The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), based in Fairfield, Ohio, has announced Leah Martin as president. Martin brings a broad and distinguished background in executive leadership, national advocacy initiatives, organizational development and large-scale motorsports operations, IHRA said, also stating:

"Our research indicates that Martin is the only female president of a major motorsports sanctioning body in the United States. This marks a significant milestone not only for IHRA but also for women rising into leadership roles across the motorsports landscape."

In her new role, Martin will oversee all IHRA disciplines--including drag racing, offshore powerboat racing, stock car racing, tractor pulling and emerging motorsports platforms--in an effort to ensure unified leadership and strategic alignment across the entire organization.

Before entering the motorsports industry, Martin held leadership roles within national nonprofit organizations, including serving as a director with the American Lung Association. In motorsports, Martin has served as executive director of the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, known as the world's largest performance boating event. Under her leadership, the Shootout expanded its sponsorship portfolio, strengthened event logistics and safety operations, enhanced media and community engagement, and delivered significant economic benefits to the region. She remains in an oversight capacity for the event, ensuring continuity, long-term planning and strategic alignment as it continues to grow.

Within IHRA, Martin has played a key role in advancing organizational structure, aligning multiple racing disciplines and building a unified framework across the association's growing and diverse motorsports properties.

"Stepping into this role is an incredible honor, and I am fully committed to advancing the IHRA with a racer-first mindset and a clear vision for long-term growth. Motorsports thrive when organizations work together, when teams feel supported and when there is alignment with a shared mission. My focus is on fostering collaboration, strengthening our operations and building a foundation that will carry the IHRA forward for years to come," said Martin. "I'm grateful for the trust placed in me and look forward to leading the IHRA into a new era of stability, innovation and opportunity."

"What's important to me isn't male or female, but rather who is best for the job. Leah has a tremendous sense of business and has surrounded herself with the strongest experts in each racing discipline under our umbrella. Her leadership, her strategic approach and her ability to unite teams are exactly what the IHRA needs as we elevate our motorsports portfolio to new levels," said Darryl Cuttell, CEO of IHRA. "The fact that she is a woman breaking new ground in motorsports is a bonus--but it's her capability, not her gender, that makes her the right leader. We are committed to progression in motorsports, and we couldn't be prouder that Leah will lead the way."

Visit IHRA.com for more information.