The Mac-O-Chee Quarter Midget Racing Association held their 3rd annual Beauty Bowl Memorial weekend event over July 29th, 30th and 31st under beautiful skies and high temperatures.

On Friday night, twenty-seven cars competed in the 1st annual Mac-O-Chee “Sprint Cup” races as drivers took to the track for 5-lap “Sprints” for a “Cup” of delicious candy.

On Saturday, a qualifying format was used to determine the A-main starting line-up for the Beauty Bowl races as 63 cars battled for the feature win across twelve divisions. Thanks to generous donations by: Honda, USAC, Genuine Auto Parts, Lawn Masters, Hoosier Tire, Ohio Caverns, McDonald’s in Urbana, Kentucky Fried Chicken of Urbana, Pizza Hut in Urbana, Custom Sportswear, Curt Peterson, and the Nibert Family, all drivers received special awards for their finishing place.  After a long race with many cautions, Lexi Pohlman was able to hold off the field for the win in the Rookie class. Toledo driver Zack Cullen picked up wins in both Junior Honda and Junior Animal.  Travis Staup worked his way around the field to pick up the win in Senior Honda. Miami Valley driver Jacob Taylor took the checkered flag in Heavy Honda. From the back of the field, Chase Dean picked up the win in Light 160 and as the pole-sitter, led the field for the victory in Light World Formula. Aaron Leffel led the way in Unrestricted Animal. Bellefontaine driver Logan McPherson put his car in the victory lane for Heavy World Formula.

Thanks to a generous donation from RD Holder Oil company, two winners were able to take home a $500 savings bond for their victories. Toledo driver Hayden Dickerson battled his way to the front in Senior Animal and Buckeye driver, Ethan Mullet, led the field for Heavy AA as both received the savings bond for their wins.

In the infamous Senior Half Race, where the handler’s have the opportunity to race with their children’s quarter midgets, for the 2nd year in a row, Miami Valley handler, Chuck Taylor, earned the top spot, followed by retired driver Deanna Heitzman, Urbana’s Jen Pelfrey, Dan Stevens, and husband and wife duo, Tammy and Dan Porter.

Amongst all the racing, several vintage quarter midgets were not only on display, but were able to take to the track for some laps. 2009 Hall of Fame Inductee Doug Plank showed off his 1958 Kurtis Craft 500 Jr. as well as a 1957 300 Walburg owned by his brother Darry Plank and raced by both men from 1958-1962. John Nuckles, of Columbus Motor Speedway, brought his 1959 Kurtis 500 Jr. and his 1958 Racecraft. Bellefontaine’s Curt Peterson showcased his 1958 Moss Midget. Hall of Fame member Doug Plank even marked off the location of the original dirt track for all to see where these cars first raced at the West Liberty Lion’s Club Park.

Traveling back to West Liberty to join in the celebration of this year’s inductees for the Mac-O-Chee Hall of Fame were former inductees: Chris Yoder, Steve Yoder, John Plank, Doug Plank, Darry Plank, Nick Hostetler, Curt Peterson, Don Moffitt, Dick Smith and Mrs. Frank Peterson.  Families gathered together to welcome: Ryan Peterson, Mike and Lisa Heitzman, Kyle “Scooter” West into the 2011 Hall of Fame with Mrs.West accepting the plaque in memory of her husband, the late Ralph West.

Sunday’s racing action saw the 3rd leg of the Ohio 4 Championship Series come to the Mac-O-Chee track in which 66 cars battled for the checker flag. Toledo driver Justin Adams took the win in Rookie feature race number 1, and Mac-O-Chee driver Baylee Howard led the field for the win in Rookie Feature race 2. Buckeye driver Garrett Ottman was a double feature winner for Junior Honda and Junior Animal.  Mac-O-Chee driver Chase Dean also had dual wins in Light 160 and Light World Formula. Toledo driver Kyle Martell took the win in Senior Honda. Miami Valley driver Jacob Stickle captured the win in Unrestricted Animal. Buckeye drivers continued to rack up wins in Heavy 160 by Ethan Mullet, Senior Animal by Clay Siegel,  and Heavy Honda by Joey Tracy. Bellefontaine driver Logan McPherson was victorious for the 2nd day in Heavy World Formula.

Over the course of the three day weekend, the club also hosted a free Arrive and Drive for the community, in which children between the ages of 5-16 were able to experience quarter midgets. Thirty-six children were able to get a taste of quarter midget driving and left with big smiles on their faces.

Mac-O-Chee drivers will be traveling once again over the next several weeks with exciting events in Indiana for the Little Hoosier 100, at a brand new track at the Little Kalamazoo Speedway in Michigan for both the Midwest Thunder Series and the Mopar/USAC Generation Next Tour.

Racing action will return to the West Liberty Lion’s Club Park on August 26, 27 and 28.

Admission is always free to the public. For more information check us out at www.macochee.org.