Chili Cook-Off Big Part Of National Open Weekend

Chili Cook-Off Big Part Of National Open Weekend

By Brad Vores Sept. 20, 2007

It’s often been said that Central Pennsylvania has the greatest racing fans in the country.

If it’s not proven week in and week out, it was proven last season during the National Open Chili Cookoff at Williams Grove Speedway.
The folks of the Chili Cookoff will be back this year to try and top the amazing $6,400 raised during the event held during the World of Outlaws sanctioned National Open.

“The race fans of Central Pennsylvania are the finest in the country,” said Ron Judd, spokesman for the Chili Cookoff. “We raised $6,400 in a matter of hours last year and only in Pennsylvania will you see this kind of support.”

This year’s Chili Cookoff will take place on Saturday, September 29 beginning at noon.

While the main focus is the preparation of chili by 20 chili chefs, there will be a complete day full of activities for fans and children.

Awards for the chili will be by Judges as well as Peoples Choice. Chili will be available for sampling and purchase.

All proceeds for the event go directly back to the members of the Pennsylvania Posse who fail to qualify for the Saturday night National Open A-Main. Last year, Todd Shaffer, Niki Young, Jim Siegel and Craig Keel were drivers that were awarded some nice cash from the cookoff while the Kevin Gobrecht Memorial Fund and the York County Racing Club were also recipients of some cash.

This year’s chili cookoff will be in memory and honor of Billy Kimmel, who was killed in a racing crash at the track on September 2.
The Butcher has put up $1,000 for a special award to be handed out in the name, honor and memory of Kimmel.

“Billy Kimmel not only epitomized what a passionate racer is, but was also a passionate fan of the sport,” Judd added. “He connected with each and every one of us. His memory and honor will be celebrated at this years event.”

A raffle and silent auction will also be held next Saturday with many cool items available.

They include a set of custom Billy Kimmel bean bag boards, autographed wing panels from Lucas Wolfe and Kevin Nouse, two YCRC Hall of Fame banquet tickets and a nights stay at the Holiday Inn in York in January, half of a Fred Rahmer/Budweiser hood, a framed aerial photo of Williams Grove, a print of original artwork by Scott Munroe of “The Bridge”, a Home Depot Varsity College jacket and more.

Many past and present racing stars will also be on hand for an autograph session.

The kids won’t be left out as there will be a face painting booth and many great giveaways for the kids. There will also be some race cars on display for the kids to view up close and personal.

It will be a fun day for all involved at this years Chili Cookoff. It’s a chance for fans to meet new people and help the racers at the same time.

“With children’s activities, outstanding food, silent auctions, prize raffles, race cars and good friends, there is so much to see, do and taste at this years Cook-Off, everyone will leave happy,” Judd stated.

Lincoln Speedway announcer Wayne Harper will host this years event.

For more information on the cookoff and get a complete list of what will be happening, please visit www.nationalopenchilicookoff.com.

ON THE ROAD
Stevie Smith made the tow to Ohio’s Fremont Speedway pay off to the tune of $15,000 as he won last Saturday night’s Chuck Kear Memorial for 410 Sprints. It was the largest ever prize offered by the track.

Smith started 12th in the RAACE Foundation JEI and worked his way to the front and then put most of the field a lap down in the 50 lap test. The win was his seventh this season.

Smith will return to Williams Grove Speedway for next week’s National Open.

Other local drivers at Fremont included 11th finishing Alan Krimes and 23rd finisher Chris Knopp.

Pennyslvania racers Doug Dodson, Karl Baker and Josh Dressler competed at Sharon Speedway on Saturday night.

Dodson led the first 19 laps of the first of two 25 lap feature. He then spun while running second on lap 22.

Baker finished fourth in the second 25 lapper while Dressler did not make the features.

Baker competed at Sportsmans Speedway Sunday where he finished sixth.

Donny Schatz got back on track on the World of Outlaw tour with a Wednesday night win at Clay County Speedway over Joey Saldana, Craig Dollansky, Tim Shaffer and Paul McMahan then returnee with a Friday night win at Heartland Park in Topeka Kansas with a win over Shaffer, Daryn Pittman, Jason Meyers and Randy Hannagan on the WoO Sprint tour.

Sunday night found Pittman scoring the win at Charter Raceway Park in Wisconsin over Schatz, Meyers, Dollansky and McMahan.
It was an exciting final weekend on the O’Reilly All Star tour as Chad Blonde and Kraig Kinser were feature winners.

But the real excitement came as Greg Wilson and Danny Smith entered the Saturday finale tied for the All Star points lead.

Wilson finished eighth in the feature while Smith rebounded for 10th after spinning. That gave the Driver point title to Wilson. However, Smith won the Owner title because Wilson drove a team car at a race during Ohio Speedway but that car was given B-Main points only. So in the end, Wilson and Smith will split the first place $50,000 check along with the second place check for the split championship.

PIT STOPS
An update on “Billy’s Dream” t-shirt collection to auction off at the Chili Cookoff is over 100 items have been collected so far including about 80 non-PA Posse items! Some of the items include a signed Richard Petty polo, two Kasey Kahne autographed shirts and a signed Tony Stewart shirt.

Jeremy Miller won Sunday night’s Sunoco Racing Fuels Hub City National 150 at Hagerstown Speedway. He took the lead on lap 22 of the 50 lapper and never looked back in his second straight $7,500 payday in the event. Bo Feathers, Alan Sagi, Ronnie DeHaven and Dan Stone were the top five.

Feathers won the first segment of the Hub City over DeHaven, Miller, JT Spence and Brian Booze while Gary Stuhler won the second segment over Sagi, Stone, David Williams and Booper Bare.

Hagerstown is back this Saturday with the Small Car Nationals for late model sportsman, pure stocks and four-cylinders.

Lincoln Speedway is back Saturday night with the Hank Gentzler Memorial on Manufacturers Night for 410 Sprints.

The Super Sportsman join the 410 Sprints Friday at Williams Grove Speedway while the 358 Sprints go in a $2,000 to win championship on the final points night at Trail-Way Speedway.

The World of Outlaws late models will make their first ever appearance at Bedford Speedway tomorrow night.

After missing a good portion of the season with a broken arm, Red Lion’s Cody Darrah is expected to make his return to Lincoln Speedway on Saturday night. Darrah has been getting some laps in at Lincoln recently and the Lee Stauffer wrenched No. 89 should be back on track.
Niki Young underwent back surgery last week and will be out of action for a while. The No. 10N sprinter did not race last weekend.
Replacing Young in the Denny Neiderer owned No. 10N will be Middleburg’s Todd Hestor. Hestor will finish out the season.

Daulton Bigler is having another barn-burner of a season in the go-kart ranks winning his 11th race of the season two weeks ago at Shippensburg Speedway. He now has 40 career wins in just three seasons of racing. He is close to clinching the .500 caged cars championship at Shippensburg in two weeks. He is the son of Jeff and Linda Bigler of Mechanicsburg.

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