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Norwalk, Ohio August 26--The Skull Shine World Nationals at Norwalk Raceway Park set an all-time IHRA record for participation with 1,006 total entries. This year's sportsman registration exceeded the total car count from all classes at last year's event, and when combined with the pros pushed total entries past the 1,000 mark. That gives Norwalk Raceway an all-time record for entries at any IHRA national event.
“We’re excited to see sportsman racers give this level of support to this event,” said Norwalk Raceway president Bill Bader, Jr. “This not only shows the importance of this event to the sportsman classes, but the level of commitment Norwalk Raceway has for our foundation—the sportsman drag racer.”
ACCEL Quick Rod competitor Don O'Neal thinks the prestige of the event brings the sportsman entries out to Norwalk. “This is like (NASCAR’s) Daytona for IHRA racers,” O'Neal said. “For all these cars to show up here is huge. For sportsman racers, if you can go out and win this race it can make your career. Just to race at the World Nationals is a big deal.”
Friday, Bob Gilbertson of Charlotte, N.C. set a track record and is sitting on top of provisional qualifying after he shattered the Norwalk Raceway Park record with a 4.864 E.T. pass at 318.39 mph in the Knoll Gas-Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car qualifying session. Gilbertson broke John Force's 4.879 E.T. track record.
The Skull Shine World Nationals at Norwalk Raceway Park head into Saturday with the Matco Tools Night of Fire topping things off at 7:00 pm, featuring nitro Funny Cars, Top Fuel dragsters, nitro Harleys, fireworks and more. The event continues through Sunday, August 27.
Entry Record Set at Norwalk Raceway Park at Skull Shine World Nationals
Norwalk, Ohio August 26--The Skull Shine World Nationals at Norwalk Raceway Park set an all-time IHRA record for participation with 1,006 total entries. This year's sportsman registration exceeded the total car count from all classes at last year's event, and when combined with the pros pushed total entries past the 1,000 mark. That gives Norwalk Raceway an all-time record for entries at any IHRA national event.
“We’re excited to see sportsman racers give this level of support to this event,” said Norwalk Raceway president Bill Bader, Jr. “This not only shows the importance of this event to the sportsman classes, but the level of commitment Norwalk Raceway has for our foundation—the sportsman drag racer.”
ACCEL Quick Rod competitor Don O'Neal thinks the prestige of the event brings the sportsman entries out to Norwalk. “This is like (NASCAR’s) Daytona for IHRA racers,” O'Neal said. “For all these cars to show up here is huge. For sportsman racers, if you can go out and win this race it can make your career. Just to race at the World Nationals is a big deal.”
Friday, Bob Gilbertson of Charlotte, N.C. set a track record and is sitting on top of provisional qualifying after he shattered the Norwalk Raceway Park record with a 4.864 E.T. pass at 318.39 mph in the Knoll Gas-Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car qualifying session. Gilbertson broke John Force's 4.879 E.T. track record.
The Skull Shine World Nationals at Norwalk Raceway Park head into Saturday with the Matco Tools Night of Fire topping things off at 7:00 pm, featuring nitro Funny Cars, Top Fuel dragsters, nitro Harleys, fireworks and more. The event continues through Sunday, August 27.
