If you ask the question, “What is a chili bowl?” Most people would say that it is a round container that holds chili.

If you ask 19-year old Sprint driver Brandon Matus, he would tell you that it is a most amazing place where the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals occur, two weeks after Christmas in Tulsa, Okla.

It is a four-night indoor race meet and this year Matus competed in it. Initially, the Chili Bowl food company sponsored it, but these Nationals are now known simply as The Chili Bowl. It is auto racing’s winter answer to football’s Super Bowl.

Imagine putting a building with a roof around Lernerville Speedway that accommodates about 300 race rigs, has bleachers for 15,100 people and houses a quarter-mile clay track. The presence of Sprint talent such as five-time Chili Bowl winner Sammy Swindell, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne and many others is what elevates Midget competition to a level unmatched.

“The Chili Bowl is unbelievable,” Matus said. “It is like a different world out there. I will definitely be back there every year I can, even if I am not racing in it.”

It is the action that fills every corner for 50 laps that keeps people coming back.

Family tradition

Third-generation driver Brandon Matus is passionate about racing. He was his dad’s crew chief on the No. 33 when he was nine-years old.

“My dad, granddad and great-granddad were all involved in racing, so it was natural for me to be, also,” he said.

He won his first race at Lernerville at the age of 16 in his No. 13. He took the number one from his grandfather’s No. 15 and a three from his dad’s No. 33 for his number. He says that he really isn’t superstitious.

The biggest race win to date was an UNOH All Star Sprint race at Sharon two years ago.

While Matus has had success in the winged sprint car, he also enjoys racing non-winged sprints and midgets. He has a feature win in a midget at the Montpelier Speedway in Indiana.

“Wingless racing is something I really enjoy because I feel that it puts a lot more emphasis on the driver,.” Matus said. “I don’t think you need as much motor when you run without the wing. It is more about throttle control and you really have to drive the car.”

Matus first tried wingless sprint car racing when the B.O.S.S series started coming to western PA.

“I am really glad those guys race in our area,” Matus said. “They pay out the money and you’ve got to support those who do that.”

Matus is amazed at how fast his racing career has ascended, but he also feels that he has so much more to learn.

“I never thought my career would take off as fast as it did.” Matus said. “I know how hard it is and how long it can take to get there.”

We may be watching a future Sprint Car Hall of Fame candidate. Look for this young talented driver to have a long and successful career in racing.

Landmark victory

Lee Jacobs won the recent ONOH All Star Sprints Show at Lernerville, his first All Star race and career first at the Sarver oval.

The No. 81 Sprint owner is Johnny Lewis. Many race fans in the stands did not know the agony and ecstasy that racing has brought this lovely family. The Lewis family has not raced a car in almost 30 years.

In 1985, William E. (Spanky) Lewis, 22, died from injuries received in a racing accident at Sharon Speedway. Spanky was competing in a heat race when the car’s axle broke, He got out of the Sprint to look at the damage, when he was hit by another racer who didn’t see the yellow flag or Spanky on the track.

Johnny and the Lewis family never fielded another car again until this year.

Johnny said, “I never forgot what the late Lou Blaney said to me: ‘Don’t let this stop you from racing.’”

He further added, “I thought about my brother every day.”

Ohio’s Sprint drivers are like a Band of Brothers.

“Kenny Jacobs and Jac Haudenschild dragged me to at least one race every year,” said Lewis.

About eight years ago, Kenny Jacobs’ son Lee, began driving a Sprint. He drove for various owners and last year, Johnny bought him a used Tony Stewart Sprint, but that team fell apart and the car went back in the Lewis garage.

Kenny Jacobs, who has 98 All Star Sprint wins, and Johnny started talking about fielding a car for Lee, who was without a ride. They decided to do it and the team was registered as 1881 in honor of Spanky’s No. 18 Sprint. Lee’s cousin Cody Jacobs (Kenny’s son) is an expert at “wrenching” a Sprint car and was with the Tim Shaffer Sprint team.

Cody decided to be Lee’s crew chief. Johnny said, “Lee and Cody remind me of my brother and I; they each know what the other one is thinking and going to say.”

The rest is history. It was like a homecoming at Lernerville’s victory lane after the big race. Johnny’s dad, Jack and mother, “Pete” were there.

Haudenchild was celebrating, even though he was the runner-up. Kenny Jacob’s didn’t come to the race because he thought it would rain out. He was listening to it on the Internet and was so excited, but with two laps to go, the computer went blank. He was elated to get the call from victory lane.

The Lewis family is back at the track.

Johnny said, “ I am having fun. “The Band of Brothers went home to the Lewis household where they partied all night!

Swarttzlander home

After two weeks in the hospital, Dick Swartzlander is home. Swartzlander had issues with breathing, so his crew got him a four-wheeler to travel in the pits and a heater to sit by in the hauler.

The Hall of Famer is on record for being the only driver to win a Sprint, Late Model, and Modified race on the same night.

Wedding bells

Bobbi Rankin and Garrett Krummert have recently tied the knot.

Krummert’s third and fouth place Lernerville finishes are one of his best season beginnings.

Child on the way

Dave Hess and his wife Becca are expecting their first child. Dave, who will be running semi-regular regional races in his E-Mod and Late Model, hopes to have his Late Model down to Lernerville soon.

Racing book coming

Magnolias, Sweet Tea and Exhaust is a book that will soon be released. It is about a women’s journey to understand NASCAR and racing.

The author, Carole Townsend, travels the NASCAR circuit, talks with race teams and some of the famous retired drivers. She explores the history of bootlegging, tailgating, and even rides in a race car.

Carol Gamble is a racing columnist for the Butler Eagle

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