NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

A capacity crowd packed Summit Motorsports Park for the 47th Annual Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire where Brittany Force and Dale Creasy were crowned champions in Top Fuel and Funny Car respectively. The event also highlighted the debut of 2012 NHRA Funny Car champion “Fast Jack” Beckman, who made his first runs in John Force’s PEAK Camaro Funny Car.

After an 11-year absence, two-time Top Fuel World Champion Brittany Force made the most of her return to the Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire, driving her blue-and-black Cornwell dragster to the quickest and fastest run of the event, 3.840, 320.20 on her way to victory.

“Bill Bader’s events are always a highlight of the season (and) competing in them is such a privilege,” Brittany said. “We ran the quickest ET in the first round but in the final, our car started to spin. Fortunately, it was good enough for the win which gives us momentum heading into Brainerd [Minn., site of the upcoming Lucas Oil Nationals, Aug. 16-18].

John Force Racing missed a double-up win in Funny Car when mechanical issues slowed Jack Beckman and the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Camaro to 8.766 seconds at only 85.51 mph in a final round loss to Dale Creasy Jr. The Funny Car field featured NHRA world champs Ron Capps, Cruz Pedregon, and Beckman, but savvy veteran Creasy Jr., was able to guide his TekPak entry to the title.

Despite the final round disappointment, Beckman was pleased with the overall direction of his first week filling in for John Force, who continues to recover from a TBI suffered in a June 23 crash in Richmond, Va.

“I’m still wrapping my head around the fact that it’s actually me sitting in John Force’s car,” said the 33-time NHRA tour winner. “[JFR president] Robert Hight did a conference call on Friday and I got to speak to John for the first time since his accident. That was medicine for the soul.

“John called me [Saturday] before I got in the car. He said, ‘just go out there and do what you know how to do. There’s no pressure,’” said Beckman. “And he was right. I actually came out here to get licensed and wound up having a ton of fun in the process.”

After a set-up run of 4.007 seconds at 308.28 mph on Friday,  Beckman was the No. 1 qualifier Saturday with a first round time of 4.047 at 309.34 mph.

“I got to step on the throttle a bunch of times,” Beckman said. “I got the runs I needed to get my license [renewed] and we probably learned a couple things about the car.”

As part of the event’s opening ceremonies, Summit Motorsports Park president Bill Bader gave a touching tribute to 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion Force, who was not able to attend as he continues to recover from his on-track accident.

In addition to the Top Fuel and Funny Car classes, the event featured a round of the NHRA North Central Division Top Alcohol Funny Car and Top Alcohol Dragster classes. Sean Bellemeur continued his pursuit of a fourth championship with a win in Top Alcohol Funny Car over Chirs Foster while the third time was the charm for former crew member Gary Pritchett, as he defeated NASCAR Hall of Famer and current Top Fuel driver Tony Stewart for his first win in Top Alcohol Dragster. Stewart had gotten the better of Pritchett in their first two meetings.

The Norwalk fans got a full show with Top Fuel Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, a Pro Mod Shootout, and action in Top Sportsman, E.T. Brackets, and Jr. Drag Racing divisions.

The evening was topped off by wheelstanders, jet dragsters, Funny Cars, and a Jet Truck as well as Norwalk’s signature fireworks display presented by R&R Auto Body, followed by a track walk featuring thousands of fans, and a concert by Trainwreck Country Band in the staging lanes.

“This annual event, which has become prestigious, means so much to our team, and we try very hard to ensure that it is magical and memorable for each and every one of our participants and guests,” said Bader. “That is our number one goal, and to see smiling faces means that we have accomplished that, and that gives us even more inspiration for planning next year’s event. We thank everyone who came to our home for the 47th Annual Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire, and we congratulate the winners. It is not too early to say here’s to next year’s event. We are already looking forward to it."