The Left Turn
By: Ron Burt
It was just announced on December 17th, Abby Hohlbein from Cloverdale Ohio will join fellow racer Marc Dailey as the second MDR entry into the 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa Oklahoma, January 12th- 17th at the Expo Center. Abby will pilot the #22M as a rookie contender. The annual Chili Bowl is one of the biggest races in racing and attracts the best drivers from NASCAR, USAC, World of Outlaws, High Limit and others. Whoever walks away with the famous golden driller trophy, has bragging rights.
Abby has raced with MDR before at the Tulsa Shootout that takes place before the Chili Bowl Nationals. She brings years for experience to the team, even though she’s only 19. Many racing fans have seen her at local tracks competing with the USAC Midwest Thunder Midgets. In 2021 Abby had a big win in a USAC Midget at the Kokomo Klash. She also had seat time last summer in a USAC Sprint Car.
Right now, the MDR team consists of Dailey and Hohbein but there is a possibility they could have one more driver.
Thursday, December 18th, was a sad day for race fans. Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, 14-year-old daughter Emma, and 5-year-old son Ryder were killed in a plane crash in Statesville, NC. The crash also took the lives of Dennis Dutton and his son Jack and Craig Wadsworth, a respected member of the NASCAR community. Biffle was a pilot and used his own helicopter to deliver aid and help rescue people stranded in the mountains of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee after Hurricane Helene last year.
The Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners MI announced the guest speakers for this year’s Open Wheel Racing lecture event for February 7th, they include Barry Marlow owns the Great Lakes Super Sprint Series, Jared Owen VP of operations at the historic Anderson Speedway, Terry Dowker, an open wheel legend and Johnny Benson Jr. who currently races ISMA/MSS Supermodifieds but also a former ASA Champion and NASCAR Series Truck Champion will all share the podium. Until next week, keep your wheels down. I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. Ron Out!
