Norwalk Raceway 2007 date announced

Norwalk Raceway Park to Host NHRA POWERade Event June 29-July 1, 2007

Norwalk, Ohio August 30, 2006--Norwalk Raceway Park announced today its inaugural NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series national event will be June 28-July 1, 2007.

"We're very excited about hosting this POWERade Drag Racing Series event," said Bill Bader Jr., President of the track. "It's going to be a great weekend and we're excited to be a part of the POWERade tour."

In addition to the POWERade tour which features professional and sportsman drag racing, Norwalk Raceway will get a Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series sportsman race. The sportsman date will be announced in the next several weeks. In 2007 Norwalk Raceway will be part of the NHRA North Central Division, which includes sportsman racers from Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and Ontario, Canada. Bader pledged to build the largest race in the North Central Division, and eventually the largest sportsman race in NHRA.

Bader announced that Norwalk Raceway Park had entered into a new long-term affiliation with NHRA at a press conference held at the track Tuesday. NHRA officials and several NHRA racers, including Tony Pedregon, Melanie Troxel and Ohio native Mark Pawuk attended the announcement.

John Force, the most winning driver in drag racing history and first in Top Fuel POWERade Points, joined the press conference by phone. "I think this move by your family with Norwalk Raceway into the NHRA drag racing family is a fantastic idea," said Force. "It's going to be great for our future, our growth, to have another great stadium and great town inside the NHRA."

"For the NHRA, for our sponsors and for our drivers, we feel it makes more sense to be in northern Ohio, said Graham Light, NHRA Senior V.P. of Racing Operations. "It puts us close to the Cleveland market, still attracts the Columbus market and also puts us very close to Detroit."

The POWERade Drag Racing Series schedule includes 23 races. The 10 month season begins in February.

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.

-credit: norwalk raceway