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Thousands Welcome Back the World Series of Drag Racing

Cordova International Raceway is getting ready for street racing after the successful return of the World Series of Drag Racing last weekend.

WVIK's Michelle O'Neill talked with spokesman Blake Anderson, who says around 25,000 fans came to the track for the world series, which was held in Memphis last year.

The move to Memphis felt like a slap in the face to many racers and fans of Cordova, which had been the home of the World Series of Drag Racing since 1954.

Credit https://goo.gl/xTbJC3 / Cordova IR Facebook page
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Cordova IR Facebook page
Screenshot of Blake Anderson recording a Facebook live video during the 64th WSDR, Cordova, IL, August 2017

Blake Anderson has only served as Cordova's Director of Corporate Partnerships for about four months. He doesn't know why track owner, IRG Sports and Entertainment, decided to move the world series to Memphis, or why the company moved it back. But he says it was a win for all involved when Dominic Blasco became President and General Manager of the Illinois track.

It's been more than two years since IRG bought the Cordova dragway, and spent $500,000 on a new track, grandstand, and other updates. Anderson says this year's world series had something for everyone. Even during the races, he was already working on details of the next big event, Hot Rod Drag Week.

This year, Cordova will serve as home track, meaning the street racers will begin and end racing just north of the Quad Cities. Hot Rod Drag Week will be held the second week of September. More information is online at Cordova ICR.

Officially, Michelle's title for 28 years was WVIK News Editor. She did everything there is to do in the newsroom and whatever was needed around the radio station. She also served as Acting News Director from September 2023 - January 2024.