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NORWALK, Ohio April 23, 2007 -- It was a beautiful spring day in northern Ohio as more than 12,000 race fans said goodbye to cabin fever and welcomed in a new racing season on Saturday, April 21, 2007.
The 24th Annual Ohio Lottery/ Norwalk Reflector Season Opener presented by Donald M. Graham & Associates at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park , formerly known as Norwalk Raceway Park , set an attendance record.
Jessie Harris, the driver of the Bic Lighter “Queen of Diamonds” jet car, treated fans to back-to-back wins that kept her undefeated. Harris competed against jet car champion Lou Pereira, and clocked 302 miles per hour in her last race to keep her winning streak intact.
“Our team worked especially hard to be ready for the Season Opener,” said Bill Bader Jr., president of Summit Motorsports Park . “Although some of our construction is not scheduled to be completed until the Ethanol/General Motors NHRA Cavalcade of Stars May 18, our team did a tremendous job preparing the facility for the weekend.”
One of the highlights of the day was a ribbon-cutting ceremony and race with the surviving family members of the first pair of race car drivers to ever run down the racetrack. More than 40 years ago in 1963, Jim Edwards, Sr. and Neil Archambeau, both childhood friends, were the first two drivers to ever race in side-by-side eliminations. At this year’s Season Opener, their family members cut the ribbon to officially open the facility under its new name, Summit Motorsports Park .
Following the ribbon cutting, Edwards’ son Jim Edwards, Jr., and Archambeau’s son Mark, who are cousins, met at the starting line for the first official competition at the newly-named track. Both cars did their burnouts, but anticipation turned to drama when the engine in Edwards’ 1956 Chevrolet died at half track and refused to start.
Archambeau, driving a 2005 Ford Mustang GT, could have staged and gotten an automatic win but instead sent his crew over to help Edwards. The car finally came to life to loud cheers from the fans, and Edwards eventually emerged as the winner. He avenged his father, who lost to the senior Archambeau in 1963.
The next activity at the track is Wednesday, April 25 when the first weekly Hot Norwalk Nights starts at 5:00 pm.
The track is located two miles east of Norwalk Ohio , at the intersections of State Routes 18 and 601. For more information call the track at (419) 668-5555 or log on to News — Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.
ABOUT SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT MOTORSPORTS PARK : Norwalk Raceway was renamed Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park (commonly shortened to Summit Motorsports Park ) January 1, 2007 and is one of the nation’s top motorsports facilities. It is sanctioned by the NHRA. It is located near three of the nation’s Top 50 markets: Cleveland , Detroit and Columbus . More than 7.5 million households and 20 million people live within a three hour drive. The second-generation family owned and operated track is known for its family entertainment, excellent customer service and famous dollar-a-pound ice cream. It is located two miles east of Norwalk Ohio , just minutes south of Exit 118 (U.S. 250) off Interstate 80, at the intersections of State Routes 18 and 601.
Season Opener Sets Attendance Record at Summit Motorsports Park , Norwalk , Ohio ;
Jessie Harris Remains Undefeated
NORWALK, Ohio April 23, 2007 -- It was a beautiful spring day in northern Ohio as more than 12,000 race fans said goodbye to cabin fever and welcomed in a new racing season on Saturday, April 21, 2007.
The 24th Annual Ohio Lottery/ Norwalk Reflector Season Opener presented by Donald M. Graham & Associates at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park , formerly known as Norwalk Raceway Park , set an attendance record.
Jessie Harris, the driver of the Bic Lighter “Queen of Diamonds” jet car, treated fans to back-to-back wins that kept her undefeated. Harris competed against jet car champion Lou Pereira, and clocked 302 miles per hour in her last race to keep her winning streak intact.
“Our team worked especially hard to be ready for the Season Opener,” said Bill Bader Jr., president of Summit Motorsports Park . “Although some of our construction is not scheduled to be completed until the Ethanol/General Motors NHRA Cavalcade of Stars May 18, our team did a tremendous job preparing the facility for the weekend.”
One of the highlights of the day was a ribbon-cutting ceremony and race with the surviving family members of the first pair of race car drivers to ever run down the racetrack. More than 40 years ago in 1963, Jim Edwards, Sr. and Neil Archambeau, both childhood friends, were the first two drivers to ever race in side-by-side eliminations. At this year’s Season Opener, their family members cut the ribbon to officially open the facility under its new name, Summit Motorsports Park .
Following the ribbon cutting, Edwards’ son Jim Edwards, Jr., and Archambeau’s son Mark, who are cousins, met at the starting line for the first official competition at the newly-named track. Both cars did their burnouts, but anticipation turned to drama when the engine in Edwards’ 1956 Chevrolet died at half track and refused to start.
Archambeau, driving a 2005 Ford Mustang GT, could have staged and gotten an automatic win but instead sent his crew over to help Edwards. The car finally came to life to loud cheers from the fans, and Edwards eventually emerged as the winner. He avenged his father, who lost to the senior Archambeau in 1963.
The next activity at the track is Wednesday, April 25 when the first weekly Hot Norwalk Nights starts at 5:00 pm.
The track is located two miles east of Norwalk Ohio , at the intersections of State Routes 18 and 601. For more information call the track at (419) 668-5555 or log on to News — Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.
ABOUT SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT MOTORSPORTS PARK : Norwalk Raceway was renamed Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park (commonly shortened to Summit Motorsports Park ) January 1, 2007 and is one of the nation’s top motorsports facilities. It is sanctioned by the NHRA. It is located near three of the nation’s Top 50 markets: Cleveland , Detroit and Columbus . More than 7.5 million households and 20 million people live within a three hour drive. The second-generation family owned and operated track is known for its family entertainment, excellent customer service and famous dollar-a-pound ice cream. It is located two miles east of Norwalk Ohio , just minutes south of Exit 118 (U.S. 250) off Interstate 80, at the intersections of State Routes 18 and 601.
