Who could possibly forget such classics as
these? Hemi Under Glass, The Little
Red Wagon
and the names 'Don the Snake Prudome', Don Garlits and Gordon Collett?? No one around the
Kirkersville, Buckeye Lake and Hebron areas for sure.
Using the premise "Build it and they will come, father Clark Rader Sr.,
along with sons Clark Jr. and Ben, broke ground for "National Trail
Raceway" in the fall of 1963. Located in Kirkersville, Ohio it was a
320 acre facility and at that time, was the fifth largest of it's kind
in the United States.
Then 1972, National Trail Raceway played host for the 1st time to
the Springnationals, an event that drew more than 40,000 spectators
and 600 cars. That day the gates had to be closed while cars were
still sitting on on Route 40 waiting to get in. The grounds were
already full.
It was an instant success. Unfortunately, one that the elder Clark
Rader Sr. was unable to share with his two sons. That was a heartbreak
to Clark Jr. as his father had fought so hard to bring the event to
their National Trails.
After such a successful beginning, Clark and Ben built additional stands, more
restrooms, a larger pit area, and added more asphalt to the strip.
Their crowds had grown from 40,000 in 1972 to 120,000 in 1995.
Clark and Ben worked the track personally thru the 1995 season.
In 1996 the NHRA purchased the track bringing an end to the Rader era
and beginning a new NHRA era.
'Although we lost Clark in the early part of 2001, we can rest
assured he will be watching over his 'National Trail Raceway', as
always.'
Thank you, Clark, for all of your hard work and contributions
to the sport of drag racing.
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