Last Updated on August 4, 2026 2:27 pm
Event Recap
Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio hosted their yearly masterpiece that is Night Under Fire on Saturday. The Nitro/Jet/Wheelstander/Gasser Show thrilled the crowd throughout the evening. Several classes competed as part of Night Under Fire this year. The Mountain Motor Pro Stock class was welcomed in with open arms, and put on a great show racing for a huge purse. Alan Drinkwater earned the Top Prize with a Holeshot victory over John DeFlorian 4.135 to 4.121 (032 to 111 RT’s). Top Sportsman Invitational saw 16 of the Regions best battle it out on the 1/8 Mile. Keith Castle ran closer to his dial to turn on the W Light over Ronnie Proctor. SMP’s Edelbrock Super Series classes competed in a Special Event for Season Points Leaders. Bobby Gill earned Top Honors in Super Pro with his Tri-Five Chevy running Dead 1 (5.691 on 5.69 Dial) to defeat the Dragster of Maria Sill. Ron Smith ran Dead-8 (6.788 on 6.78 Dial) to defeat the always tough CJ Yeager in Pro ET. The rest of the Winners include Codie Balcom (Sportsman), Matt Short (Super Bike), Keegan Beverly (Advanced Junior Dragster), Ethan Russell (Intermediate Junior Dragster) and Sawyer Simpkins (Novice Junior Dragster). Bill Bader announced that next year’s Night Under Fire will take place on August 7, 2027.
- Norwalk Night Under Fire
- July 31-August 1, 2026
- Summit Motorsports Park – Norwalk, OH
- Mountain Motor Pro Stock
- Winner – Alan Drinkwater
- RU – John DeFlorian
- Semis – John Montecalvo
- Semis – Johnny Pluchino
- Final Round: Drinkwater .032, 4.135 def. DeFlorian .111, 4.121
- #1 Qualifier – Jerry Tucker
- Top Sportsman
- Winner – Keith Castle
- RU – Ronnie Proctor
- Semis – Jeff Melnick
- Semis – Scott Wasko
- Final Round: Castle .028, 4.216 (4.20) def. Proctor .017, 4.154 (4.10)
- Super Pro
- Winner – Bobby Gill
- RU – Maria Sill
- Semis – Brittany Dumont
- Semis – Justin Hardy
- Final Round: Gill .022, 5.691 (5.69) def. Sill .033, 4.656 (4.65)
- Pro ET
- Winner – Ron Smith
- RU – CJ Yeager
- Semis – Nick Moss
- Semis – Jon Lowery
- Final Round: Smith 6.788 (6.78) def. Yeager 7.291 (7.28)
- Sportsman ET
- Winner – Codie Balcom
- RU – John McEwen
- Semis – Jeff Pishner
- Semis – Marlon Howes
- Final Round: Balcom .054, 11.859 (11.77) def. McEwen .084, 12.293 (12.22)
- Super Bike
- Winner – Matt Short
- RU – Tom McGowan
- Semis – Jason Keller
- Semis – Jeremy Hicks
- Final Round: Short .021, 7.906 (7.85) def. McGowan .035, 8.550 (8.45)
- Advanced Jr. Dragster
- Winner – Keegan Beverly
- RU – Parker Hughes
- Final Round: Beverly .007, 8.213 (8.15) def. Hughes .063, 8.059 (7.99)
- Intermediate Jr. Dragster
- Winner – Ethan Russell
- RU – Brandan Schultze
- Final Round: Russell .012, 8.996 (8.90) def. Schultze .066, 9.129 (9.07)
- Novice Jr. Dragster
- Winner – Sawyer Simpkins
- RU – Elena Russell
- Final Round: Simpkins .066, 12.237 (12.11) def. Russell .186, 13.982 (13.92)
