The 2025 rebirth season for the IHRA included season round #3 for it’s Nitro Funny Car class at the IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series event hosted by Darana Raceway (Hebron OH – Sep. 5-6).

That category produced a first time winner when Dan Hix, from Indiana, emerged in an upset defeating Californian Del Worsham in the final round. Hix, who is an accomplished AA/FA class driver collected a $50,000 payday for his efforts – prevailing over the 8-car qualified field.

Hix won Funny Car in a hotly contested final versus Worsham, who had won the IHRA’s most recent race in Milan, Michigan, and where Hix was the runner-up.

They were running neck-and-neck when Worsham’s car broke loose, and he made an incredible save to keep from crashing the car.

The winning time for Hix was 4.329 seconds at 295.86 mph, in a car that has a single Magneto and a small fuel pump. Worsham’s near crash at the end of the track moved his numbers to 4.535 seconds at 196.42 mph.

“It’s unbelievable – I didn’t think I actually got the win,” Hix said. “He [Worsham] shut it off at the finish line, and I just went ripping by there. It wasn’t until they were waving me over to do the fun interviews that it started to set in.”

Hix referred to his time in this new-to-him Funny Car as a Cinderella story. It was only his second time out in the car, first in Milan, MI, and then this weekend. He also thanked his team, Rich Jr. and Rich Sr. McPhillips and Dom Lagana for their help.

Hix had qualified #3 entering eliminations and he defeated Eric Stevens and Jack Wyatt in round one and two.

Worsham, qualified #1 for the event in his Toyota Supra – carding a 4.094 secs before topping opponents Jody Austin and Terry Haddock to advance to the final. Del’s run of 4.088 secs and 318.25 mph in the semi final was both low ET and top speed of the event.

Nitro Funny Cars will be back in action within the IHRA next during the IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series event at West Salem OH – Dragway 42 facility – Sep 26-27.

Posted with files by IHRA Communications & Bruce Biegler
Photos courtesy of Robert Richard/BME Photography