Norwalk Raceway Park Joins NHRA, Plans $4 Million
Expansion
Norwalk Raceway Park Joins NHRA, Plans $4 Million Expansion
Norwalk, Ohio August 29, 2006--Norwalk Raceway Park
http://www.NorwalkRaceway.com <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. Norwalk attracts more than a quarter
million fans annually.
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 located 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.