Weekend marks the return of lawnmower racing events
19th Annual National Lawn Mower Championships Kick Off at Bowles Farms
The 19th Annual National Lawn Mower Championships took place at Bowles Farms, Clements, Maryland, on August 1-2, 2025. This family-friendly event, which includes separate classifications for younger kids, has been growing in popularity over the past two decades.
The two-day competition at Bowles Farms is significant for long-time competitor Jason Brown, a Chopticon High School graduate, who has been a fixture in the race since his debut in 2011. Brown considers the participants as an extended family due to his long-term involvement in the national events. Competitors have traveled from various locations, including Florida, Texas, and locations north of the Mason-Dixon line, to participate in the event.
Organizers expect 80 to 100 racers for the two-day competition. The event was started in 2007 by organizer Ronnie Mattingly, a lifelong St. Mary's County resident. The schedule for the event included registration, tech inspection, driver's meetings, practice sessions, heat races, main races, and trophy ceremonies on both days. Camping is available onsite, and nearby hotel accommodation exists at Sleep Inn in California, MD.
The points system for the remaining races in 2023 was not publicly available in the current search results. For specific points rules or standings for the 19th annual event in 2025, it may require checking official National Lawn Mower Racing Championships communications or contacting organizers directly.
After the event at Bowles Farms, there are six more stops in the series this summer and fall. The races began in April in Reynolds, Ga., moved onto Wellsville, N.Y., in May, and then to Arthur Raceway in Reese, Mich., in June. Upcoming events include Anglers Bar & Grill in Freemont, Wis., on Aug. 16, 593 Motorsports in Zachary, La., on Oct. 17-18, and the grand finale of the series at Stevenson Raceway in Stevenson, Ala., for three days on Nov. 7-9.
Crowds are expected to reach 2,000 fans on Friday and potentially 4,000 on Saturday. Brown estimates that he competes in about four to five events out of the ten in the series each year. Despite the competitive nature of the races, Brown is looking forward to the camaraderie among family, friends, and even rival racers at the event.
During the 19th Annual National Lawn Mower Championships at Bowles Farms, competitors will participate in various races, including those that involve sports and racing. Jason Brown, a long-time competitor, looks forward to the camaraderie among family, friends, and even rival racers, making the event feel more like a race meeting than just a competition.
