New Chapter, New Upgrades, New Name - Milan Dragway Gets a Host of Updates, and Becomes Darana Dragway in Time for This Weekend’s IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series, and Sick Michigan Miles Next Month!
The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has been the subject of multiple news stories in 2025, as the series has come back with national events that include professional classes, as well as a return to their sportsman classes too.
The IHRA also got a lot of attention for the purchasing of several race tracks, including Milan Dragway, which hosts the second of five IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series events for 2025 this weekend under its new name, Darana Dragway.
Darana Dragway will be our host track for Sick Michigan Miles Presented by Driven Racing Oil, coming on August 10-17th, 2025! We’ll do an entire week in the great state of Michigan, featuring over 1,000 street miles and four race tracks - PLUS a visit to Woodward Dream Cruise! Don’t miss out on your chance to join us - CLICK HERE for more info on Sick Michigan Miles - including Sick Ward and Sick Spit Detailer Show & Shine!
When we first reported about the IHRA purchasing several tracks in March this year, the Milan Dragway purchase wasn’t a big surprise to some. The legendary Michigan track, which was closed in 2021 due to bankruptcy, was brought back to life over a three-year period by Perry Merlo and co-owner Harold Bullock.
“We’re proud of what we’ve been able to do over the three years we’ve owned it,” said Perry. He mentioned that although the track had a full round of updates and upgrades, they were ready for “someone with the passion we have for the next chapter of the track,” Perry said in late 2024.
That someone would be IHRA owner Darryl Cuttell, and he wasted no time in getting the next round of upgrades going for the track. “He has his vision of spectacular, and the facility reflects that,” said Pam Merlo, wife of Perry. “It’s not just Milan; Darryl wants to improve all his tracks.”
Part of that vision was bringing in noted racer and Michigan resident John Kramer. Known as ‘Johnny Quick’ in racing circles, he looks at the track’s next chapter with a high level of enthusiasm.
“Milan has always been home for me, so to improve every aspect of this track should make racers and spectators be excited,” said John. The track had a lot of work on not only the racing surface, but also a lot of new asphalt around the pits and roads.
The track also received a new Accutime timing system, new paint, new bathrooms and a lot more. “It was good after all the upgrades from Harold Bullock, Perry and Pam Merlo, but Darryl is taking it to the next level,” John noted.
The track’s name change from Milan Dragway to Darana Dragway was announced just in time for this weekend’s IHRA Nitro Outlaw Series event, and Sick The Magazine enthusiasts will get to see the upgrades during our upcoming Sick Michigan Miles Presented by Driven Racing Oil event, starting August 10th, 2025.
“The latest changes have me more than ready to go back and visit,” said Tom Bailey of Sick The Magazine. “When we stepped up to sponsor Milan a few years back, it’s because we want to support our local race track, and give enthusiasts a great place to race. Darryl’s upgrades take that idea and ramp it up a bunch!”
“If you think about it, Milan has a lot of history,” said Pam. “But then it closed, and how many race track tracks come back from that? Thankfully, Perry and Harold bought it, pulled it out of the gutter, cleaned it up and got it ready for its next chapter. Darryl is trying to raise things to the next level, and we’re excited to see what he does.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Darana Dragway (John Kramer).
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com