A New Audience for a Classic Show
Bill Bader Jr. is making history. The second-generation promoter and track operator behind Summit Motorsports Park is bringing his family's event to a global audience for the first time. The 49th annual Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire will be broadcast live, marking a milestone in the show's nearly 50-year history. Known for drawing over 40,000 spectators each year to Norwalk, Ohio, the event now gives international fans a front-row seat. For the first time, viewers around the world can watch from their homes without missing a single moment.
The event's appeal lies in its powerful lineup. It combines top-tier NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series stars with high-energy exhibition acts. The Bader family has elevated the event into a must-attend tradition. It’s not only a destination race for elite drag racers but also a highlight for fans who look forward to the annual spectacle. Now, with FloRacing streaming the event, the global drag racing community can enjoy the action live on August 1.
Stars Return and Rise in Norwalk
Though retired as a driver, John Force remains connected to the event through his team, John Force Racing. This year, the team is led by Funny Car rookie Jordan Vandergriff, who recently claimed his second career win at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals. Vandergriff, driving the Cornwell Tools Funny Car, will go head-to-head with some of the sport's top talents.
The Funny Car segment is stacked with talent and recent champions, ensuring an electric match.
The Top Fuel class is just as formidable. Rookie Maddi Gordon, who scored her first career win at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk last month, returns as a fan favorite in her Carlyle Tools dragster. Other top names competing include Clay Millican, whose local fanbase has grown significantly through his success in the IHRA era. He’ll race in his Parts Plus dragster, along with reigning NHRA world champion Doug Kalitta in the Mac Tools dragster and four-time world champion Antron Brown in the Matco Tools dragster.
A Top Alcohol Dragster match race is also on the schedule. Ohio's Corey Michalek will face Michigan's JP Gutierrez in a clash that stirs regional pride. Michalek will drive the Blue Energy Nation nitro-injected A/Fuel dragster while Gutierrez takes on the challenge in the M1 Concourse blown-alcohol dragster. The rivalry between Ohio and Michigan continues to heat up under the race lights.
The event also brings in a newly added Mountain Motor Pro Stock Shootout, powered by Ross Environmental. The 16-car qualified field will battle for $100,000 in prize money. Headlining the list is reigning NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock world champion John DeFlorian, as well as NHRA MMPS and PDRA Extreme Pro Stock champion Johnny Pluchino. Expect more big names to be announced before the event.
For Clay Millican, the stakes are high. He calls the Night Under Fire a chance to have a 'make your year' moment. The King of Nitro title is on the line when the Funny Car and Top Fuel winners face off. With a guaranteed $430,000 purse, the night promises some of the closest and most exciting racing of the season.
The Top Sportsman division will also feature a qualified 16-car field. Competitors come from the fastest bracket racing regions, including Ohio and beyond. Drivers like Jerry Albert, Glenn Butcher, Dan Ferguson, Tim Molnar, and Jeff Melnick will bring high-speed action to the track.
Entertainment Beyond the Track
The Night Under Fire is more than just a racing event—it's a full-on spectacle. Hayden Proffitt’s 'Hot Streak II' 1957 Chevy Jet Truck, four jet dragsters competing for the North American Jet Car Championship, and Rick Ream's 1950 Studebaker wheelstander will all be part of the action. The Scott Rods AA/Gassers and other high-octane acts add to the excitement.
The Bader family is known for their signature pageantry, and this year will be no different. Pre-race ceremonies will include a parade of the evening's entertainers, a flyover, and skydivers jumping from 4,000 feet in the air. The event will close with an expanded $150,000 fireworks show, lighting up the Norwalk night sky.
For those wanting to watch, the action kicks off on July 31 with Friday night qualifying. From 6-9 p.m., fans can see Top Fuel and Funny Car qualifying rounds. The main event takes place on Saturday, August 1, with the pre-race parade at 6 p.m. and the show starting at 7 p.m. All the action can be caught live on FloRacing.com, ensuring fans around the world don’t miss a second.
This year's Night Under Fire promises to be a landmark event in drag racing history. With top drivers, high-stakes racing, and a lineup packed with variety and spectacle, it's a night every fan and viewer will want to experience.