Over the July 4 weekend, Modified racer Kenny Stewart attended the Summit Racing NHRA Nationals in Norwalk where he was lucky enough to spend the day in the official Summit Racing suite.
Stewart received the invitation after introducing himself to Summit Racing President Ray Tatko, General Manager Scott Peterson and CMO Jeff Winters during pre race Top 10 driver introductions.
“I had arranged to meet up with Rick Forich, from Spitzer Race Cars, who was my contact when building our new Spitzer dragster,” explains Stewart.
“Rick was competing in Super Comp and it was good to shake his hand and let him know how I was finding the dragster.
“On race day, during the Top 10 introductions, I noticed a group of people with Summit on their shirts. I thought there was no better opportunity to ask if they had anything to do with the ANDRA Drag Racing sponsorship.
“I was introduced to Jim Greenleaf whose name I recognised on the letter I had just one day earlier received from ANDRA after coming fourth place in Modified.
“When I met Jim and his team, I shook their hands and thanked them for Summit sponsoring the ANDRA Sportsman Series.
“We were lucky to be invited up to the Summit corporate box where I had more time to talk about the Australian season and what my plans were for the upcoming season.”
Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports and Events Manager, Jim Greenleaf is always excited to meet Aussie racers and said it was great to chat with Stewart about drag racing on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.
“It was great to meet Kenny in Norwalk during the Summit Racing NHRA Nationals,” he said.
“As we wrapped up driver introductions our President introduced me to Kenny as one of our ANDRA Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series racers.
“Kenny had provided some positive feedback and appreciation for Summit Racing’s involvement with ANDRA. Kenny and I spent some time discussing the Series and his racing background and thoughts of the upcoming season.
“We then invited Kenny and his guests to join us in our suite for the day, we spoke later about how excited they were to be in the States attending the NHRA event and then on to Chicago the next weekend.
“It is always good to have the opportunity to meet another great ANDRA Sportsman racer, and I look forward to attending additional ANDRA Sportsman events in 2016.”
According to Stewart, Greenleaf has earmarked the January Sportsman event at Fuchs South Coast Raceway in Portland, Victoria as his second ANDRA Drag Racing event Down Under, pending other commitments.
Stewart came away from the meet and greet feeling gratified he took the time to introduce himself and show his support for big supporters of Australian Drag Racing.
“I think it is important for everyone to understand the importance of supporting businesses that support our sport, whether it is a series sponsor or a sponsor supporting an individual,” added Stewart.
“We need to respect their decision as to how they decide to spend their advertising dollars and it is important to understand that businesses need to see some sort of return for their investment.
“This is definitely something that I do not take for granted and understand my responsibility to work hard and represent my sponsors in a positive manner.”
The next round of the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series will take place at Adelaide International Raceway as part of the 2015 Springnationals October 17-18.