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John Force To Head Huge Norwalk 'Night
Under Fire' Show
June 27, 2001
 Norwalk,
OH - John Force has reached that point in his career when the facts
about him may occasionally be obscured by the growing legend that
surrounds him. But this much is unquestioned: In the last eleven years, he
has won 10 national Funny Car titles. Even Tiger Woods' record must
proceed at its astonishing pace for several years more before his career
numbers can be compared to those of King John.
But the fact about Force and his entourage, headed by Austin Coil and
Bernie Fedderly, that's currently most important to Ohio drag racing fans
is that they will be at Norwalk Raceway Park for the "Night Under
Fire," this Saturday, June 30.
Force causes a scene wherever he appears nowadays, so it's to the credit
of NRP chief Billy Bader that the Night Under Fire show – which is
becoming legend in its own right in the racing and entertainment worlds
– will not be overshadowed by Force and the other nationally ranked
Funny Car drivers who will appear at NRP. They will be starring performers
certainly, but Night Under Fire has been carefully nurtured over the years
by Bader and his father, Bill, currently President of the International
Hot Rod Association, to the point that it has nearly universal appeal to
racing fans of all stripes.
 Because
of this, you are as likely to be sitting next to a NASCAR or World of
Outlaws fan as another drag fan at the race that is now the legitimate,
highest attended one-day drag racing event in history. Accordingly, NRP is
expecting to host more than 35,000 fans on the 180-acre facility for the
2001 edition.
Drivers trying to one-up Force will include the last racer to do so, Cruz
Pedregon, who won the national Funny Car title in 1992, the only
interruption in the 11-year run by Force; Brecksville's Dean Skuza, last
year's winner; Chuck Etchells; Jim Epler; Terry Haddock; Dale Creasy; and,
colorful Scotty Cannon, runner-up at Night Under Fire in 2000 and one of
the all-time crowd favorites at NRP.
Additionally, some of the most prominent Jet drag racers in the country
will be on hand with their fire breathers, including Jessica Willard, Ken
Nelson, Toby Ehrmantraut and Dennis Roslansky, who was the victor in the
"Jet Warz" all-Jet show last month at NRP. Willard, running out
of Al Hanna's multi-car stables, ran her personal best elapsed time and
top speed at the Jet Warz.
Still, with all the national performers who precede him, the man who may
get the biggest ovation and most attention from the crowd is Bob Motz, the
owner and operator of the incredible jet-powered Kenworth truck that
literally set the place on fire last year when Motz fired the engine just
in front of the giant billboard fronting State Route 18 and burned it
nearly to the ground. Understandably, Motz is keeping very tight-lipped
about what he may do as an encore for 2001.
And, of course, Night Under Fire wouldn't be recognizable without a huge
fireworks display. Last year, Billy Bader spent $50,000 on a dazzling show
that exploded for a ceaseless quarter-hour and afforded Huron County
residents for miles around a view. He's already promised to top that for
this year.
Gates will open at 8:00 a.m. on June 30, with Night Under Fire festivities
scheduled to begin at 6:20 p.m. Please call 419-668-5555 for further
details.
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