Expectations were high when it was announced in 2023 that Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, would be the new home of the annual NHRA North Central Division Summit ET Racing Series Team Finals, and spirits were also high when the event was presented Sept. 12-14, 2024 at the famous facility.
It was previously hosted by the popular Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indiana.
“I have wanted to host this event at Summit Motorsports Park for years, and at the same time, I wanted everyone involved with the event, including the NHRA North Central Division and all of the tracks, to want to be here,” said Bill Bader, Summit Motorsports Park president. “My team shared my dream to make each and every guest feel at home here at Summit Motorsports Park, and to feel part of the pageantry of this prestigious annual event. To say we were on cloud nine all weekend seeing all of these tracks together in our home would be an understatement.”
The competition was commendable, with racers going after their goals individually and as part of their teams from Beech Bend Raceway Park, Byron Dragway, Coles County Dragway, Edgewater Sports Park, Milan Dragway, National Trail Raceway, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Ohio Valley Raceway, Summit Motorsports Park, Wabash Valley Dragway, Wagler Motorsports Park and World Wide Technology Raceway.
As the sun began to set on the final day of the event, Summit Motorsports Park ceremoniously won the team championship, backing up last year’s team championship, as fellow racers, fans and family members cheered and waved a sizable Summit Motorsports Park back and forth.
“Honestly, we were going to be happy for any team that won in our home, but our team earning the team championship for the second year in a row has us feeling euphoric,” said Bader. “The level of competition is incredible at this annual event. It brings out the best of the best. To have a chance at winning takes a lot of dedication and determination, and I can say with complete certainty that this win means a great deal to Team Summit Motorsports Park, to me, and to the rest of the people who supported our racers all season long.”
The final finish order was Summit Motorsports Park (53 points), Milan Dragway (40 points), Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (39 points), Edgewater Sports Park (35 points), Beech Bend Raceway Park (33 points), National Trail Raceway (25 points), Wabash Valley Dragway (23 points), Coles County Dragway (20 points), World Wide Technology Raceway (13 points), Byron Dragway (12 points), Wagler Motorsports Park (12 points) and Ohio Valley Dragway (9 points).
In the Motorcycle class, Jason Drnach of Taylor, Michigan, and Scott Sheppeard of Springfield, Ohio, rocketed down track in fine form, and Drnach secured the win with an 8.24 to Sheppeard’s 8.79. Drnach, representing Milan Dragway, will now head to the NHRA Nevada Nationals.
Wesley Wells of Greenwood, Indiana, and Garreth Sheppeard of Springfield, Ohio, motored down track for the Motorcycle Race of Champions, and Wells won with a 9.31 to Sheppeard’s 8.19.
With a turn of the throttle, Ryann Miller of Temperance, Michigan, took the win with an 8.74 over Wesley Wells of Greenwood, Indiana, who stopped the clocks at 9.35 in the Motorcycle Bonus Race.
Best Appearing Awards were bestowed upon Adam Albright (Super Pro, Summit Motorsports Park); Austin Tewell (Pro, Wabash Valley Dragway); Luke Beach (Sportsman, World Wide Technology Raceway) and Jason Drnach (Motorcycle, Milan Dragway).
Teams had fun decorating their section of grandstands for Team Spirit, and the first-place award went to Wabash Valley Dragway for a Mexican Fiesta theme, while the second-place award went to Summit Motorsports Park, which had a Beach theme, and the third-place award went to Byron Dragway for a Willy Wonka theme.
Prior to all of the racing, the event offered a Championship Dinner Party sponsored by Summit Racing Equipment, Andrew Gill Insurance Associates, ATI Performance Products and Dornan’s Sales & Services. It was held in a Fellowship Tent, and allowed racers from all of the participating tracks to share a meal and strike up a friendship.
“The event went well, and there are so many highlights, from the Championship Dinner Party on Thursday to the crowning of our 2024 North Central Division Summit ET Finals Champions,” said William Tharpe, NHRA North Central Division director. “The Summit Motorsports Park staff and the North Central Division staff work very well together in providing the best possible experience for all in attendance. We are excited to start working on the 2025 event in the coming weeks. Our goal is to provide the best possible experience for all our North Central Division Member tracks while at Summit Motorsports Park.”
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