Drag-and-drive events continue to be the hottest thing in drag racing. The formula for one of these racing adventures is simple, and there are plenty of classes, so anyone can participate. The Mickey Thompson Tires and Wheels Turn & Burn Presented by Summit Racing Equipment, Powered by Sick The Mag, is a new take on the drag-and-drive formula, and it’s coming to Summit Motorsports Park.
In the past, Summit Motorsports Park has been a stop for Drag Week, but the Turn & Burn is a whole different drag-and-drive animal. During a normal drag-and-drive, competitors move from track to track during the week in a grueling test of man and machine. The Turn & Burn flips that around, and racers cruise to different checkpoints before returning to Summit Motorsports Park to make passes each day.
“Racers will get parked, go through tech, and have a chance to start testing on Wednesday during the Turn & Burn. On Thursday, racers will be on the track from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. before they drive to their first destination. Friday, we will flip that, and they will drive to the destinations in the morning before they come back and race under the lights here at the track. We will finish the event on Saturday with more racing and a ‘Meet the Stars’ autograph session for the fans,” Bader says.
A big part of the fun drag-and-drive events bring to the table is the locations racers get to visit as checkpoints. During the Turn & Burn, competitors will get to check out the Mansfield prison where The Shawshank Redemption was filmed, Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio, where they can make a pass in a Soap Box Derby racer, the Goodyear world headquarters for lunch, and Summit Racing Equipment in Tallmadge, Ohio, as well.
The creation of the Turn & Burn concept actually came during a Mickey Thompson tire test session at Summit Motorsports Park. From there, things just fell into place, and the idea became an event.
“The idea for this was actually birthed by Alex Taylor and Jason Moulton from Mickey Thompson. Alex commented about how much she liked the facility and brought up the idea of a reverse drag-and-drive concept. That’s what got the ball rolling, it was a collaboration,” Bader says.
Bader has never been shy about trying new things at Summit Motorsports Park, so it’s not surprising that he’s moving full steam ahead with this Turn & Burn concept. The plan is to grow Turn & Burn into a marquee event at the facility.
“We hope to have this event on our schedule for years to come. It falls on the calendar when there’s a gap in big events during the drag-and-drive season. It’s also a time of year when we have really good atmospheric conditions here in Ohio. We’re also trying to keep the car count at around 200 so it’s manageable and everyone can enjoy the event,” Bader explains.
The Mickey Thompson Tires and Wheels Turn & Burn Presented by Summit Racing Equipment, Powered by Sick The Mag, will run from May 5–7. You can learn more about the event on the Summit Motorsports Park website.
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