The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) and Tulsa Raceway Park announced Tuesday during a press conference that the track will host the Skull Shine Sooner Nationals, an IHRA national event, May 25 – 27, 2007.

The Sooner Nationals, which will continue annually through 2011, is the third race of the 12-event 2007 eMax Nitro Jam™ Drag Racing Series.“When this drag strip opened in 1965, it was host to many national events, including the World Finals and the Spring Nationals,” Tulsa Raceway Park owner Dan Guterman said.

IHRA AND TULSA RACEWAY PARK HOST PRESS CONFERENCE IN OKLAHOMA; National Event Tour Will Make Stop At Tulsa Track Beginning In 2007 

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) and Tulsa Raceway Park announced Tuesday during a press conference that the track will host the Skull Shine Sooner Nationals, an IHRA national event, May 25 – 27, 2007.

The Sooner Nationals, which will continue annually through 2011, is the third race of the 12-event 2007 eMax Nitro Jam™ Drag Racing Series.“When this drag strip opened in 1965, it was host to many national events, including the World Finals and the Spring Nationals,” Tulsa Raceway Park owner Dan Guterman said.

“After extensive renovation, Tulsa Raceway Park is again a premier drag racing facility, and I’d like to thank the Tulsa Sports Commission in helping bring this event to Tulsa.”

Mike Dodson, executive director of the Tulsa Sports Commission, was on hand to welcome the event along with IHRA vice president of marketing Jim Marchyshyn.

“What an outstanding name, the Sooner Nationals,” said Dodson. “This is an outstanding opportunity for this community considering the economic impact and the benefits it brings. This is the kind of sporting event that is fun for the community and provides positive exposure across the country. It’s national in scope and we can put our best foot forward.”

 “We’re looking for world-class venues that can put on a great show and where we won’t limit ourselves in terms of financial resources,” said Marchyshyn. “We know we can put on a world-class event here, and Dan has taken the necessary steps to create a facility with premier amenities, including the race control and hospitality tower, concrete walls surrounding an excellent racing surface, increased parking and pit paving. All the things we asked him to do, he stepped up and did them.

“This event will bring between 500 and 550 race teams to Tulsa from all over the United States and Canada. That’s 3,500 people just in drivers and crews alone,” added Marchyshyn. “Tulsa is a great market with tremendous upside. We are thrilled to be hosting an event in Oklahoma during the 2007 season. Dan worked hard with the Tulsa Sports Commission to make this a reality and we are looking forward to building this event into something special.”

“Having grown up in Tulsa and attending the World Finals and Spring Nationals and then seeing them go away, this means a lot to me in being one of the ones responsible for bringing it back,” said Guterman. “Together with my father and my brother, my partners in Tulsa Raceway Park, we saw this facility having the potential of reaching its past glory. Drag racing used to be an important part in the Tulsa sports scene and the IHRA Skull Shine Sooner Nationals is an important event and will have other national events riding its coattails into Tulsa.”