While Miller Brothers Construction and Smith Paving and Excavating have been working countless hours to complete a $1.6 million track reconstruction project at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, unfavorable weather has hampered the progress.

As a result, the 37th Annual Spring Warm-Up on April 28-29, which was to be the season-opener at the park, and the Lingenfelter Performance Engineering Wednesday Fun Night on May 2 have been canceled.

Summit Motorsports Park’s project and facilities manager Matt Welsh and Summit Motorsports Park president Bill Bader Jr., who have been working closely with Miller Brothers Construction and Smith Paving and Excavating, will provide an update to be posted soon.

When the highly touted project is completed, the staging lanes will be new asphalt and the head of the staging lanes through 100 feet past the finish line will be concrete from barrier wall to barrier wall, with new asphalt from that point through part of the sandtrap at the the end of the track.

Summit Motorsports Park is putting up a total of $11,600 for drivers qualifying in Top Alcohol Funny Car and Top Alcohol Dragster at the 12th Annual Cavalcade of Stars presented by Budweiser, May 18-20, 2018 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

In Top Alcohol Funny Car, which features 270-plus mph vehicles, and Top Alcohol Dragster, which features 285-plus mph vehicles, the payout for qualifying includes $1,000 for first, $900 for second, $800 for third, $700 for fourth, $600 for fifth, $500 for sixth, $400 for seventh, $300 for eighth and $150 for ninth through twelfth place qualifiers.

That’s in addition to an already plentiful payout in those categories — the quickest and fastest of the event which traditionally welcomes the largest audience on the annual NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series North Central Division tour — as winners will receive $2,500, while runners-up will receive $1,5000, semifinalists will receive $1,000 and quarterfinalists will receive $750. All of that pushes the total purse to close to $30,000.

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People who work at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio have plenty to be proud of going into the 2018 race season.

Their facility in Norwalk, Ohio is famous for fast cars, fireworks and fun, was named the 2017 Track of the Year by the NHRA North Central Division and is undergoing a $1.6 million track reconstruction that is sure to result in even more remarkable and record-setting racing.

Now, more people are being given an opportunity to join the park’s wonderful workforce as it’s hiring in several departments, including hospitality, track crew, parking, food and beverage, ticket sales/gate and facility maintenance.

“This is not just a summer job,” said Bill Bader Jr., Summit Motorsports Park president. “When you join Summit Motorsports Park, you’ll be part of an elite entertainment company that is the recognized industry leader in motorsports.”

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Bill Bader Jr.’s Energize, LLC has been hired by Maple Grove Raceway to help pave a prosperous path for its famed facility in Mohnton, Pennsylvania.

Through his motorsports marketing company, Bader Jr., who is also president of Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, will be part of inventing and implementing management and marketing programs to ensure that Maple Grove Raceway will be among the leaders in the motorsports industry.

“I will be involved in every aspect of Maple Grove Raceway’s operations, from staff and sponsors to track prep and ticket sales,” said Bader Jr., who has more than 40 years of experience in the motorsports industry. “Maple Grove Raceway’s market includes parts of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Maryland, Washington and other states, and it is extraordinary. It is steeped in rich tradition, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for it.”

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Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio has launched a new website designed to showcase all of its offerings in a state of the art format.

Both customized and cutting edge, it is to feature information about upcoming events, race results, points standings, stories, ticket sales and much more, in an attractive and advantageous arrangement viewable from a variety of devices.

The website, which retains the www.summitmotorsportspark.com designation, may be finessed and fine-tuned in the days to come, but early feedback is positive.

The impressive accomplishments of the 2017 Summit Motorsports Park champions were celebrated during the inspiring 44th Annual Edelbrock Banquet of Champions presented by Lincoln Electric, January 13, 2018 at LaCentre Conference and Banquet Facility in Westlake, Ohio.

“It was a terrific weekend,” said Bill Bader Jr., president of Summit Motorsports Park. “There was a high amount of energy, and people were excited to be reunited after not seeing each other since the last race of the season in October. It was a perfect way to end 2017 and an even better way to begin 2018.”

The ceremony opened with side-by-side entrances by Bear Motorsports Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco Novice champion Roman Iocoangeli and his father, Mike Iocoangeli; Intermediate champion Ava Lawson and her grandfather, Ray Bouman; Advanced champion MacKenzie Kerns and her father, Ron Kerns; Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation champion Larry Strohscher and his wife, Nancy Strohscher; Edelbrock Pro champion Damien Hazelton and his wife, Sara Hazelton, Edelbrock Super Pro champion Eric Manuel and his wife, April Manuel, and 2016 Bill Bader Sportsman of the Year, Dennis Hall and his wife, Leann. Wiseco/Cycle Tech Super Bike champion Craig Adams was not able to attend.

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While many record-setting and remarkable passes have been made on the track surface at Summit Motorsports Park through the years, a $1.6 million track reconstruction project is in the works.

As part of it, the staging lanes will be new asphalt and the head of the staging lanes through 100 feet past the finish line will be concrete from barrier wall to barrier wall, with new asphalt from that point to the sandtrap at the end of the track.

“Our track surface has worked well, but since we became part of the NHRA in 2007, I’ve been thinking about ripping out the track and starting over so that we have an all-concrete surface rather than a concrete and asphalt surface,” said Bill Bader, Jr., president of Summit Motorsports Park. “We really got aggressive about it three years ago, and we’ve been researching it and talking with Jim Head, who races a high-horsepower car and is a concrete paver, so he has an understanding of what’s needed to ensure a high-quality track.”

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While there were plenty of powerful performances, pyrotechnics and packed stands during the 2017 race season at Summit Motorsports Park, there’s even more in store for 2018.

It begins with the 37th Annual Spring Warm-Up, which is now two days rather than one day, April 28-29, followed by the 12th Annual Cavalcade of Stars presented by Budweiser, which is billed as the largest NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event in the country, May 18-20.

Super Summit, featuring cars shined up to show and souped up to go, is June 8-9, and the 12th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, with everything from Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars to fireworks, is June 21-24.

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