by Scott Porter – FAST Public Relations
MAUMEE, OH (2-1-10)
The Fremont/Attica Sprint Title & Hoserville Ohio are pleased to announce local racing legend Rick Ferkel, Warner Brothers recording artist Clay Kirchenbauer, and NBC24 Meteorologist Norm Van Ness as the celebrity judging panel for this year’s Racer’s Chili Challenge event. The event is set for February 20th at the Ballville Township Community Hall (1413 W. Cole Rd. – Fremont, OH) and brings the local racing scene and surrounding community together to compete for the title of best pot of chili in Northwestern Ohio and do a little bench racing just a month before the 2010 season starts. The event also features a charity beanbag tournament, rock-paper-scissors contest for the kids, driver’s autograph sessions, jalapeño eating contest and much more.
“These three judges show the diversity that makes up the local racing community in and around the Fremont and Attica area,” commented F.A.S.T. co-founder Bryan Autullo. “Everyone has their own unique life and day-time jobs away from the track, but it’s the thrill of wheel-to-wheel racing and the smell of the methanol on a warm summer night that brings everyone all together. I hope everyone comes out to meet the judges, shake their hands, and get an autograph while sampling some great chili recipes.”
The celebrity judges will once again determine the best chili in each division (Sprint Cars, Late Models/ Dirt Trucks & Fans/Media) and the winning teams will receive a chili pot trophy and a prize pack from Fremont Speedway, Attica Raceway Park, F.A.S.T. & Hoserville Ohio. “The People’s Choice” chili will be voted on by the general public in attendance and the winner will receive the grand champion chili pot trophy and their choice of either a $100 gift certificate to Kistler Racing Products or $100 cash.
Meet the 2010 Racer’s Chili Challenge Panel of Judges:
Rick Ferkel is the “Original Outlaw” – known for his travels across the United State during the summer in search of the next big bounty behind the wheel of his famed #0 sprint car. The man can simply be described as a “true racer” and is well respected throughout the racing community nation wide. As one of the original Outlaws, “The Ohio Traveler” raced in the inaugural 41-race World of Outlaw season created by the late Ted Johnson. During that year Ferkel would claim 4 races (all at Eldora Speedway), but unfortunately would fall short of the inaugural series championship by just 54-points to a young gentleman by the name of Steve Kinser. He has 18 World of Outlaw wins to his name along with 12 All Star victories and a multitude of non-sanctioned wins throughout his career. His first feature win came at Fremont Speedway in the late 1960’s. Ferkel was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1995 and is also in the Findlay/Hancock Sports Hall of Fame. Today, Rick still calls Northwestern Ohio home and turns the wrenches on his familiar #0 car now being piloted by Brandon Wimmer on the O’Reilly All-Star Circuit of Champions tour.
Clay Kirchenbauer is the lead singer for the up and coming alternative rock band “The Undeserving” based in the Fremont, Ohio area. The band has recently been signed a major label recording deal with Warner Brothers/Cause For Alarm Records and are working towards their much-anticipated debut release this spring. The band’s first single “Something to Hope For” has been picked up by television show icon “American Idol” as somewhat of a theme song and was also featured on CNN’s Haiti Relief Fund television spots. The song also was heard on the TV show “One Tree Hill” recently. Clay and The Undeserving are on the verge of a huge musical career as they plan their national tour to support their upcoming release. It didn’t seem like a race night at Fremont Speedway in 2009 without hearing Clay’s rendition of the National Anthem prior to the start of the event. Learn more about “The Undeserving” and their tour dates by visiting www.theundeserving.com or www.myspace.com/theundeserving.
Norm Van Ness can be seen regularly during the week on WNWO NBC Toledo Channel 24. Norm is the Chief Meteorologist and he is a member of the National Weather Association and is also an associate member of the American Meteorlogical Society . Norm previously worked in Colorado at several award winning stations both as a weather anchor and as an assignment editor, breaking and covering national news events – including the Columbine High School shootings, the murder of Jon Benet Ramsey, the arrests of the Texas Seven and several major storm events including tornados, hailstorms and blizzards. The seasoned news professional has over 15-years of experience in the industry and has been an advocate in getting dirt track racing its much-needed spot on the evening news. One of Norm’s favorite hobbies is combining two of his passion into one with racetrack photography. Winged sprint car racing is Norm’s favorite form of motorsports and he can be found roaming the pits at Attica and Fremont or checking some speed shots in the infield at either track.
The Chili Challenge Teams:
Eleven teams are currently signed up to compete in the 2nd Annual Racer’s Chili Challenge with the fans & media divisions so far collecting the most entries. The 2009 “People’s Choice Award” winning team of 3J Motorsports along with Hammer Motorsports & Colvin Racing currently make up the sprint car division, while Chuck Roelle Racing & Hennig Racing are contending in the late model & dirt truck division. Highlighting the Fans & Media division is the 2009 “Chili Chief Award” winning team of Racing World followed by Team Schiets, The King’s Den, 4thturnfreaks, Fremont Speedway and Scoop & Becky.
In hopes of collecting more entries the deadline to enter a team into the 2 nd Annual Racer’s Chili Challenge has been moved back to midnight on Monday, Febuary 15th. Simply email the information below to fastondirt@yahoo.com to register your team today!
2nd Annual Racer’s Chili Challenge Entry Form
Name of Team:
Chili’s Name:
Division (Sprint Cars, Late Models/Trucks, Fans/Media)
Contact Name:
Phone #:
E-mail:
Chili Chief:
Set-up:
More information about the 2nd Annual Racer’s Chili Challenge can be found at www.fastondirt.com.
The Racer’s Chili Challenge would not be possible without the help of these fine sponsors:
Fremont Speedway, Attica Raceway Park, Computer Man, Inc (Fremont, OH), KS Sales & Service (Gibsonburg, OH), Golden Graphics & Design (Gibsonburg, OH), Black Swamp Media Group, Wendy’s (Fremont, OH) and Aaron’s Sales & Lease (Fremont, OH).