MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Hundreds of IHRA Summit SuperSeries track champions, along with Summit Team Finals divisional champions from around the United States and Canada, gathered at Memphis Int’l Raceway on Friday and Saturday for the IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals.
With nearly 100 IHRA-sanctioned tracks represented, drivers traveled from the United States and Canada coming from nearly 4,000-miles away in Palmer, Alaska, to the largest and most prestigious bracket racing championship in drag racing.
The IHRA Summit SuperSeries champions were crowned Saturday in Top (Box), Mod (No Box), Sportsman and Junior Dragster. The $200,000 program is the championship competition for IHRA member Sportsman racers and more than 8,000 racers compete in the program annually.
Keith Cleveland, representing Lancaster Dragway won the Top World Championship. Dustin Avondet, representing Mo-Kan Dragway captured the Mod World Championship. Dustin Carroll, captured Sportsman World Championship. Kaden Harrill representing Knoxville Dragstrip won the Junior Dragster crown.
Cleveland defeated Paul Peterson representing Dragway 42 in the Top finals with a .010-reaction time, 5.66-second run at 119.80 mph.
His championship package included $20,000 from Summit Racing Equipment, a seven-night/eight-day vacation for two on the island of Aruba courtesy of Around Aruba Tours, a golf cart from Darts Carts, a world championship diamond ring, a world championship Ironman Trophy and IHRA Gold Card. Cleveland also took home an additional $500 from Battle Born Battery for having the best reaction time of all the final round competitors.
“Unbelievable,” a jubilant Cleveland stated in victory lane. “I don’t know what to say. I want to thank the IHRA, my family, my father and my fiancée for supporting me. I’m going to Aruba!”
Dustin Avondet had a 6.144-second pass at 110.64 mph to claim the Mod World Championship over Chris Roth representing Mid-Michigan Motorplex who was the runner-up.
Avondet also won $20,000 from Summit Racing Equipment, a seven-night/eight-day vacation for two on the island of Aruba, a golf cart from Darts Carts, a world championship diamond ring, a world championship Ironman Trophy and IHRA Gold Card.
“It was a long day,” a happy Avondet said. “ I have to thank my wife Kim, my kids Kellen and Addision, my dad, IHRA and Mo-Kan Dragway for allowing me to compete here.”
Dustin Carroll, had a 7.689-second pass at 87.13 mph claiming the Sportsman World Championship over Larry Doty, representing Palm Beach Int’l Raceway.
Carroll also won $5,000 from Summit Racing Equipment, a world championship diamond ring, a world championship Ironman Trophy and IHRA Gold Card.
“I just want to thank Union County Dragway for allowing me to come out here and compete,” Caroll said. “I have to thank the IHRA, my wife, my dad, my daughter for all of their support.
Kaden Harrill went down the track in 8.389 seconds at 66.65 mph by defeating Taylor Hansen, representing Onawa Racing & Events Complex.
“I don’t know what to say,” an emotional Harrill said in victory lane. “I really wanted to win that car after it got unveiled last night and now, I get to bring it home.”
With the World Championship, won a custom-built IHRA Junior Dragster built by Half Scale Dragster featuring a custom paint scheme from Imagine That Customs, car cover from Summit Racing Equipment, tires from Hoosier Racing Tire, tach from Digatron USA, digital dial board from Digital Delay, seat belts from RJS Racing Equipment, a powerful 7.90 engine from Nic Woods Racing Engines and a gift certificate from Keizer Wheels toward the purchase of front and rear wheels.
Harrill also took home $3,000 from Summit Racing Equipment as well as the world championship Ironman Trophy, a world championship diamond ring and IHRA Gold Card.