McWilliams Wins Midwest Super Comp
Drag Racing Championship

The McWilliams Racing team of Dave McWilliams, Connie Carbone, Duane and Carol Ward, and Phil Kettler realized a collective dream this season when they won the Midwest Super Comp Drag Racing Championship.

It was extra special because this was the 25th anniversary of the Midwest Super Comp series.

The points race was tight all year, with the championship hinging on the last race of the season.

The Midwest Super Comp series featured 14 races with 14 different winners from five different states.

In the final race of the 2012 season at the Byron (IL) Dragway on September 23 the points-leading McWilliams team was eliminated early with electrical problems and had to watch from the stands; their championship fate left to the performances of the trailing second and third-place teams.

“It was nerve-racking sitting in the stands,” said McWilliams. “I was a lot more nervous than I ever am driving the car.” As Fate would have it the overall  championship came down to the last race of the day when Chad Lamont,  who entered the final race of the series in third place, lost in the final, giving McWilliams the season-long championship by a mere 50 points (4,885 – 4,835).

The Midwest Super comp Series consisted of 15 races (one was rained out) with points given for qualifying, rounds won, wins, and extra points for perfect lights and runs.

Over 70 racers, the best in the Midwest, make up the series. Every round win is difficult, every racer is competitive. McWilliams has been drag racing for 12 years, four years in the MWSC series.

Carbone, the McWilliams team crew chief, admits that once she realized the championship was a possibility, it was a little stressful.

“Running for a championship is a big commitment,” she said. “Every qualifying point, every round is important. Duane was busy almost every day during the week, making sure the car was ready for the weekend. It takes a team to win a championship!”

The Midwest Super Comp banquet was held November 3 in Rochelle, IL. Team McWilliams received a beautiful trophy, a cash prize and gift certificates. In addition, Carbone was named Crew Chief of the year, while McWilliams was voted Sportsman of the year. “These honors were extra special because they are voted on by the drivers and are given for respect, competitiveness and sportsmanship,” said Carbone.

“Midwest Super Comp is a tight knit group of racers,” added McWilliams. “We have fun on and off the track.”

McWilliams and Carbone want to thank their sponsors for their support: Ted’s Place Trucking & Southwest Asphalt, Lynch Excavating, Red & Debs Bar and Grill, Chicago’s Best, Bill’s Plumbing and Heating, Dewey’s Tire, Sinipee Valley Winery, Sherwin Electric, Lifestyle Alternatives, Midwest Fire and Restoration, and Harley & Deb McWilliams.

They also want to thank their fans for coming and cheering them on. “We had a bus trip to the Earlville (IA) track in August with over 100 fans there, all wearing our team t-shirts,” said McWilliams. “It was awesome looking up and seeing them in the stands.”

As for next year McWilliams added, “We are going to go out and have fun doing what we love to do.”