Jon Knapp remembered by friends at Summit

Jon Knapp, longtime PR representative who most recently did work for the Summit Racing Equipment team, died on Monday, Oct. 22. Memorial services will be private. There will be a celebration Mass in November. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.

Jon’s impact on the motorsports community is reflected in the comments from the people who worked with him:

“Everyone at Summit Racing Equipment is saddened at Jon’s passing, and our thoughts and prayers go out to (his wife) Joanne,” said Ray Tatko, President of Summit Racing. “We will miss Jon’s professionalism and genuine enthusiasm for the sport of drag racing.”

“Jon was a very creative guy, great at what he did,” said Jim Greenleaf, Summit Racing Motorsports and Events Manager. “I always considered Jon and Joanne friends first, co-workers second. They loved everything about drag racing and the people involved in it—an attitude that was reflected in their work.”

“Jon and Joanne were usually the first to get to the track and the last to leave,” explained Nan Gelhard, Summit Racing Advertising Manager. “Jon always had an idea, a way to connect the team with fans. We all counted on him.”

“Jon made working with the media easy. He simplified everything and made us look like shining stars,” said Greg Anderson, four-time NHRA Pro Stock champion and member of the Summit Racing/KB Racing Pro Stock team. “Jon was a close friend, and not just at the racetrack. He was the most absolutely loyal person, true-blue to the people he worked for and with. I don’t know how he will be replaced on this team.”

“Jon was a huge part of our team. He was always offering to do more, to help with things even if they were not his responsibilities,” offered Rob Downing, crew chief for Greg Anderson’s Summit Racing Pro Stock Camaro. “Jon had the ability to always be in touch with what was going on and made sure Greg, Jason, and the rest of us were doing what they needed to do.”

“Jon did his work wide open,” said current NHRA Pro Stock champion Jason Line. “He did things with the same intensity as the race team—celebrated our wins and took our losses just as hard as we did. Jon and Joanne became our friends.”  (photo courtesy Summit) [10/25/2012]

AHDRA ends season this weekend at Belle Rose

This weekend is the last race of the AHDRA season and there should be a great crowd at No Problem Dragway in Belle Rose, La., for the Cajun Nitro Nationals.

Teams continue to battle it out for their place on the AHDRA National Championship lists.

Shaun Reno

Frank Capone

According to the latest AHDRA official points compilation, Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley racer Larry "Drums" Brancaccio's Bammer Racing from Nutley, NJ, has moved up to the 7th position overall, a stellar performance for the whole team as they battled computers and a limited race schedule this season.

In the AHDRA Pro Mod class, these "slightly" modified gasoline powered VTwins will fly and leading the pack at season's end is Frank Capone of Capone Racing, Wakefield, Mass. Teammate Shaun Reno, whose smooth performance is aided by HeadBlade, Inc., is in third place overall. (Kelcie Edwards photos) [10/25/2012]