Big news for Memphis and the Hod Rod/Racing community. The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) officially confirmed the return of Memphis International Raceway while also confirming the IHRA finals will be in Memphis October 22nd through 24th, 2026. The Sportsman Series schedule also includes Memphis October 15th through 18th, 2026.
From Drag Coverage Media (DCM): The International Hot Rod Association officially confirmed the return of Memphis International Raceway by announcing that the 2026 IHRA World Finals will be held at the historic facility in Memphis, Tennessee. The news was announced during IHRA’s PRI Show announcements and immediately confirmed rumors that the iconic track will reopen under the IHRA banner.
Along with the World Finals announcement, IHRA released a major slate of 2026 series details, including full schedules for both the IHRA Sportsman Series and the new IHRA Small Tire Bratz Series.
The Small Tire Bratz Series will feature a 10-race national tour built around 28×10.5 tires, no-time racing, 1/8-mile competition, fan-draw chip pairings, and a $20,000 winner’s purse.
The Sportsman Series schedule also showcases a packed fall calendar. Here is the sportsman calendar that was released:
• September 10–13 — Cordova, IL
• September 17–20 — Milan, MI
• September 17–20 — West Salem, OH
• September 24–27 — Montgomery, AL
• October 1–4 — Dunn, NC
• October 8–11 — Ferris, TX
• October 15–18 — Memphis, TN
• October 22–24 — IHRA World Finals — Memphis, TN
More coverage on Memphis Sports Station, 92.9 FM ESPN