Need a snack? Galli can help with that

VINTON — When hundreds of race fans pay for their concessions tonight at Benton County Speedway, they will encounter the same woman at the checkout as they do each Saturday night at Independence Motor Speedway, Von Galli.

The wife of a former stock car driver, Mike Galli, Von began helping out at the two tracks several years ago so she had something to do while Mike was working on the car and racing.

Now she sees 300-500 faces on an average night, depending on the weather and the car count.

“I love chit-chatting with all of the people,” Galli said. “I give them a hard time and they give it back.”

So much so that Galli admits, “I can’t go right to sleep,” when she returns home from her weekend gigs.

A resident of Urbana, Galli worked for the CPU school district for 26 years before retiring this past February.

Galli started nearly three decades ago “doing whatever they needed,” before moving to the kitchen where she was head cook for seven years.

Now Galli is excited to focus on her five grandkids that keep her busy.

“We have them as much as we can,” Galli said. “We spoil them more than our own kids. (Our kids) always say that and I say, ‘that’s what we do.’”

Galli likes to go camping and also sews for fun, making outfits for her five favorite models.

As for her weekend job, it allows Galli to save money for Christmas presents for her grandkids while staying connected to the community.

“Last weekend we had a demo derby and a bunch of people asked why I wasn’t cashiering,” Galli said.

The recent retiree also appreciates the patience of patrons at both tracks, especially with car counts reaching triple digits.

“People being nice instead of being rude because the line isn’t moving as fast as they’d like it to,” Galli said. “I love just the hometown feeling and everyone being close.”

Benton County Speedway will host weekly racing tonight in the modified, sport mod, stock car, hobby stock, legends and sport compact divisions with gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starting at 6.

Galli will be there just in case you get hungry, that is unless she hits it big.

“I’ll probably be here until I get tired of it,” Galli said. “Maybe I’ll win the lottery or something.”