IHRA-Owned Tracks Up for Auction: What Racers Need to Know

What We Know So Far

Tranzon Atlas, part of the national Tranzon auction network, announced Tuesday that Darana Motorsports Holdings hired it to sell 12 racetrack and motorsports properties. The listings are on Tranzon's auction site, and both Dragzine and DragCoverage reported on them.

The sale is a hybrid sealed-bid auction. Sealed bids are due November 17 at 5 p.m. Central. Buyers can also negotiate a purchase before then, and some qualified bidders may be invited to an online bidding round afterward.

Darryl Cuttell, CEO of Darana, said the company's business "has taken a different direction" and that he has decided to exit racing. His stated goal is to finish the sales and the exit by the end of the year, according to Drag Illustrated.

How It Got Here

Cuttell bought the IHRA and quickly went on one of the fastest track-buying runs the sport has seen. In March 2025 he announced agreements to buy seven facilities. Several of those tracks said within days that they had not been sold, and more purchases followed over the next year. DragCoverage's earlier report, IHRA Has Agreed to Purchase 7 Drag Strips, covers that first announcement.

Dragzine describes the lead-up as a revolving door of industry professionals, an unsustainable payout model, and event cancellations. The IHRA's professional tour then collapsed. In June, the IHRA pulled its fall events at Atlanta, Milan and Empire. The Outlaw Nitro Series season and the Triple Crown were called off after that. Maple Grove Raceway, another Cuttell track, closed in August and is not on the auction list.

Reports also link the situation to a financial dispute involving Darana's construction arm and xAI. Cuttell has denied xAI's allegations. We are not drawing conclusions from it, but it is part of the backdrop.

"For Sale" Does Not Mean "Closing"

Nothing announced so far says any of these tracks will close. Several are still operating, and some have been hosting events through this turmoil. Dragzine makes the same point: the tracks kept running through everything around Cuttell and the IHRA, and their futures as racing facilities are now in question.

The listings do raise real questions, though. Tranzon is marketing some properties to more than racers. Heartland is listed as nearly 623 acres split into 29 tracts, including undeveloped light-industrial land. Memphis promotes conceptual plans for a logistics development. Atlanta Dragway is advertised as 343 acres of general commercial zoning near an interstate interchange.

Tranzon's president said he expects strong interest from the racing community. He also said the size, location and improvements of many properties create opportunities for developers and other real estate investors.

The terms are the same for every property: a 10% buyer's fee, a 10% deposit, a 30-day closing, and sold as-is. Every listing is subject to sale before the auction without notice. Only Atlanta Dragway and Kil-Kare advertise clear title with no liens or back taxes.

What Happens Next

• Bids close November 17. Expect news from the tracks, and possibly pre-auction sales, before then.
• Buyers decide the future. A racing-minded buyer keeps a strip alive. A developer may not.
• 2027 schedules are uncertain. If you race or spectate at one of these tracks, watch its official channels for confirmation before you book travel or build your season around it.
• The IHRA's own future is unclear. The auction announcement does not say what happens to the sanctioning body.

Why This Hits Home at Ride Legal

Racing runs on local venues, whether the engine is nitro, a V-twin or an outboard.

Ride Legal's offshore racing program backs the Velocity Ride Legal #611 boat, with Bob Spitulski driving and Scott McCormick on the throttles. Meet the full Velocity Ride Legal race team. We support racing from the foundation up, from local passion to national stages, and that foundation is the network of local tracks, series and grassroots events underneath the big names.

Different sports, same truth: when a place to race disappears, the whole community loses something. We will be watching to see which of these tracks stay open.

And if you love speed off the track too, Ride Legal can get your vehicle registered and handled right.

FAQ

Are IHRA drag strips closing?

No closures have been announced. The properties are being offered at auction, and what happens afterward depends on who buys them.

Which tracks are being sold?

Twelve properties: Atlanta Dragway, Dragway 42, GALOT Motorsports Park, Piedmont Dragway, Empire Dragway, Heartland Motorsports Park, Kil-Kare Raceway, Memphis International Raceway, Milan Dragway, National Trail Raceway, Rockingham Speedway and Virginia Motorsports Park. DragCoverage lists them by state.

When is the auction deadline?

Sealed bids are due November 17, 2026, at 5 p.m. Central, though properties can sell before then.

Who owns the tracks?

The auction was commissioned by Darana Motorsports Holdings, LLC, led by Darryl Cuttell, who also owns the IHRA.

Will the tracks stay racetracks?

Unknown. That is the biggest unanswered question.

Where can I see the listings?

Browse the properties on Tranzon's auction site.