Mowing down the competition will be just part of the motivation for participants in a benefit racing event set for July 23 at Oswego Speedway. The lawnmower race, to be held at the kart track behind the speedway's rear grandstand, will serve as a fund-raiser for the college fund for 4-year-old Skylar Wallace of Oswego. Skylar's birthday is July 25. Skylar's mother, Stephanie West, died this year of breast cancer at age 25. She was a life resident of Oswego.

The race, a chicken barbeque and other supporting activities are being organized by longtime lawnmower racer Wayne DeGroff of Oswego. DeGroff is still rounding up donations and recruiting participants for the race, which will follow grass car rules. The rules are outlined at www.grasscar.org.

Activities on July 23 will begin at noon, with racing set to start at 1 p.m. In addition to the racing, there will be a couple of 50/50 raffles and drawings for various items donated by area merchants. One item will be a surround sound system donated by Bob Natoli. Other items have been donated by Advance Auto, Stoney's Auto Parts, Parts Plus, Oswego Speedway and others. Also at the event, Ron Gray, owner of Millennium, will provide DJ service.

DeGroff, a member of the Northeast Lawnmower Racing Organization, invites everyone to “come and see what lawnmower racing is all about.” He builds the racing tractors for others, and they are also sold in kits. More information is available at www.racenlawnmower.com.

The speedway's kart track is a one-ninth of a mile clay oval. DeGroff said there will be a Powder Puff Division, a Flathead Division, an Overhead Valve Engine Class, and the Unlimited Class. Last fall during Classic Week at the speedway, more than 300 people attended the inaugural lawnmower racing event on the new clay oval. DeGroff said he is hoping the July 23 event will have anywhere from 40 to 50 racing lawnmowers.

All proceeds raised through the racing and the supporting events will go to Skylar's college fund, DeGroff said. DeGroff thanked Oswego Speedway for its cooperation with this event. DeGroff added that he is looking to possibly hold another race in October to raise money for the American Cancer Society.