We’re just five weeks away from our biggest weekend of the summer when the 6th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals come to Summit Motorsports Park the weekend of July 5-8!  

This year's July 4th weekend will be a thrilling show of nitro-burning Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars, Pro Stock cars and bikes and 300 mph jet dragsters with the best of the best behind the wheel. Bob Motz will be here with his jet powered Kenworth as well. Bring your family to Summit Motorsports Park to celebrate our nation's 236th birthday with speed, flames and fireworks!

Remember our favorite young lady who loves drag racing.  She’s back to help make our “4th of July BIGGER!”    .

Good seats are still available and can be purchased on our website by clicking here or you may call our office at 419-668-5555, Monday through Friday 8am til 6pm and on weekends when we are racing!  

Declare independence from the same old same celebration and experience one of the largest drag racing events in the Country at Summit Motorsports Park! 

Rick Guenther, Strongsville, Ohio, said Memorial Day weekend is all about "soldiers."

Spending Memorial Day weekend at Summit Motorsports Park is a tradition for Wayne Anielski, Brunswick Hills.

Memories are an important part of Memorial Day for Carl Keil, Rossford, Ohio.

NORWALK, Ohio – Drivers at the Mr. Gasket $50,000 Super Series describe their roots and their traditions on Memorial Day weekend.

Although these drivers have different views of what Memorial Day means, they all have one thing in common – they all have family members that served in the United States Armed Forces.

Carl Keil of Rossford, Ohio, will spend his Memorial Day working, but raced his Mallory Super Pro dragster on Saturday at Summit Motorsports Park.

Keil’s father was in the United States Air Force. His grandfather served in the United States Army during the World War II invasion of Normandy, he said.

Mr. Gasket Pro driver Rick Guenther of Strongsville, Ohio, will race and cook out on Memorial Day weekend. Cooking out for Memorial Day is a tradition for Guenther, whose father served in the armed forces in the 1970s.

Wayne Anielski, Brunswick Hills, Ohio, is camping at Summit Motorsports Park during Memorial Day weekend for the fourteenth year.

Anielski’s partner, who previously owned the Mr. Gasket Pro car, is a disabled Vietnam War veteran.

“We should honor our veterans,” said Anielski.

Bill Horvath, Amherst, Ohio, raced in the Mallory Super Pro class on Saturday.  Horvath is “cooking out with [his] girlfriend and her family” during Memorial Day weekend.

Both of Horvath’s grandfathers served in the United States Armed Forces.

We remember...Photo courtesy of Mike Davis, Moto Lenz Photos.

Mike Davis, who served in the United States Navy, shoots photographs at Summit Motorsports Park

John Weinert, a former yeoman in the United States Navy, works on the track crew at Summit Motorsports Park.

NORWALK, Ohio – Summit Motorsports Park remembers those who laid down their lives for freedoms enjoyed in this great country, The United States of America.

In honor of Memorial Day and all veterans of the United States Armed Forces, Summit Motorsports Park offices are closed on Sunday and Monday. Regular office hours will resume at 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 29, 2012.

Veterans who work at Summit Motorsports Park draw from deep family tradition and military history.

Mike Davis, a photographer at Summit Motorsports Park and owner of Moto Lenz Photos, flies an American flag on top of his photography trailer at the track with a black POW/MIA flag beside it.

“You never want to forget them,” said Davis, Bucyrus, Ohio. “You never want to forget the past, because the past is who you are.”

From 1980 to 1984 Davis served in the United States Navy, including world tours aboard fast attack submarines.

Davis followed in the wake of his brother, who joined the Navy toward the end of the Vietnam war and also cruised the seas in fast attack submarines.

On Memorial Day, Davis focuses on fallen soldiers and loved ones, he said.

Davis’s father served as a pilot for four years in the United States Air Force, and for four years in the United States Army. He flew during the Korean War, Davis said.

About 20 years ago Davis lost his dad.

“When my dad passed away, it almost killed me,” Davis said. “He was my best friend. So I really regret he hasn’t been able to see the accomplishments. I was hell on wheels when I was younger.”

Guy Storrow, Norwalk, works as a starter for Summit Motorsports Park.

Storrow served from 1982 to 1993 as a United States Marine.

“I got to see anything from the Beirut bombings to the first Gulf War, Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

“Hearing ‘The National Anthem,’ or someone sing, ‘God Bless America,’ it brings a big flow of emotions for me,” Storrow said. “I gave 11 years of my life.”

Sometimes, the discipline of the armed services is a continuation of family values taught at home.

“I grew up on a dairy farm,” Storrow said. So I knew hard work and things like that. The Marines honed the honor and respect.

“The camaraderie that you have in the military is something you don’t see in the outside world,” said Storrow. “In the military when you see someone who is down, you’re there to pick them up and help them move forward. That’s something you’re taught in the military from the first day of boot camp until you get out.”

Summit Motorsports Park employees with prior military experience play up the service rivalries with verbal sparrings. But circumstance melts those boundaries in a heartbeat. 

“If anyone ever needed something, I would be there,” Storrow said, “because of the camaraderie of the armed forces.”

The United States Navy mission of John Weinert, now an employee of Summit Motorsports Park, bestowed on him and his shipmates the role of ambassadors.

Born and raised in Norwalk, Ohio, John Weinert served in the Navy from 1969 to 1973, including a Good Will Tour aboard the USS WASP CVS-18, an aircraft carrier, he said.

“Because everyone hated Vietnam, we went on a Good Will Tour, to Germany, Spain, Portugal, Copenhagen, Denmark, Oslo, Norway, England,” Weinert said. “I’ve been all over the place.”

His duties as a yeoman, similar to a secretary, he said, meant Weinert did not have to hang over the side and paint the ship.

Weinert knew several people who were killed in Vietnam, he said. He will remember them, especially, on Memorial Day.

“It’s another day we honor all our veterans for keeping our country free,” Weinert said.

A former United States Marine, Guy Storrow, Norwalk, works as a starter at Summit Motorsports Park.

Memorial Day.

What does this special day mean to me? I could say it used to mean a day off work, when I was in the military, yet that would not be entirely true. As Bill Bader Jr. states in our pre-race ceremony, “This is the greatest country in the world.” I think of all the people who have made the commitment to ensure that we have the right to live in this great country.

I grew up in a family of eight children in Wellington, Ohio. Out of the eight of us, six served in the armed forces. We covered the Army, Navy, Air Force and, God love them, the Marines.

My father served in the Korean War. And I have several uncles who were in the Vietnam conflict. One received two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart.

I believe the United States stopped the draft in 1973. This means that after the draft was abolished, all the members of the military volunteered to be there. This to me means that every person in the armed forces today does it for the love of their country and their families.

When I made the commitment to serve my country, I knew that this commitment was not to be taken lightly. I served from 1982 through 1993. I have seen several conflicts along with the first major Gulf skirmish. I volunteered for this duty. Who didn’t volunteer for this was my family, and to them I have to give all honors. If it wasn’t for my family’s support, I could not have been successful in my endeavors in the military.

As a military spouse and child you have to sacrifice your time with the one in the armed services. They are the true unsung heroes to me -- the ones who don’t see their father or mother for months on end.

Memorial Day to me means honoring those who served before me, with me, and after me. I am proud to be an American and am honored to have the freedoms that have come from my fellow service members.

The armed forces is a huge family, where uncommon valor is a virtue that is very common.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you to my family of the armed services. Without you, we could not do what we do every day.

Respectfully,

Guy S. Storrow


Editor’s note: Guy Storrow, Norwalk, works as a starter for Summit Motorsports Park. Storrow served from 1982 to 1993 as a United States Marine.

Anthony Robustellini stands proud on Memorial Day.

NORWALK, Ohio – Anthony Robustellini works with intensity and dedication on the track and park services crews at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

But mention of Memorial Day prompts Robustellini, Norwalk, Ohio, to gaze into the distance, then carefully reveal a source of the wellsprings of his deep waters.

“My dad was in World War II,” Robustellini said. “He had two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star from Iwo Jima. He was the only one who came home from his platoon.

“The stories that he told me stayed with me until I was drafted,” said Robustellini. “We were the last ones to be drafted in my high school. I was a junior when I got drafted.”

Robustellini showed up for basic training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, he said. By the end of it he earned a good conduct medal.

“My drill sergeant wasn’t only my instructor, but my best friend,” Robustellini said. “He taught me to keep my head down, and I did.

“I was a candidate for officers’ candidate school,” Robustellini said. “My drill sergeant said, ‘No. Stay as an NCO, a non-commissioned officer. You’ll get a lot more done.’

“At that time second lieutenants were being brought back in body bags every few weeks,” Robustellini said. “Their careers didn’t last that long because Charlie (Viet Cong Soldiers) always go for the gold bar. They were trained to shoot the officer, because they thought the rest of the soldiers would scatter.”

After basic training Robustellini arrived in the heart of America, Fort Riley, Kansas, where he earned medals during advanced infantry training, or AIT.

He learned how to fire big weapons, such as M-60 machine guns, grenade launchers and a LAWS rocket, which is a Light Anti-tank Weapon.

“When you saw that rocket coming over,” Robustellini said, “it came over nice and slow. But when it hit, it hit big.”

In the 1970’s, Robustellini served in Vietnam as a typist, he said.

“At the village I was assigned to, we were taking care of the wounded and also the dead,” Robustellini said. “It made me realize that you are very lucky to come home without a scratch.

“Memorial Day, being a proud American and also a veteran, I’m proud to be free and pray every day for those who lost their lives in wartime.”

Robustellini grew up in New Jersey and New York. He worked as a firefighter on Feb. 26, 1993, when terrorists tested a truck bomb that damaged one of the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City.

Later Robustellini retired from the fire department, so he was not there in 2001.

Even so, the people who died as a result of terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 in New York City are much more than names on a roster to Robustellini.

“I lost 22 brothers and sisters when the towers fell,” Robustellini said. “We grew up in the fire department together and went our separate ways, but stayed friends. Seeing those towers fall was a heart breaker, and I knew the world changed after that.

“And being a firefighter isn’t a job, it is a calling,” Robustellini said.

This Memorial Day weekend, Robustellini honors those Americans who bled, those who died, and those who served beside him, such as Clayton Daniel Coffee.

“He was my best friend through basic, AIT, and when we went in country,” Robustellini said. “I lost him to cancer a month ago.”
Robustellini’s Memorial Day plans are definite.

“Hang my flag high; parade with the American Legion in Norwalk -- I’m a member,” Robustellini said. “Wear my medals proud on my jacket.”

Kathy Fisher and the Lil' Vixen at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

Kevin Fisher on his way to a career best in front of a packed house at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

Kevin Fisher polishing Lil' Vixen.

I was going to write this as more of a press release, but when it comes down to it, we at Performance by Fisher Racing just want to say a HUGE THANKS to all that were involved with this past weekend’s  B’laster Cavalcade of Stars presented by Budweiser at Summit Motorsports Park. 

Building my new K&N Engineering 2012 American Race Cars dragster has been a quite an exciting process, especially because after all these years, she is my very first brand new car.  A process that you only get to experience for the first time, once. 

When it became apparent that we were not going to get to debut her right at the start of our season, it was in so many ways, a blessing in disguise.  The decision was made to do everything in our power to get her completed and debut her with a splash during the NHRA Div 3 event at Summit Motorsports Park.  After all, it’s our home track, and in recent history, this stop on the NHRA Div tour has proved itself to be the largest fan attended race anywhere. So why not have a party and let everyone share in the fun? And that’s just what we did. 

Our Mickey Thompson – “Married With Dragsters” New Car Debut Party, presented by Hawk Performance and Performance by Fisher, Inc  that we held on Saturday May 19th during the division race at Summit Motorsports Park was nothing but spectacular!  

Thanks to all the special help from Bill Bader III, Jannette "Nettie" Damron, Kurt Johnson and so many of the FINE staff at Summit Motorsports Park, we had a large pit area reserved for us, which really helped in so many ways.  

I want to say right now, that over the course of the weekend everyone from the track was extremely helpful [as they always are]…right down to even very simple things like getting us some extra trash containers for the party.  

THANK YOU for your hospitality and what was once again a well-run, highly attended event!! I knew we wouldn’t be disappointed in the amount of fans. You guys just flat get the job done!

After nearly three weeks of online promotion, Facebook pages, team website, Competition Plus, DragRaceCentral.com, Summit Motorsports Park website and your email blast to your database, I was actually starting to fear we wouldn’t have enough food, etc. for everyone or really that it would all go very quick!  

Tom Casper and Leon Clark, who work for our shop at Performance by Fisher, Inc., arrived that morning to help us finish setting everything up for the party, while we were also getting ready for my final time trial. 

All this was taking place as the party kicked off at 11am.

The first 75 folks that attended not only all got a free sandwich, chips, “soda” or pop in my neck of the woods, and a cookie…they also received a voucher for a free pound of ice cream at “Wild Bill’s Saloon”.  

We sold team hats and team t-shirts that provided numerous free raffle tickets for the drawing that evening.  After fans picked up their free food, browsed the plethora of product information we had on hand, etc, they were invited to come back into our pit to see not only the new American, but also the wild combination in the TD, take photos…ask questions and yes….there were more than I expected that asked for autographs from “Kathy Fisher’s Husband”….. LOL LOL – you all just have to know the inside joke. (wink) 

Honestly, I am completely blown away at the success of this event!  

I also want to say a HUGE thanks to Tom Kundrik and Mickey Thompson, Dan DeBlasio and Hawk Performance, Performance by Fisher, Inc, Ryan Fellman and K&N Engineering, Earl Leslie and Advertising Edge and Tom “The Tool Man” Hirt, Lima, Ohio Snap-On Dealer for all making this event exceed expectations!  It – Was – Non-Stop – from 11am – well after 7pm!  

Tom and Leon from our shop did an amazing job keeping up! Leon….you can seriously flip some burgers! Lol The only thing we were lacking was an extra person to do nothing but take photos all day. I tried to hire a photo person…but wasn’t able to get anyone to commit. When we didn’t have our hands full with whatever or talking to folks, we took as many pics as we could. 

Based on the amount of food that was purchased, we fed approximately 400 or so folks! Amazing! And while that is a very good number, not everyone who came by took advantage of the free food.  

Foot traffic all day was fantastic!! Racers, crew members, fans….it was quite the happenin’ place to be!  So much so, that by the time the weekend was over? I had completely lost my voice. To wrap up on the “Party”….when the drawing was held, we had a TON of super happy folks winning everything from $500 cards from Mickey Thompson, to K&N Air Filters, cases of K&N Oil Filter, swag and more swag from all the sponsors who took part! THANK YOU guys so much for participating! You helped us make it happen! 

Lastly, to be singled out for “Best Appearing Car” during Lil’ Vixen’s very first event, out of what I estimated to be well over 570 entries, was nothing short of spectacular!  It’s the first of what I hope will be many things I/we win at Summit Motorsports Park, and not all flat trophies [wink].  

The tremendously successful ‘Debut Party’, Kevin’s first career 6 second runs [6.641 and 6.584] in his Ohio Crankshaft dragster to qualify for one very stout Top Dragster field at #19, right down to the much needed morning coffee and free donuts to get all of us going each day…..THANK YOU SUMMIT MOTORSPORTS PARK for playing a huge roll in a very historic moment in time for our team. It all could not have happened to this extent at any other facility that we race each year and it couldn’t have happened with better folks on hand. 

We are very grateful to all --- Thank you and see you in July for the 6th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals!

Kathy Fisher
Director of Race Operations
Performance by Fisher Racing
Lima, Ohio

Summit Motorsports Park received word today that Nathan Holzhauer’s grandfather, Bob Sullivan, passed away yesterday. We extend our condolences to the family.  Please keep Nathan and his family in your prayers.

BELLEVUE
Robert M. Sullivan, 70, of Bellevue, passed away peacefully at his residence on May 23, 2012, with his family at his side after a lengthy battle with acute leukemia.He was born May 6, 1942, in Sandusky. He worked for New Departure Hyatt, Sandusky, as a painter until retiring in 1983.He was a member of the Bellevue Eagles Club and enjoyed NASCAR, drag racing, camping, sports and spending time with his family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Patricia (Stout); a daughter Gurli “Jill” (Mike) Branco, of Bellevue; sons, Robert Sullivan, of Maumee, Ohio, and Matt (Diane) Sullivan, of Avon, Ohio; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Georgette (Faulkner) Sullivan, and two brothers, Alfred and James Sullivan.Friends may call from 9 a.m. Saturday, May 26, until a service 11 a.m. at Foster Funeral Home & Crematory, 410 Main St., Huron. Chaplain David Gowen, of Stein Hospice, will officiate. Burial will be at Meadow Green Memorial Park, Huron.The family would like to extend their appreciation and gratitude to Stein Hospice Services and all of their wonderful nurses.Condolences may be shared at fosterfh.com.

Auto Tech Student of the Year, Mike Willi

It has been brought to our attention one of our own racers, Mike Willi, recently was recognized as Auto Tech Student of the Year and we wanted to share this information with the rest of our racing community.  

Westlake High School senior Mike Willi earned top awards at the West Shore Student Recognition and Career Passport Assembly through the West Shore Career-Technical District.

Mike is enrolled in the Automotive Technology program at Lakewood High School. He earned the Auto Tech Student of the Year award and was named the Westshore Technical Student of the Year. Mike is a member of the career National Honor Society and will earn an honors diploma. He has a 4.486 GPA.

Other Westlake students who earned Career Passports at the ceremony were Yasmein Abrahim in the Medical Office Management program, Michelle Borato in Community Based Training: Rae Ann, Janie Drellishak in Medical Office Management, Barjona Dukes in Service Occupation Training, Christina Florio in Early Childhood Education/Senior Services, Emily Goodive in Early Childhood Education/Senior Services, Sean Guinther in Culinary Arts/Pro Start, John Haputa in Automotive Technology, Daniel Huge in Automotive Technology, Christopher Kolonick in Community Based Training: Rae Ann, Courtney Lemon in Businessmanagement, David Lubrant in Community Based Training: Marriott, Rachel Meek in Community Based Training: Bonnie Bell, Daniel Mitro in Automotive Technology, Mona Muntaser in Medical Office Management, Sarah Museleh in Community Based Training: Rae Ann, Holly Roessler in Health Careers Technology, Lauren Valentine in Community Based Training: Rae Ann, Mohammed Widdi in Community Based Training: Marriott.

NORWALK, Ohio -- Winners were announced from the $7 Fun Night competitions on Wednesday at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwak, Ohio.

Preston Smith, Sheffield Lake, Ohio drove a 1982 Camaro for the win in Wednesday Stock.

Cody Supeck pulled a win over Dakota Ovellette, both from Collins, Ohio, in the high school category.

From Bellevue, Ohio, John Weisz sped to the motorcycle victory on a 2000 Aprilia.

Bryan Pendleton, Green Springs, Ohio, claimed the win in mod stock in a 1986 Grand Prix.

Some racers chose not to identify themselves other than by vehicle number.

Just a reminder for racers running 200 mph or faster or 7.49 E.T. and quicker, Summit Motorsports Park is mandating drivers of these vehicles to be in compliance with the NHRA Head/Neck Restraint system as of June 1, 2012.  This rule went into affect on January 1, 2012.  The rule states as follows:

Head/Neck Restraint device/systems:

General Regulations:  10:8

A head and neck restraint device/system meeting SFI 38.1 is mandatory for any vehicle running 200 mph or faster or running 7.49 (*4.49) or quicker or by Class Requirements.

When using a head and neck restraint device/system, at all times that the driver is in the race vehicle, from the ready line until the vehicle is on the return road, driver must properly utilize the SFI approved head and neck restraint device/system, including connecting the helmet as required for full functionality of the device.  The device/system must meet SFI Spec 38.1 and must display a valid SFI label.  The head and neck restraint device/system, when connected, must conform to the manufacture’s mounting instructions, and it must be configured, maintained, and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. 

A head and neck restrain device/system may be used with or without a neck collar.