“ As it grew , my father fed it ,” says Bader Jr ., who began working at the track at just 10 years old with his dad . “ Instead of three performers , we would add a couple more jets and a second wheelstander . Then , some years later , Bob Motz moved from a jet dragster to a jet Kenworth , and Bob became kind of the exclamation point to the show . Some years later , fireworks were added , and the thing just took off .”
One underlying theme throughout the years was the Baders ’ continued investment and marking of the event . Now , Bader says it ’ s the largest single-day drag race in the world , with this year ’ s Night Under Fire boasting a $ 125,000 firework show , complete with skydivers and a historic military aircraft flyby .
When fans aren ’ t focused on the sky , they turn their attention to the dragstrip . In addition to the stellar lineup of jet cars and sportsman racers , Bader is known for bringing big names in the sport to the event , like NHRA Funny Car champions Ron Capps , Cruz Pedregon , and Robert Hight . Sixteen-time NHRA Funny Car world champion John Force , whom the Baders adore , has been taking part in the event since 1995 .
“ I view the Night Under Fire as a Broadway show , [ or ] as a concert ,” explains Bader Jr . “ There is a production meeting on Thursday night . We probably had 40 people in that production meeting . We had sound , we had lights , we had pyrotechnics , we had show car coordinators , we had the race director , we had the starting line team , we had the head-of-staging team , and we had the rear staging team .
“ We bring all the folks together that are an integral part of producing that event , and we do a script read , and timing is critical . We need to deliver this show in a timely , efficient , and exciting manner ,” Bader Jr . says when asked why he puts the effort into scripting the event .
Of course , Night Under Fire has had its memorable moments for Bader Jr . Two that stick out are when Bob Motz burned the headof-staging sign , and the other involves Force .
“ One year , John Force was match racing . John , back in the day , did these monstrous , long burnouts . Well , he broke his reverser lever , which was a carbon fiber reverser lever . He banged a U-turn on the track , drove up alongside the car in the other lane , banged a U-turn in the water box , staged his car , and ran .”
Force also remembers the moment well , saying , “ In the old days , you could do anything . I did a burnout , and it wouldn ’ t back up , so I just turned it around , dry-hopped it around and got it back so I could earn my money .”
Moments like this are a reflection of the enjoyment that Night Under Fire brings to the fans . “ We recognize that we ’ re in the entertainment business ,” Bader says . “ My favorite moments are when you know you got [ the fans ] – when they ’ re ultra-responsive , when they ’ re stomping their feet , when they ’ re
BILL BADER JR .
TIM WILKERSON
JOHN FORCE
STEVE HARPER IN THE HISTORIC ‘ COOL BUS ’
MIKE KNOTT
128 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 184