our audience, make it younger, and the plan addresses that. The fact we’re going global means we’re growing elsewhere. We’re not taking on the NHRA. We’re going elsewhere and into new markets with a new model.”

Lencheski characterized the hiring as something that would add credibility to the IHRA, which generally has been cast as the NHRA’s weaker sibling. At the top of the to-do list now for the IHRA are a new domestic TV deal and global expansion. Dunn said the circuit hopes to have 14 to 16 races in 2017. This year’s IHRA schedule has seven top-tier events.

Dunn, the son of Hall of Fame drag racer “Big Jim” Dunn, is one of four drivers to win 10 or more races in both Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars.


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