What does a racer do when there’s no race scheduled in their preferred organization? If you’re the reigning NHRA Rookie of the Year Spencer Hyde, you take Jim Head’s Ford Mustang Funny Car over to Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio for the track’s vaunted 49th annual Cornwell Tools Night Under Fire.
When the Canadian and his Ohio-based team owner unpack for this special event, it will mark their third race weekend in a row, following mid-July’s 38th annual DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals and, a week later, the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series’ 37th annual Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals outside Seattle, Washington.
Hyde, 34, is competing for the Funny Car title for Jim Head Racing. Despite still working towards his first NHRA Funny Car Wally winner’s trophy, Hyde occupies ninth place in the points standings, just behind two-time and reigning titleholder Austin Prock, who switched teams and manufacturer alliances over the winter. Changes like Prock’s can be disruptive; Hyde’s had some personal, rather than professional adjustments since his stellar rookie season. He got married to Courtney and they’re expecting their first child.
Hyde’s professional excitement on July 31st and August 1st will come from his competition against formidable opponents in this class, race-winners and champions among them: Jordan Vandergriff, Cruz Pedregon and Ron Capps. Vandergriff joined the Flopper ranks this year with John Force Racing and has already notched his first victory; Cruz Pedregon has two Funny Car championships while Ron Capps, both a team owner and driver, has three Funny Car championships and currently leads the standings after the first half of the season is complete.
The 49th Night Under Fire will be a tough run for Hyde: “The Funny Car lineup is a Who’s Who of tough drivers,” he acknowledged. “You have two world champions and the newest Funny Car driver from John Force Racing. Any one of us could win this deal. I am excited to represent Canada, Jim Head Racing, Hyde Construction and everyone that supports our team. Next to winning an NHRA national event, getting the King Of Nitro title at Night Under Fire is right up there.”
Summit Motorsports Park’s Night Under Fire features 60 of the quickest racers battling it out under the lights and creating the visual excitement all drag racing fans love. The show features four Top Fuel dragsters and four Nitro Funny Cars racing for a guaranteed $430,000 purse. The most enticing part of this show is watching the Funny Car winner battle head-to-head against the Top Fuel victor to earn the King of Nitro title.
With 60 diverse racers in the pits and the family atmosphere that is endemic to this track, “The Bader family has made Night Under Fire one of the coolest drag racing events in the country. More than the Funny Cars and the Top Fuel dragsters, it’s the spectacle of racing and speed,” Hyde confirmed. “I can’t wait to be a part of the show, and I will be watching – for sure – when I am not racing. The fireworks show is worth the price of admission!”
For the first time in this event’s nearly 50 years of delivering racing entertainment, Summit Motorsports Park’s 49th Night Under Fire will be broadcast live on FloSports. In addition to activities on the dragstrip, Night Under Fire features sky divers, an autograph session, twin-engined power jet truck, four 300mph jet dragsters, two Top Fuel motorcycles, wheel standards and a fireworks show that has a $150,000 price tag.
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