48th Annual Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire Lights Up Summit Motorsports Park

Norwalk, OH – Pageantry, powerful cars, popular entertainers, pyrotechnics and passion all contributed to a completely compelling 48th Annual Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire, Aug. 1-2, 2025 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

The Greatest Show in Drag Racing® welcomed to its stage more than 82 performers, which is the most in the history of the event, and each played a part in creating magical moments and memories.

“Many months of planning went into this production, and our whole team was determined to deliver an exceedingly entertaining show for our thousands of guests,” said Kelli Bader, Summit Motorsports Park race director. “Our shared goal was to give it everything we had and go for a homerun. We knew we had a tremendous talent lineup, and we knew we had to hit our marks to make it meaningful for everyone. To watch it all unfold was both intense and inspiring, and we are already looking forward to next year’s event.”

Opening ceremonies presented for the packed house were out of this world with a flyover featuring historic military planes, skydivers, entertainer introductions, massive American flag unfurling, national anthem performed by Chris Biggin’ and much more.

The on-track action was outstanding, and the Funny Car field featured Ron Capps, Daniel Wilkerson, Cruz Pedregon and Dave Richards. In a close final round of eliminations on a prime track prepared by Summit Motorsports Park track manager Evan Bader and his team, and Total Venue Concepts owner Kurt Johnson and his team, Capps captured the win with a 3.85 to Pedregon’s 3.88.

Top Fuel racers Antron Brown, Justin Ashley, Clay Millican and Josh Hart went all-out, and Ashley amazed with a 3.71 and the win over Millican, who was forced to pedal on that pass.

Pro Stock drivers Greg Anderson, Dallas Glenn, Erica Enders and Jeg Coughlin Jr. added even more adrenaline to the event, and Enders walked away as the winner with a 6.52 after Coughlin Jr. clicked it -.005 red.

Chris Foster captured the win with a 5.51 over Cody Krohn’s 5.71 in Top Alcohol Funny Car.

McKenna Bold and Angelle Sampey made it to the final round of eliminations in Top Alcohol Dragster, and Bold blasted to a 5.28 and the win when Sampey suffered uncharacteristic breakage.

Pro Mod drivers Mike Janis and Billy Banaka battled for the win, and Janis took it with a 5.76 to Banaka’s 6.57.

Brian Yanchik blasted to a 4.26 and the win over Jerry Albert and his 4.28 in R&R Auto Body Top Sportsman.

The spotlight was on Mark Pawuk and Raymond Nash in the Factory Stock Showdown final, and Pawuk, who was .007 at the hit, powered to a 7.76 and the win against Nash and his 7.74.

In Pro Outlaw Drag Sleds, Louie Wirbel wrangled the win with a 4.79 over Courtney Moeller’s 4.93.

ScottRods Gassers were also in action, and Ed Kasicki edged out Scott Leber, who had a perfect .000 reaction time.

Ernie Bogue, Scott Holdridge, Dawn Perdue and Neil Esposito gunned for a North American Jet Car Championship in their 300-mph vehicles, and when the wicks went out on the top end of the track, Ernie Bogue won in his Beast from the East with a 5.17 and 305 mph over Scott Holdridge and his 50 Cal.

Roll-start Supermodifieds were wild and well-received, and Hayden Proffitt brought the heat in his Hot Streak II jet engine-powered truck

The Edelbrock Super Series Elite presented by Red Line Oil and Rocko Machine featured the top 16 racers in Summit Motorsports Park’s Edelbrock Super Pro, Edelbrock Pro, Wiseco/CycleTech Super Bike and Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time by TFC Transportation programs as of Aug. 1, and they raced for a share of $64,400. In Edelbrock Super Pro, Carter Sherman defeated Jeff Fenn, and in Edelbrock Pro, John Bailey won over Brian Hurst. In Wiseco/CycleTech Super Bike, Jeremy Hicks defeated Austin Poole, and in Edelbrock Sportsman Delivered on Time, Jim Ring won over Dave Widmar.

Additionally, the Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster Shootout put the spotlight on the top eight racers in Summit Motorsports Park’s Bear Motorsports Advanced, Intermediate and Novice Junior Dragster presented by Wiseco programs as of June 1, and they raced for cash, trophies and gift cards. In Advanced, Brandon DuPont went to the winner’s circle after racing Abigail Baker, while in Intermediate, Tyler Jacobs advanced over Kendall Moreland and in Novice, Derek Peters claimed the victory over Bentlee Baehr.

It was glorious to see packed grandstands, and many guests chose to elevate their experience in the John Force Winner’s Circle, which offered special parking and seating, meals, beverages and much more, with Bobbie Bader and her hospitality team.

Bader Family Signature $150,000 Fireworks Show presented by R&R Auto Body were shot from multiple locations over the park to end the exciting evening.

“The annual Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire has always been, and always will be, immensely important to my family and our team,” said Bill Bader, Summit Motorsports Park president. “It is in our hearts and in our souls, and it means so much to see the enthusiasm and the emotion from everyone from the entertainers to our guests. It certainly fuels our fire for next year. We sincerely thank everyone who joined us and made this event as special as it was. The attendance numbers were in the top three of all-time Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire events, and it appears we had the largest food and merchandise sales day in the event’s 48-year history.”

Written by Mary Lendzion | Summit Motorsports Park Media & Public Relations