Back in the mid-to-late 1970s, Bill Bader Sr., was trying to figure out some way of drumming up interest in the fledgling Norwalk (Ohio) Raceway Park he bought in April of 1974.

After plenty of brainstorming, Bader and his family came up with the idea of putting on the inaugural Night Under Fire event in the summer of 1977.

“This is a concept my father started when he was trying to create some excitement in the market place for a drag strip that had been closed for a period of time,” said Bill Bader Jr., who has been the president of Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, formerly known as Norwalk (Ohio) Raceway Park, since 1998. “We used a format that was basically wheel standers, and jet (cars). We also started really focusing heavy on fireworks. We created the wall of fire and we created some spectacular effects that were housed inside the show. It started to grow, and it was a substantial event that was drawing 10s of thousands of people.”

Back in the mid-to-late 1970s, Bill Bader Sr., was trying to figure out some way of drumming up interest in the fledgling Norwalk (Ohio) Raceway Park he

bought in April of 1974.

After plenty of brainstorming, Bader and his family came up with the idea of putting on the inaugural Night Under Fire event in the summer of 1977.

“This is a concept my father started when he was trying to create some excitement in the market place for a drag strip that had been closed for a period of time,” said Bill Bader Jr., who has been the president of Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, formerly known as Norwalk (Ohio) Raceway Park, since 1998. “We used a format that was basically wheel standers, and jet (cars). We also started really focusing heavy on fireworks. We created the wall of fire and we created some spectacular effects that were housed inside the show. It started to grow, and it was a substantial event that was drawing 10s of thousands of people.”

It’s safe to say the event has become an overwhelming success.

The 33rd annual NAPA Night Under Fire is on tap this Saturday at Summit Motorsports Park.

“The Night Under Fire is really our signature event,” Bader Jr. said. “It’s the one that put us on the map long before our (NHRA) national event did. The Night Under Fire is really the event we hang our hat on and now it shares the spotlight with our NHRA national event.”

Gates open for the Night Under Fire at 8 a.m. EDT Saturday and racing begins at 9 a.m. On Saturday night, pre-race starts at 5:45 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. and fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.

“Sometime between 7 and 9 a.m. Sunday morning, we will finish,” Bader Jr. said.

The eight fuel Funny Cars competing at the Night Under Fire are John Force, Ashley Force, Tony Pedregon, Cruz Pedregon, Tim Wilkerson, Dan Wilkerson, Jim Head and Jeff Arend.

“I won last year (at the Night Under Fire),” John Force said. “I love the Bader family. They are the best promoters on the circuit. They are right up there with the Bill Doners and the (Jim) Rockstadts (who promoted West Coast tracks at Orange County, Calif., Irwindale, Calif., Portland, Ore., and Seattle, Wash.) of the old days.  They are the best now. They still really promote. Bader was with me all over Cleveland doing media (before last June's national event) and, at the end of the day, I really wanted to win that race.  I have never won the national event but I've won the Night Under Fire a lot of times.  There'll be a lot of good cars, but the Baders make it a fun race.  That's what I like about it -- and we get to sell a lot of T-shirts and collector cars.”

Bob Motz's jet semi truck, and four jet dragsters also are on the card, as well as pair of Pro Extreme stock cars. Additionally, there will be 800 Sportsman cars which will run all night.

“We do not release (attendance) numbers per se, but I can tell you this year is the largest presale we’ve had in the 33 year history of the race,” Bader Jr. said.

Bader Jr., says the Night Under Fire became even more popular when legendary Funny Car driver John Force began competing at the event around 1995.

“Night Under Fire had taken some nice steps and we added John Force it took another step,” Bader Jr. said. “Then, we added eight fuel Funny Cars and it took another step. Then, it took a huge step when we unveiled the $100,000 fireworks show. We unveiled that fireworks show in the early 2000s. We had our 40th anniversary celebration for the track in 2002, and that was a huge deal and the Night Under Fire event took another huge step that year and continued to grow.”

Although the Night Under Fire had become a fixture, Bader Jr. felt the event might drop off some when Summit Motorsports Park began hosting a national NHRA event back in 2007. That also is the same year the track changed its name.

“We thought when we made the move to NHRA, mentally, dad and I said OK, the Night Under Fire is going to take a hit and we’re mentally prepared to do that because clearly the NHRA national event would more than offset whatever we lost at the Night Under Fire. Quite the opposite has happened. As the (NHRA) national event has become more and more successful, the Night Under Fire has become more successful.”

As of close of business Tuesday, Bader Jr. said ticket sales for Saturday’s Night Under Fire event are up nearly 10 percent from last year.

“I think the big-ticket items at the Night Under Fire, in no particular order are the $100,000 fireworks show, John Force and the eight fuel Funny Cars, and Bob Motz burning down the head of staging sign. It’s also just all of the spectacle. We have marching bands, and we have some really neat pre-race ceremony elements. I do not think there’s any one of thing that you can definitively this is it. It’s a multitude of things that just over its 33 years has continued to grow. We definitely as part of our future expansion plan on adding more seats.

The massive firework show is choreographed to music and last around 20 minutes.