Summit Motorsports Park
2018 Cometic Gasket Halloween Classic XLV Date Set
On the heels of last week’s bold and bewitching Cometic Gasket Halloween Classic presented by Harland Sharp at 
Summit Motorsports Park is the announcement of the dates for next year’s event.
The Cometic Gasket Halloween Classic XLV presented by Harland Sharp will be Oct. 13-21, 2018 at Summit Motorsports Park – a week earlier than usual – and it’s poised to feature even more than the 1,200 entries of this year’s event, and even more tricks, treats and titillating racing.
“In an attempt to capitalize on what has historically been a warmer week, we’re moving the Halloween Classic up one week earlier in October,” said Bill Bader, Jr., president of Summit Motorsports Park. “With my luck, it will probably snow.”
Summit Motorsports Park and Cometic Gasket Partner for Sponsorship
Summit Motorsports Park is pleased to announce that it has partnered with Cometic Gasket, Inc., for a multi-year and multi-level sponsorship program.
Cometic Gasket is a leading worldwide supplier of gaskets and engine sealing solutions for the automotive performance, powersports, original equipment, marine and remanufactured engine industries.
As part of the arrangement, Cometic Gasket will be the title sponsor for Summit Motorsports Park’s popular Halloween Classic presented by Harland Sharp, a week-long extravaganza featuring more than 1,300 race cars, costume contests, games, trick-or-treating, music and more. This year’s event, the 44th annual, will be Oct. 22-29.
$155,500 On the Line at Shakedown at the Summit
While last year’s Summit Racing Equipment Shakedown at the Summit presented by Mickey Thompson 
Performance Tires & Wheels was one of the most enticing and exhilarating offerings in the event’s long and lofty history, even more action and massive payouts are promised for this year’s event.
It will be Sept. 14-17 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.
Categories contested at the ever-growing event include ProLine Pro Mod, Precision Turbo and Engine Outlaw 10.5, Wiseco X275, Speedwire Systems Radial vs. The World, Holbrook Racing Engines Top Sportsman, Callies Pro Street, Team Z Motorsports Ultra Street and Trick Flow Specialties Open Comp and Open Comp 8.5 Shootout.
Rahn Tobler Honored as Grand Marshal at Night Under Fire
While all eyes are on drivers as they meticulously stage and masterfully steer their cars down track, the crew chiefs 
standing behind them are worthy of just as much attention.
They are, after all, the ones who listen to the drivers and listen to the cars before tackling whatever it takes to get them from the starting line to the finish line in the finest of forms.
But standing out among all of the stellar crew chiefs who are renowned, respected and revered around the world is Rahn Tobler.
His relationship with racing began more than 40 years ago, and in those four decades, he has earned a reputation for repeatedly reaching for the top – and repeatedly getting there – with various drivers from Funny Car’s Cruz Pedregon and Jack Beckman to Top Fuel’s Shirley Muldowney.
Packed House and Powerful Performances at Night Under Fire
With famous drivers, header flames and fireworks flying, fans filled every seat for the 40th Annual Kelly Services 
Night Under Fire, Aug. 12, 2017 at Summit Motorsports Park.
They were there for Funny Car drivers John Force, Del Worsham, Ron Capps, Robert Hight, Cruz Pedregon, Tim Wilkerson, Dale Creasy, Jr. and Jack Wyatt; Chris Darnell and his Shockwave jet engine-powered truck; Sarah Edwards, Scotty Heat, Robert Albertson, Ernie Bogue and their jet engine-powered dragsters; Rich Hanna and Ken Hall and their jet engine-powered Funny Cars and Jim Brewer and his wheelstander.
The Nostalgia Drag Racing League’s Pro 7.0 category and ScottRod’s AA/Gas vehicles also commanded attention.
“Our 40th celebration did not disappoint,” said Bill Bader, Jr., president of Summit Motorsports Park. “The feedback from our guests has been glowing, and we clearly raised the bar for future years. I could not be more proud of our team. They delivered an incredible evening of entertainment.”
Auto Club driver Robert Hight stays hot, wins Norwalk’s Night Under Fire
NORWALK, OH – Don’t tell Auto Club of Southern California driver Robert Hight that the Night Under Fire is just 
another match race, just an exhibition race.
For Hight and his John Force Racing team, the Night Under Fire on Saturday was a chance to out-run seven other Funny Cars and bring home another trophy. And Hight did just that, beating Cruz Pedregon in the final to win the special event for the third time.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re running a foot race: You want to beat these other guys,” Hight said as the smoke cleared from another epic fireworks show at Summit Motorsports Park. “We came here to put a great show on for the fans, but, really, we wanted to win this thing – and we did.”
Capps to Cruise at Kelly Services Night Under Fire
Ron Capps, who currently has the lead in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car points, is on his way to 
take part in the 40th Annual Kelly Services Night Under Fire, Saturday, Aug. 12 at Summit Motorsports Park.
“I had always heard about and read about the Night Under Fire, and when I was invited to take part in it for the first time a few years ago, I found out that it was even bigger than I expected, and when (Summit Motorsports Park president) Bill Bader, Jr. says this year’s event will have the best fireworks show ever, I believe it,” said Capps, whose son, Caden, 16, will be at the event with him. “Of course, in addition to the fireworks, there also will be some good side-by-side competition, and I’ll tell you, I want to kick some butt and leave with a Night Under Fire win.”
Force and Hight Ready to Rumble at Kelly Services Night Under Fire
Championship-winning NHRA Funny Car driver John Force and his John Force Racing teammate Robert Hight will 
bring a heaping helping of horsepower and heat to the 40th Annual Kelly Services Night Under Fire, this Saturday, Aug. 12, at Summit Motorsports Park.
Right in step – and right in the spotlight – with them will be Funny Car drivers Del Worsham, Ron Capps, Cruz Pedregon, Tim Wilkerson, Dale Creasy, Jr. and Jack Wyatt, who will do their talking 300 mph at a time.
“We’re excited to be coming back to the Night Under Fire,” said Force. “It’s a great show, and we’re going to pack the house! I love being there with the professionals racing. I’ll be there with the Peak Coolant & Motor Oil Chevrolet, along with Robert Hight, who drives the Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet. I’m looking forward to the big fireworks show and all the race cars.”
Shockwave to Bring Extra Heat to Kelly Services Night Under Fire
While Chris Darnell has driven everything from go-karts and motorcycles to sand dragsters and stock cars, he’s 
famous for flying in the flashy and fiery triple jet engine-powered Shockwave truck at venues across the country.
He says there’s something about the way it soars to 300 mph, and the way it smokes, sounds and shakes that satisfies every one of his senses, and now, he’s preparing to put on a show as part of the highly anticipated 40th Annual Kelly Services Night Under Fire, Aug. 12, 2017 at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.
Darnell, who lives in Missouri with his wife, Brooke, and daughters, Reese, 9, and Taylor, 7, talked with Summit Motorsports Park about Shockwave, its sizzling performances and what fans can expect when he pulls the brightly-colored behemoth to the starting line at the event expected to draw a capacity crowd.
Shakedown at the Summit’s Wiseco X275 Purse Bumped Up
Enthusiasm for the Summit Racing Equipment Shakedown at the Summit presented by Mickey Thompson 
Performance Tires & Wheels is escalating as the event on Sept. 14-17 at Summit Motorsports Park draws near, and adding to it is the announcement that the purse for the Wiseco X275 category has been bumped up.
While it was $10,800, it’s now $15,800, with $7,000 earmarked for the winner, $2,500 for the runner-up, $1,000 for semifinalists, $525 for quarterfinalists and $275 for eighth finalists.
“Wiseco X275 is an exciting class and one that needed our attention,” said Bill Bader, Jr., Summit Motorsports Park president. “This demonstrates our commitment to X275 and the entire Shakedown property.”
