Norwalk Raceway Park Joins NHRA, Plans $4 Million Expansion
Norwalk Raceway Park, one of the nation's premier drag racing facilities, will join the NHRA in 2007. Along with joining the sanctioning body, the track will undergo a $4 million expansion, and will host an NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event in 2007.
Norwalk, OH (PRWEB) August 29, 2006 -- Norwalk Raceway Park http://www.NorwalkRaceway.com announced it will join the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) beginning with the 2007 season.
"A partnership with NHRA helps take Norwalk Raceway Park to the next level," said Bill Bader Jr., president of Norwalk Raceway Park. "As the premier motorsports facility in northern Ohio, we are committed to providing race fans with the best professional and sportsman drag racing in the world. Our new affiliation with NHRA allows us deliver even more racing excitement and great family entertainment."
Norwalk Raceway Park began as Norwalk Dragway in 1963. In 1973 Bill Bader, Sr. purchased the track, which consisted of only a piece of asphalt 60 feet wide and 4,000 feet long. He immediately began to improve and expand the track. In 1981 the track hosted its first national event. Bill Bader, Jr. took over operation of the track in 1998 and continued the growth spearheaded by his father. Today Norwalk Raceway Park is a premier racing facility that produces several major events including Night Under Fire, Halloween Classic and Blue Suede Cruise. The Night Under Fire, the world's largest single day drag race with 38,000 fans, is featured on a one-hour show on the SportsTime Ohio network.
New to Norwalk Raceway Park's 2007 schedule will be the addition of an inaugural NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series national event and an inaugural NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series national sportsman meet.
"We're excited to host an NHRA POWERade event. It will bring the national spot light to this great facility, and television coverage through NHRA's exclusive multimedia partner, ESPN Inc.," Bader said. "Our fans will be able to see all four professional classes, Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, as well as the nitro 'stars of tomorrow' in the Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car classes."
"Adding Norwalk Raceway Park to the NHRA member track network and awarding this premier facility with an NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series national event optimizes our current schedule to reach our fans throughout the state of Ohio and Southern Michigan," said Tom Compton, president, NHRA.
Bader also announced plans for $4 million track improvement project. Plans for the project include 12 new luxury sponsor suites, a state of art media center and track paving in the pro pit area.
Construction on the suites and media center will begin September.
"We have always been, and always will be, customer service driven," said Bader. "Our number one goal is to make every fan's trip to the track a good value and provide racers with a top quality facility. It's all part of The Norwalk Experience."
"We remain firmly committed to our racers and together we will embrace the Norwalk tradition and legacy that our family started over 40 years ago, and carry the tradition and values forward as we continue to grow Norwalk Raceway Park into one of the premier racing destinations in the country."
Norwalk Raceway Park is one of the nation's top motorsports facilities, located near three of the nation's Top 50 markets: Cleveland, Detroit and Columbus. More than 7.5 million households and 20 million people live within a three hour drive. The second-generation family owned and operated track is known for its family entertainment, excellent customer service and famous dollar-a-pound ice cream. Norwalk Raceway is online at http://www.NorwalkRaceway.com and is two miles east of Norwalk Ohio, just minutes south of Exit 118 (U.S. 250) off Interstate 80, at the intersections of State Routes 18 and 601.
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