Wed, 1 Nov 2006, 09:29 PM Summit Racing Equipment Acquires Track Naming Rights to Norwalk Raceway Park

Courtesy of David Fuller

TALLMADGE, Ohio -- The newest National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) venue in Norwalk, Ohio has a new identity, and it has nothing to do with its current four million dollar expansion project. Formerly known as Norwalk Raceway Park, the facility has changed its name to Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

Summit Racing Equipment, the world's largest direct mail and Internet supplier of high performance automotive parts, signed a track entitlement agreement which gives the Tallmadge, Ohio-based company naming rights to the facility. Located within a couple hours' drive from the major markets of Cleveland, Detroit, and Columbus, Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park is situated just over an hour from Summit Racing Equipment's headquarters in Tallmadge, Ohio.

"We've always considered Norwalk our 'hometrack," Kirk Heinbuch, Summit Racing Equipment Manager of Motorsports and Events, said. "Now, we've made it official. It's a beautiful facility with a staff that is renowned for its incredible hospitality toward both customers and racers. We're extremely proud to have the Summit Racing Equipment name on it."

Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park began a massive expansion in September. The project includes 12 new luxury sponsor suites, a state-of-the-art media center, track paving in the professional pit area, and renovation to the existing tower. "We're very excited about our expansion and to have Summit Racing's seal of approval, so-to-speak, means a lot," Bill Bader Jr., President of Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, said. "We've had a relationship with Summit Racing for a very long time, and I'm proud that we've strengthened that relationship with this new agreement."

The site will host the following events in 2007:
*	NHRA National Event
*	Lucas Oil Divisional Event
*	Fun Ford Weekend
*	Blue Suede Cruise
*	Tri Power Pontiac Nationals
*	Inaugural 3-Day Chevy Event
*	Chrysler Classic
*	No Box Bonanza
*	NOPI World Finals
*	Halloween Classic XXXIV
*	Night Under Fire
*	Harley Davidson Buckeye Nationals

"Bill Bader and his staff have always put on a great show," Heinbuch said. "The wide variety of national, regional, and local events scheduled at the track, combined with our drastically increased exposure at the track, will help us reach more potential customers from the Cleveland, Detroit, and Columbus areas."

Based in Tallmadge, Ohio, Summit Racing Equipment is committed to supporting professional and sportsman drag racing. The company is currently the title sponsor of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Atlanta, Georgia and the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas, Nevada. Summit Racing is also the primary sponsor of Pro Stock drivers Greg Anderson and Jason Line and holds associate sponsorships with many other NHRA and IHRA drivers. The company supports sportsman racers through its NHRA Summit Racing Series and IHRA Super Series programs and offers contingency to NHRA, IHRA, SCCA, NMRA, NMCA, and PPL competitiors.

Established in 1968, Summit Racing Equipment is the leading high performance parts and accessories company. Summit Racing offers the largest selection, lowest prices, and best customer service in the high performance industry via catalogs, Internet, and Retail Super Stores. The company is headquartered in Tallmadge, Ohio with retail locations in Tallmadge, Ohio; Sparks, Nevada; and McDonough, Georgia.