Bader: 'I don't ever want to go through it again'

NORWALK — The roar will return. Summit Motorsports Park will open April 10 after being shut down for the entire 2020 season due to the pandemic. Park President Bill Bader Jr. is ready to go. "I am thankful we are still around," Bader said. "I did not know if we could make it. Six to eight tracks (around the country) will not open this year." Bader said he will do all necessary "to comply with all of the protocols. I'm hoping by June we are at somewhere north of 50 percent (what the state will allow in attendance) so we can run the (national) event and break even. We came back lean and mean. Seven fewer full-time people. Gutting everything that is nonessential. Grind this thing out and get through it." While it is leaner on the operations side, Bader said he has "spared no expense" moving forward. "We have 86 performers booked for Night Under Fire (Aug. 7)," he said. "On the sponsor side, they had record years ... people were stuck at home. They were getting stimulus money and Cares Act money (and had money to spend). "A lot of the racetracks suffered but I picked up five new sponsors this year." The crown jewel of the national scene is the 15th Annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals June 24 to 27 — the ninth stop on the 21-race NHRA schedule. "Right now I am sitting third highest in ticket sales at this time of the year in my 15 years in the event," Bader said. "We had a 65-degree day on Sunday ... I did 20 grand in ticket sales Monday. We are ready to go." The National Hot Rod Association season starts next weekend at the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., after running an abbreviated season in 2020. Back this year is John Force and his racing team, which took off the entire 2020 season. "I will be curious the see what happens as more states open," Bader said. Was it a good decision for the NHRA to move forward with its schedule last year? "We don't have any TV revenue (like the other major leagues do)," he said. "From a profit and loss prospect, I don't know if it helped but in terms of remaining relevant probably so. "I have no regrets with my decision. In terms in every aspect of my business, I think it was the right thing to do and I have no regrets. Considering all of the various clients I serve it was the right decision. "Now, obviously, this year I need to get open." The 53-year-old Bader started working at his dad's track when he was 10, and he missed sitting out last year. "I don't ever want to go through it again," he said. "I did not enjoy not having something to do. That is my first summer I had off in 43 years. It was not a good feeling and something I did not enjoy. "I found myself at home thinking about the events and what I should have been doing. I got lots of love from the community and family. I am better for it and a better person for it ... but I don't ever want to go through it again. "It certainly was a low point in my career. It was just crazy last year. What will we be permitted to do? "We will see what happens."