The International Hot Rod Association wrapped up its 2014 season at the IHRA Summit Racing Equipment World Finals held at Memphis International Raceway.

The event was highlighted by a Professional racing program too with Peter Gallen winning his first “Ironman” of the year in Nitro Funny Car.

Gallen bested new IHRA record holder Mark Sanders in the process. With Sanders setting a new AMSOIL Nitro Funny Car mile-per-hour record one run earlier at 254.38 mph, Gallen was undeterred and put together a stout 5.801-second pass at 249.07 mph in the Nitro Funny Car final to take home his victory of the season.

Sanders, who is from Maple Valley WA ran a losing 5.932 secs at 245.85 mph in his ’70 Mustang in the final round.

“Obviously this was a very good group out here racing this weekend, but we got it done with some luck. Our car was not performing properly at all this weekend. We struggled in a number of areas and it simply did not run what it is capable of,” Gallen said. “But we were able to rally around my car chief John Benigni and get the win for him. John lost his father on Friday night and he wanted to stay here and see it out. I wanted to send him home on a plane, but he wanted to stay. That is really something and I dedicate this trophy to him and his family.”

Gallen got the best of a stout field on Sunday, a field that included Sanders, Shawn Bowen and Mike McIntire Jr., who collected an Ironman of his own on Sunday. McIntire won the rain-delayed race from Pittsburgh earlier this year and, in the process, finished second in the Funny Car standings behind Jason Rupert, who clinched the championship earlier this year.

Posted by:  Larry Crum