Bill Reichert

Jill Canuso

The save my seat letters are in the mail to the B’laster Cavalcade of Stars presented by Budweiser.  Patrons have from now until February 13th to renew your tickets to this year’s show which is building to be one of the largest divisional races on the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Tour.  There will be funny cars, dragsters, the legendary Bob Motz and his jet Kenworth, jet dragsters, geezer gassers and hundreds of sportsman racers to entertain you throughout the weekend!  And that’s not all…we’ll conclude the Friday and Saturday Night shows with fireworks!
 
Beginning Valentine’s Day, February 14th, tickets will go on sale to the general public to this year’s show which is May 18 – 20, 2012.  Renew now while it’s still fresh on your mind, by clicking here or calling the office at 419-668-5555.

Our Bear Motorsports Novice Champion presented by American Race Cars is your ordinary 10 year old 4th grade student.  His favorite subject is Math and he has been on the honor and merit roll for the last 2 years.  He plays Basketball, Baseball and Football.  This past season his football team won the Championship and his baseball team was 14 and 1.  What sets him apart from the other kids is that on weekends he puts on a helmet and drives a race car.

Stephen began his racing career in 2009 where he finished the season in 7th place.  He returned in 2010 and once again finished in 7th place.  2011 however was a different story as he clenched the championship with an amazing 21 points and 5 feature wins.

Stephen has been able to learn a lot from his dad Steve, a 1993 SMP Pro Champion who has taken a temporary hiatus from racing to crew for his sons.  In addition they are joined each week at the track by mother Joelly, brothers Tyler and Michael who also races the Novice Class.  
 
Short term plans see Stephen moving into the Bear Motorsports intermediate class in 2012 where he looks forward to going faster.  Long term plans he would like to have a farm and race.  His advice to future juniors, Practice, do your best and have fun!

Bill’s Christmas present to the office was a couple of long weekends before we start our very busy racing schedule.  Our first long weekend, begins this Friday February 10th through Monday February 13th.  The office will reopen on Tuesday, February 14th at 8am, just in time to purchase tickets for your favorite Valentine!

Don’t forget you can purchase tickets online by selecting the event located on the right side of the page.  Then click on the “get tickets on-line” image, purchase your tickets and print them to your computer!  No need to wait for us or the mail to get your ‘special valentine’ something they really will enjoy!

See you Tuesday!

The definition of a “dark horse” is a person about who little is known, especially someone whose abilities and potential for success are concealed.  This term aptly fits our 13 year old Bear Motorsports Intermediate Championn presented by American Race Cars Zackary Manuel.  After playing baseball from 2004-2009 he decided to make the switch to drag-racing.  Joining points in 2010 he had a dismal year placing 16th out of 16 in his class.  Being a determined young man this did not discourage him but instead helped him step back and recognize his strengths and weaknesses.  Over the winter he worked on improving his driving skills spending hours in front of the practice tree preparing for the upcoming season.

In the spring, his hard work paid off at the Mickey Mart Rewards Season Opener when he captured his 1st win.  He continued to gather points in May and June however July was a particularly memorable month with 2 feature wins, a runner up and a championship Wally from the Junior Dragster Challenge.  When the season ended he had racked up an incredible 24 points clenching the championship.  
    
Zackary lives in Elyria with parents Eric and April, Sister Haley and 2 pet dogs Jesse and Lucy.   He attends Northwood Middle School where his favorite subject is History.  Growing up he has learned to appreciate Classic cars thanks to grandfather’s Ed and Norm and credits his father Eric as the biggest influence and role model in his life.    

Our Bear Motorsports Advanced Champion presented by American Race Cars is a seasoned veteran at the young age of 17.  Beginning his racing career at age 10 he has already raced in 88 events and attended 6 Junior Team Finals!  He has also competed in every FLC race class with the exception of Novice Junior Dragster.   

Racing has always been a family affair with his dad Jim at the helm with whom Matt credits being the most influential person in his life and drag racing career.  In addition to Jim and Matt the Dadas Race Team also includes sister Lauren and mother Lisa.  

This year Matt faced a challenge with competing in 3 different Junior Dragsters however he was able to overcome that obstacle finishing the season with 24 points including 3 feature wins, 1 semi and 1 qtr final appearance.  In addition his resume includes a 2010 win in the Pro Class at the Halloween Classic and a win in the Race Car class at this year’s High School Nationals.  

Matt is a junior at Amherst Steel High School and his favorite subject is Math.  He is a member of the Golf team and enjoys Slot Car Racing during the winter months traveling to other states for the “Big Money” version of Slot Car racing.  His advice for future “Junior Dragsters” is to make friends, hang around and watch the right people. He recognizes that most of his success has come from observing and learning what other people do in competition.  Future race plans for 2012 may see our Champion running two classes.

At the 38th Annual Mr. Gasket Banquet of Champions, Bob Kosanka was honored with our most prestigious award, the Bill Bader Sr Sportsman of the Year.  Below is an excerpt of his presentation presented by Bill Bader Sr.  

What is a Sportsman?

Sportsmen believe dignity, class and self respect are greater in value than the fastest car, the biggest payday, or the winning season.

Sportsmen do not harbor deceit, ill will or jealousy to strain the camaraderie that develops in the spirit of competition.

Sportsman may not have quick reaction times but they are quick to make friends.

Sportsman may not earn a lot of points but they do earn a great deal of respect.

Their best day is everyday they present the best image of themselves.

Sportsman of the year might not ever win – but think about it – they never lose.

Sportsmen take the road less traveled; and that makes all the difference.  

One hundred percent honor, one hundred percent class.

Very similar to many of these past winners, your 2011 Sportsman of the Year comes from a family of racers.  Like the Hurst’s, Cireddu’s, Crowell’s, Bear’s, and on and on, his is a legacy of family togetherness in motorsports.

He is a quiet and proud man.  Always polite with a kind word for everyone, he always has a great big smile and never complains.  He doesn’t take his racing too seriously and really enjoys being at the track with his family and friends.  That being said, he probably has a lot more fun than most of us.    

He has watched many of his family members go down the quarter mile with great success.  He has attended many banquets and stood quietly with great pride as his son was recognized as a class champion and acknowledged as Sportsman of the Year and as his grandson received various awards.  Well, it is finally his turn to receive his championship.  If you haven’t guessed it yet, then you haven’t been paying attention.  He is an asset to his family, our sport, and each and every one of you reading this, our 2011 Bill Bader Sr Sportsman of the Year is none other than, Bob Kosanka.

Bob shared with us his gratitude for this award and wanted to express “heartfelt thank-yous” to all of the individuals that voted for him for this prestigious honor.

Our Accel sportsman champion can boast that he was the youngest drag racing fan in the world!  His first exposure to drag racing was the day he was brought home from the hospital.  The Biddle family lived across the street from Dragway 42 and as soon as he got home, his dad took him over to the track where he looked up from his father’s arms at the track and knew that he was hooked.

Randy raced in the junior class from age 14 until he got his license.  His best memories are from that time.  They aren’t about winning but about the time he spent with his father on Saturdays.  Waking early and going to the track  towing their 24’ enclosed trailer with his dad’s Cutlass.  No motorhome back then.  They would sit at the back gate before opening and listen to the American Top 40 countdown.  He would then sit at the finish line or starting line all day long just watching and learning.  Sunday mornings were the same except the Junior dragster was loaded, both cars wouldn’t fit in the trailer and it was his day to race.  Although not a single memory, these memories are more important than any race he has ever won.  

Randy has recently changed jobs and relocated to Troy, PA.   I understand that there are a couple of race tracks pretty close to his new home but we hope that he will still remember that Summit is his true home.

Our Wiseco Cycle Tech SuperBike Champion was introduced to drag racing by his father at a young age.  His father took him to Dragway 42, Magnolia, and Thompson to race his big block Chevy.  Ed however turned his interest towards motorcycles.  Starting out as a street racer he made the switch to drag racing after seeing a friend crash.  About 20 years ago he decided to make the trip to Summit Motorsports Park and from the time he arrived, he knew that he had found his home.

Ed was the 2001 Wiseco CycleTech Champion and won the SuperBike class at the Halloween Classic in 2008.  If you all remember that Sunday night, gale force winds had begun in the final rounds.  A grand prize of a car was at stake.  The finalists had come to the conclusion that it wasn’t safe to run the final rounds, with the exception of Ed who was ready!  In retrospect he said it was a good decision.  They split the car.  

In 2011 Ed accumulated 34 points and 3 wins.  He accomplished this even though he had to work every Saturday and would not arrive at the track until 3:30 in the afternoon.  Some friends would have his bike ready and he would jump on, make a time trial and go racing!

Ed lives in Cuyahoga Falls and has 3 grown children, Tanya, Shannon and Allen.  This past Tuesday his son Allen left for Advanced Airborne Infantry training at Ft Benning, GA.  

His future plans include returning in 2012 to defend his title and to find a job where he doesn’t have to work on Saturdays!

Campaigning a successful racecar in the highly competitive Hays Pro Class requires an inordinate amount of expertise and resources.  Our Hays Pro Champion’s performance this year can be described as possibly the most dominant in recent history.  Brian maintained his first place position throughout the season.  In mid-August he held a 16 point advantage over second place.  That can be a blessing and a curse.  It is great to be on top but it makes you stay close to home verses traveling to other races.  At the end of the season Brian had accumulated 46 points and 3 feature wins. 

Brian has been racing 22 years following in his father Vince’s footsteps.  This is not his first trip to the Champions table.   He was the 2001 Comp Champion and the 2006 Modified Champion.  I see a pattern here, every 5 years, Brian is a Champion!  His racing resume also includes a 1993 Track Championship at Thompson Drag Raceway and a $10,000 win at Pacemakers Drag Raceway. 

Brian resides in Brunswick and is employed as a computer programmer and has previously authored a software program that interfaces with timing systems used for reporting race statistics.  Future plans include returning in 2012 to run Pro and possibly do a little traveling

GLENDORA, Calif. (Feb. 1, 2012) — NHRA officials announced today that Mark Lyle, long-time starter in NHRA’s Division 6 and a certified team member of the NHRA Safety Safari presented by AAA, has been named the official NHRA Chief Starter, one of the most storied positions in all of NHRA Drag Racing. There have only been two chief starters in the sport’s 60-plus year history, Buster Couch (1955-1996) and Rick Stewart (1996-2011).  

Beginning at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, Feb. 9-12, Lyle will command the best view in the facility, standing alongside every kind of drag racing vehicle, most notably the 7,000-horsepower Top Fuel and Funny Car machines featured in NHRA’s marquee Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

“It is simply the highest honor anyone in my position can have,” said Lyle, who resides in North Bend, Wash., with his family.  “I really have to thank Kenworth Northwest for being flexible with my NHRA work schedule over the years and for allowing me to pursue my dream. To follow in the footsteps of two iconic and legendary figures in NHRA history is beyond words.  I am looking forward to sending off the first pair in Pomona.”

Lyle has worked in the automotive industry his entire professional career, all the while spending countless weeknights and weekends perfecting his craft on the starting line, or working as a safety team member in the sport he has loved since his youth.  He started as the official starter at Pacific Raceways in 2000, and since then has been a certified team member of NHRA’s Division 6. He was named the official starter of the division in 2005. Lyle worked alongside recently retired NHRA chief starter Stewart at many national events the last several years.

“Throughout his time as a starting line official, he has demonstrated the characteristics necessary to take on this very important position on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series circuit,” said Graham Light, senior vice president of racing operations, NHRA.  “He always has safety first and foremost in his mind and strives to be fair and just in his decision-making.”