{"id":25301,"date":"2025-11-10T10:50:50","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T15:50:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/competitionplus.com\/?p=25301"},"modified":"2025-11-12T08:42:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T13:42:30","slug":"the-ten-the-ihra-outlaw-nito-series-finale-from-galot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/competitionplus.com\/the-ten-the-ihra-outlaw-nito-series-finale-from-galot\/","title":{"rendered":"THE TEN – THE IHRA OUTLAW NITRO SERIES FINALE FROM GALOT"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Competition Plus\u2019 Water-Cooler Topics From IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series finale in Dunn, NC.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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1 – <\/span>WORSHAM\u2019S DOMINATION CONTINUES – <\/span><\/strong>Former IHRA Funny Car champion Del Worsham capped off a commanding season by winning Saturday\u2019s IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series finale at Darana Motorsports Park in Dunn, North Carolina.<\/span><\/p>

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Worsham reached the final round in all five IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series events this season, winning three of them \u2014 at Columbus, Milan, and now Dunn. His latest victory came after eliminating John Smith in the quarterfinals, Jacob McNeal in the semifinals, and Bobby Bode in the final round.<\/span><\/p>

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In the final, Bode\u2019s car lost traction early, opening the door for Worsham\u2019s consistent performance to seal the win. Worsham crossed the line in 3.319 seconds at 265.27 mph to close out one of the strongest Funny Car campaigns of 2025.<\/span><\/p>

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The 1992 IHRA Funny Car champion said the night\u2019s conditions were nearly identical to previous outings where his team struggled to find traction, but steady progress paid off when it mattered most. \u201cIt was dark and very similar conditions to last night, which we didn\u2019t get down the track,\u201d Worsham said. \u201cThe last three events at IHRA, we haven\u2019t made that nighttime run. So a little concerned about that, but we seem to be getting better as the days go on.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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Facing Bobby Bode in the final round carried personal meaning for Worsham, who has spent much of his career mentoring young racers. \u201cI got to race my buddy Bobby Bode, who\u2019s driven for me this year and even ran Junior Dragsters for me,\u201d Worsham said. \u201cHe\u2019s like part of our family, just a great family, great guys. We thought we had a setup that should get us down there, and it was enough to get it done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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The victory continued a season defined by adaptability and precision. \u201cWe\u2019ve had some races where we qualified number one and dominated, and others where we just did what we had to do,\u201d <\/span>he<\/span> said. \u201cThis weekend was kind of that way, but we got it done and got the win.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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For Worsham, the 2025 campaign marked a return to the driver\u2019s seat after years focused on tuning and team management. The three-race cross-country tour effectively delayed his Hall of Fame eligibility by another five years \u2014 something he\u2019s not losing sleep over. \u201cI really appreciate everything IHRA and everybody\u2019s done for us because it\u2019s been great, it\u2019s been a fun year,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>

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Had a formal championship <\/span>been awarded<\/span>, Worsham\u2019s near-perfect record would have earned him a fourth IHRA title. Instead, the 2025 season stands as proof that even decades into his career, Del Worsham\u2019s dominance \u2014 and passion for nitro racing \u2014 remain untouched<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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2 – FIRST TOP FUEL WIN \u2013 Kyle Satenstein turned a turbulent few weeks into triumph, capturing his first Top Fuel victory in Saturday\u2019s IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series finale at Darana Motorsports Park in Dunn, North Carolina. His 3.137-second pass at 273.83 mph defeated No. 1 qualifier Lex Joon, who trailed at 3.473 seconds and 187.83 mph.<\/span><\/p>

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Satenstein\u2019s win capped a run through Bernie Plourd in the quarterfinals and Cameron Ferre in the semifinals, sealing a breakthrough moment in his young nitro career. The win earned him the $50,000 Top Fuel purse and the IHRA Ironman trophy, solidifying his name among the series\u2019 rising stars.<\/span><\/p>

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The victory carried extra meaning considering the chaos leading up to the weekend. <\/span><\/p>

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\u201cA couple <\/span>weeks<\/span> ago, the truck and trailer on the way home from the race in Dallas had an accident,\u201d Satenstein said. \u201cThe car got a little hurt, the trailer got hurt, the truck got totaled. <\/span>So <\/span>just<\/span> to get to this point here, what the team owner had to do to do that, while I was at home sitting on my ass doing nothing, they were putting in a lot of work.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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Even after arriving in Dunn, things didn\u2019t go smoothly. \u201cThe first run I went to make, I went to back up the car <\/span>and<\/span> the front wheel was basically hanging off,\u201d Satenstein recalled. \u201cIn the car, I\u2019m like, \u2018Oh, this is not good.\u2019 So we were able to fix that <\/span>luckily<\/span>, and apparently it went straight enough.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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Qualifying was uneven, but the team\u2019s persistence paid off. \u201cWe just knew as long as you keep giving us more shots at the track, a third shot at it, we\u2019d figure it out,\u201d Satenstein said. \u201cWe woke up this morning,<\/span> I <\/span>found out I had a bye. <\/span>That was the best news I <\/span>could hear<\/span>.<\/span> We basically had a free shot at the track.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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By <\/span>eliminations<\/span>, <\/span>Satenstein\u2019s car was dialed<\/span> in and consistent. \u201cRight around 100 feet, 200 feet, I was just sort of thinking to myself, waiting for tire shake or waiting for it to spin or just something to go wrong,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd it just kept pulling. Once I made it about 300 feet, I was like, \u2018This shit is over. We\u2019re going to win.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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3 – IS THAT A FERRIS WHEEL? \u2013 When the lights came on over Darana Motorsports Park during the IHRA season finale, fans didn\u2019t just see nitro flames \u2014 they saw a Ferris wheel spinning against the Carolina night sky. It wasn\u2019t a gimmick. It was a signal that the International Hot Rod Association, under Scott Woodruff\u2019s guidance, is serious about redefining what a drag race weekend can be.<\/span><\/p>

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Woodruff, one of the organization\u2019s key visionaries, has made it clear that the new IHRA isn\u2019t just about horsepower and elapsed times. It\u2019s about atmosphere, families, and creating a place where racing shares the stage with laughter and music. <\/span><\/p>

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\u201cWell, first and foremost, we\u2019re in the entertainment business,\u201d Woodruff said. \u201cSo it\u2019s all about having more entertainment for people at the track and having different things that interest them and bringing that all together at one facility.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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The Ferris wheel, now the most photographed attraction of the weekend, was born from a spur-of-the-moment idea in a planning meeting. <\/span><\/p>

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\u201cI think the Ferris wheel, I can\u2019t remember who brought it up, whether it was D\u2019Arcy or Darrell,\u201d Woodruff said. \u201cAnd then when we started talking about it, I think Darrell just said, \u2018Hey, make it happen.\u2019\u201d That phrase \u2014 <\/span>make it happen<\/span><\/em> \u2014 has become something of an IHRA mantra. Within days, the team sourced the ride, handled logistics, and turned it into a glowing centerpiece.<\/span><\/p>

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By Saturday night, the midway pulsed with life. Families gathered around food vendors, veterans were honored on stage, and jet cars lit up the track as children pointed from their seats atop the wheel. \u201cIt\u2019s a great visual at night,\u201d Woodruff said. \u201cIt just kind of sets a visual tone <\/span>and<\/span> it\u2019s a reminder that we\u2019re here to do things differently.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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What could have been a novelty turned into a message. The IHRA isn\u2019t interested in just surviving \u2014 it\u2019s interested in thriving, by giving fans something they can\u2019t find anywhere else. Woodruff calls it painting on a blank canvas. \u201cA racetrack is nothing but a blank canvas,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd how you decide to paint it is 100% up to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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When the Ferris wheel stopped spinning that night, the crowd still lingered \u2014 proof that for one weekend, IHRA\u2019s vision worked. \u201cAt the end of the day, it\u2019s about making people smile,\u201d Woodruff said. \u201cYou do that \u2014 and everything else takes care of itself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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4 – STEDING WINS IN PRO MOD DEBUT \u2013 Ethan Steding made the most of his first appearance in Pro Modified competition, powering to victory over veteran Kevin McCurdy in Saturday\u2019s IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series finale at Darana Motorsports Park in Dunn, North Carolina. His 3.568-second pass at 209.49 mph was enough to hold off McCurdy\u2019s 3.687 at 200.35 mph.<\/span><\/p>

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Steding gained a slight edge at the starting line with a .063 reaction time to McCurdy\u2019s .073, and he never trailed from there. The win added another accomplishment to a breakout season for the young North Carolina driver, who also captured the 2025 PDRA Pro Street world championship earlier this year.<\/span><\/p>

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The 22-year-old called the moment surreal, crediting veteran tuner Todd Tutterow for giving him a car capable of competing with some of the class\u2019s most established names. <\/span><\/p>

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\u201cI just kept my head real calm,\u201d Steding said. \u201cIt\u2019s what I\u2019ve learned to do in this type of situation. I\u2019m out here racing with the baddest dudes of the baddest <\/span>and<\/span> I\u2019m just a young gun in here. I wasn\u2019t expecting this to happen at all, but with the dudes who were behind me and Todd Tutterow, the baddest dude to ever be in this sport, it gives you the best feeling going into the final round.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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Steding said confidence carried the team through the weekend. <\/span><\/p>

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\u201cI was very confident in this team all weekend long,\u201d he said. \u201cEvery time we go out and race, I\u2019m very confident in these guys, and I just can\u2019t thank them enough.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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That confidence, he explained, was built through years of watching and learning from others. \u201cI\u2019ve always been the type to watch and learn,\u201d Steding said. \u201cComing out of the Junior Dragster ranks and being around all these great people, you see it all, and it makes you better.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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Steding entered Pro Mod after earning back-to-back PDRA championships in 10.5-inch tire competition, proving his versatility across drag racing\u2019s most demanding classes. \u201cBeing a two-time world champion in that, I got the greatest dudes who drag race and they\u2019re the best teachers to teach you,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>

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The victory was as meaningful to his family as it was to him. \u201cMy mom and dad are very proud,\u201d Steding said. \u201cI couldn\u2019t tell you the <\/span>amount<\/span> of times <\/span>my dad was told<\/span> that he needs to retire and sit back after this weekend, but I love it and I can\u2019t thank both my parents enough for this opportunity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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5 – POWERS PREVAILS IN CLOSE FINAL \u2013 Chris Powers captured his second IHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock victory of the season Saturday at Darana Motorsports Park in Dunn, North Carolina, winning by the narrowest of margins over Jordan Ensslin. Both drivers clocked identical 4.068-second passes, but Powers\u2019 quicker reaction time of .051 to Ensslin\u2019s .061 delivered the win.<\/span><\/p>

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The difference was in speed \u2014 Ensslin posted a slightly faster 176.65 mph to Powers\u2019 176.35 mph \u2014 but the reaction time advantage made all the difference at the finish line. It was a fitting conclusion for one of the most competitive races of the weekend <\/span>and continued<\/span> a remarkable streak for Powers, who has now reached five straight finals after an earlier win this season at Milan, Michigan.<\/span><\/p>

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\u201cWe just tried to go and make a good run A to B,\u201d Powers said. \u201cBe subtle. The left foot\u2019s been doing its work all day<\/span>. <\/span>Car\u2019s<\/span> run<\/span> good.<\/span> We just got a few bugs after the <\/span>42<\/span> episode <\/span>when<\/span> we broke a <\/span>motor,<\/span> we were just a little bit behind.<\/span> But Chuck did a heck of a job tuning <\/span>and<\/span> Sonny\u2019s worked day and night trying to get everything put back together.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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The past few weeks have tested the Powers team\u2019s resilience. After suffering a major engine failure at Dragway 42, the group scrambled to rebuild in time for the finale. \u201cI couldn\u2019t be more proud of them,\u201d Powers said. \u201cWe\u2019ve done a phenomenal job. The crew worked nonstop trying to get this thing done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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With another IHRA win on his r\u00e9sum\u00e9, Powers continues to cement his place among the series\u2019 most consistent Pro Stock drivers. \u201cThis is five straight finals for us, so we\u2019re just blessed,\u201d he said. \u201cWe cannot believe it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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Powers credited his tuner, crew, and the IHRA for making the event a success. \u201cThanks to IHRA for <\/span>giving us an opportunity<\/span> to come over here and race,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd thanks to all the fans that come out. <\/span>It was exciting to see so many people here watching <\/span>and<\/span> thanks <\/span>everybody<\/span>.<\/span> Hope everybody has a safe trip home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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6 – <\/span>SUMMER RETURNS FOR LOVE OF HERITAGE<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 Annette Summer didn\u2019t haul to Darana Motorsports Park\u2013Galot chasing trophies or time slips. She came to reconnect with the roots that made her one of Pro Street\u2019s original pioneers.<\/span><\/p>

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For Summer, the IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series finale was about gratitude, not glory. \u201cThis is awesome,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is like the old days. I mean, this place is freaking packed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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It had been more than two decades since her last IHRA event. This time, she arrived with \u201cBarney,\u201d the deep-purple 1941 Willys that helped rewrite Pro Modified history.<\/span><\/p>

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Built by Tommy Mauney for the 1995 season, \u201cBarney\u201d ended Scotty Cannon\u2019s five-year reign and carried Shannon Jenkins to IHRA championships in 1997 and 1999. \u201cIt\u2019s almost around the <\/span>30-year<\/span> anniversary of that car coming out the first time,\u201d Summer said. \u201cThis is everybody\u2019s favorite car. It belongs to all of us who lived that time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

Her first pass back was emotional. \u201cI was a little nervous because the car hadn\u2019t been down a track in 18 years,\u201d she said. \u201cIt went left, I brought it back, and finally I just quit with it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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The run didn\u2019t matter. \u201cI haven\u2019t even looked at the time slip,\u201d <\/span>she<\/span> admitted. \u201cI\u2019ve been running around like a crazy woman.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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For Summer, the weekend was more about people than performance. \u201cAll this is about is honoring the people that helped me \u2014 Shannon, Tommy, Gene, and Ron Santhuff,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m a believer in honoring people before they pass away, not after they pass away. <\/span>This<\/span> is what this car is all about. <\/span>It\u2019s about those people <\/span>that helped<\/span> me because I wouldn\u2019t have done <\/span>nothing<\/span> without them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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She parked among grassroots racers, right where she felt most at home. \u201cWe\u2019re in the sportsman area because I wasn\u2019t pre-entered,\u201d she said. \u201cI got Super Stock on my left and Top Sportsman on my right. I\u2019m just happy to be here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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Her last IHRA appearance came in 2002 with a nitrous-powered \u201957 Corvette. More than 20 years later, surrounded by familiar names and faces, Summer found peace where it all began.<\/span><\/p>

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\u201cThis is like the old days,\u201d she said, standing beside the purple Willys. \u201cThe crowd, the cars, the people \u2014 it\u2019s all here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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