IHRA is pleased to announce the signing of Palm Beach International Raceway to its family of tracks.

Boasting one of the most beautiful backdrops and facilities in all of racing, Palm Beach International Raceway will waste little time jumping into the national event rotation as the facility will host the 2010 Nitro Jam season opener January 29-31.

“We are very excited to have IHRA on board. With our new track and the quality of the people on both sides we are going to put on some great events,” said Ron Dixon, President and COO of Palm Beach International Raceway. “Mutually it is going to be beneficial for everyone involved. We look forward to showcasing what we have to the world.”

Palm Beach International Raceway is located on the site of the old Moroso Motorsports Park, but there is very little resemblance to its former self. The new drag strip, which opened just 11 months ago, is also joined by a world-class road course and karting center making PBIR an exciting new destination for the IHRA and its fans.

“It really is an impressive place, perhaps one of the best structures in the United States,” Dixon added. “We have received a lot of advice and visited a lot of tracks because we wanted to get this right. And, quite frankly, I think we really have something that the Palm Beach area and IHRA can be proud of.”

When IHRA President Aaron Polburn visited the facility in late August he admits that even he was taken aback by the beauty and design of not just the track, but of the surrounding facility and of the West Palm Beach backdrop.

“This is literally one of the best tracks I have ever seen. We go to some world class facilities, but there is just something special about this place that is sure to make it a top destination for the IHRA and its different brands for years to come,” Polburn said.

On top of being one of the top drag racing facilities in the country, PBIR also provides a new market for the IHRA in southern Florida. Palm Beach International Raceway will also be a perfect fit for the exciting new look to the Nitro Jam series in 2010.

“One of the things we like is the association of the IHRA with Feld Entertainment. It is not just racing – we are in the entertainment business and that is a big plus,” Dixon said. “To me the wow factor is what it is all about, that is what people are looking for and it is refreshing to have the same mindset as the IHRA.

“We have the backing of the county, the tourism boards and everyone in the community. They can see what we bring to the table and I think this could lead to great things in the future.”

Dixon also used a bit of his own racing knowledge to help design the world-class facility. Along with acting as President and COO of Palm Beach International Raceway, Dixon is also the father of 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner and two-time IRL champion Scott Dixon, giving the family a number of years in the racing industry.

With the addition of Palm Beach International Raceway to its family of tracks, the IHRA now has tracks in 30 states and four different countries making it one of the largest sanctioning bodies in the world.