The Event:

The National Open Chili Cook-Off takes place on the Saturday of the Williams Grove National Open. This years date is Saturday, October 3, 2009. Click here for the latest updates.

Competitors are to bring their chili to the backstretch pit area of Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, PA. Here entries will be judged by a panel of esteemed culinary experts(to be named later) who will determine the Williams Grove National Open Chili Champion. The judges will name a winner based on their rating using a scale of 1 through 10. Judging criteria is taste, taste and more taste. Each competitor will also sell their chili to the event's attendees for a pre-determined amount of time.

While a winner will be determined by the judges, the people will determine a "People’s Choice" winner for the competitor who raises the most money through the selling of their chili. So, if you have a generous friend who would like to pay $20.00 for a bowl of your chili........more power to you. The idea is to raise the most amount of money in the designated amount of sales time(usually 1 hour), so stuff that ballot box with as much money as possible, if you know what I mean.

You may prepare your chili at the site of the contest or prepare it at home. What we ask is that you bring two gallons of your chili to sell and raise money for our cause. The judges choice and peoples choice winners will each receive a fabulous prize(to be named later), but the real prize is the honor of being crowned the Williams Grove National Open Chili Cook-Off Champion and having the bragging rights that go along with that for a year.

Along with the money raised in sales from the competitors chili, we are planning a prize raffle to aid our fundraising efforts. Many folks have donated items for previous years prize raffles including NEXTEL® Cup apparel, sprint car driver t-shirts, manufacturer (Hoosier®, etc.) apparel, tools, etc. Donations of new race related items for the raffle are sincerely appreciated. Please see the contact info for further information. Also planned is a 50/50 raffle.

Purpose:

The purpose behind the National Open Chili Cook-Off is simple: The fans of the Central PA sprint car racing circuit appreciate the high level of talent and competition we have here in Central PA and we take this opportunity to show it to the teams and drivers. The National Open, being one of the last events at Williams Grove each season, is the perfect time to gather, have some fun, and raise some extra money for some of the teams that compete, for our enjoyment, all year long.

Proceeds:

The proceeds raised at the Chili Cook-Off are slated to go to the highest finishing PA Posse non-qualifiers in Saturday evening’s program at the National Open.

Contact:

For more information regarding the Williams Grove National Open Chili Cook-off, please contact hsnow10@yahoo.com.