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Second generation racers are common these days with third generations being a little more rare. How about three generations of drivers at Toledo Speedway all with the same exact name? The name Tom O'Leary from Cygnet, Ohio, has been in the lineup at Toledo Speedway for as long as race fans can remember. Grandpa Tom O'Leary II first started the tradition followed by son Tom O'Leary III, and now young driver Tom O'Leary IV also competes every week in the Sportsman Division. Tom IV was 6th in points last year while dad Tom III finished 12th.

Tom O'Leary II started racing at Toledo in 1972 with a 1957 Chevy. He first attended the races with his dad as a spectator and like so many others he thought "I can do that!" and decided that the Figure 8's looked like a lot of fun. Racing soon became a family affair as a young Tom III was enlisted as a teenage crew member, and soon a few other young neighbors and relatives were put to work as well. Tom the elder explained that he had to lie about their ages to get them past the pit gate to work on the car. It must have been good training because Tom III along with neighbor and fellow crew member Howard Kelley Jr. graduated to racing themselves at Toledo.

Tom O'Leary III has known since he was a youngster that he wanted to follow his dad into racing. He entered the Toledo Sportsman Division in 1999. Tom really enjoys the speed at Toledo on the big high banked half mile and has competed there for the last ten years. Just like his dad did with him, Tom III also enlisted his son Tommy to help with the race car at an early age. Tom III also mentioned how they first entered the train races as a lark a couple years ago and had so much fun they have run them all. The train races involve two team cars chained together; the lead car has the engine while the other car has the brakes. 

Young Tommy IV first got his feet wet racing go karts at Toledo, but eventually outgrew the karts and moved up to full size cars. He started at Oakshade Speedway on the dirt, and finally tried his hand on the pavement at Toledo. Tom IV moved up to the Sportsman series and last year at the age of 17 won the Rookie of the Year while gaining the respect of the other drivers. He is graduating High School this Spring and is planning to enter the Motorsports program at the University of Northwest Ohio.

Tom III and Tom IV are both racing in the Sportsman class again this year, and told me they were also planning on getting Grandpa Tom II back behind the wheel at least once, so all three generations could compete together in the same race! They wanted to add that they are treated well by Scott Schultz and the rest of the staff at Toledo and couldn't think of anything more fun to do as a family than racing.