Western Clinton County’s Charcalla Racing off to the races
Photo provided
NORTH BEND, PA – When the weather turns warm, it’s time for the eight-member Charcalla Racing team to start racing, from drag racing up and down the eastern seaboard to the bike races at the dirt track at Beaver Springs and beyond.
If there is a race, look for a Charcalla and you’ll need a scorecard to track them all:
Mark Charcalla, 62 (who started it all in his mother’s garage back in 1987 or so with brother Drew);
Younger brother Drew Charcalla, 57;
Mark Charcalla Jr, 39 (son of Mark);
Landon Charcalla, 11 (son of Mark Jr.);
Mike Charcalla, 36, (son of Mark Sr);
Ethan Charcalla, 14 (son of Mike);
Josh Charcalla, 33, (son of Drew);
Drew Charcalla, 30, (son of Drew).
You’ll find old Mark, old Drew and young Mark on the Pro/Stick drag race circuit. Next up for them is the long trip south on June 18 to the Farmington Dragway in Farmington, NC. They hit the points ($ on the line) races on the drag race circuit. It’s a series for cars with manual transmissions and usually features between 50 to 70 cars, the races ranging from 7 to 11 seconds in the quarter-mile contests. This year’s schedule calls for 15 races in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina.
2021 saw the threesome finishing in the top six, Mark Jr at number two, Drew at number four and Mark Sr at number six. They’ve been doing it for a while and have had their share of success: Mark Jr was points champion in 2012 and Drew took the title in 2016.
Meanwhile Mike Charcalla and young Drew usually race their bikes at their home track at the Beaver Springs Dragway, but also participate in “big money” bike races at Maryland International Raceway, Keystone Raceway Park and South Mountain Dragway. Young Drew was points champion at Beaver Springs in 2014 and Mike was points champ there in 2019.
As for the rest of clan Charcalla, youngsters Landon and Ethan race their cycles in an eight-mile kids’ class at Beaver Springs. As for Josh, he recently purchased a semi-late model and is hoping to get out and run it by the end of the year.
Asked how it call about, young Mark said, “The interest came from my dad and uncle. If we weren’t playing sports on the weekend, we were at the racetrack either watching or participating. Mark’s dad, asked to explain the keen family interest, said simply, “It’s in our blood.”
In response to questions from The Record, Mark Jr said the rising cost of fuel has caused the Charcallas to scale back their racing this season, “but we plan to make all our point races.” Those races provide a top payout of $1,200. He noted the race cars run on alcohol and the bikes onQ16 race gas.
