JOLIET – Once Larry Walsh, the elder statesman in the Will County vs. Grundy County Grudge Match, won the first race, things were looking pretty good for his team.

Will County officials took four of the six races to win the trophy in the Saturday night drag racing contest at Route 66 Raceway.

“When you see him [Walsh] up there and he goes first and he wins, you got to follow in his footsteps,” said Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley, who won his race against Grundy County Sheriff Kevin Callahan..

The contest between mayors, sheriffs and other public officials from Will and Grundy counties was the first of its kind and was part of the D’Arcy Buick-GMC Route 66 Classic. The two sides drove GMC and Chevrolet trucks down the Joliet drag strip.

The white-haired Walsh, the Will County executive, took some ribbing from his fellow racers before the contest. But Walsh had the last laugh, commending state Rep. David Welter, who was Grundy County Board chairman until last month, for giving him a good race.

“I think experience held out, and that proved to be the best,” said Walsh, who hit a speed of 94.3 mph.

In other races in the Grudge Match:

• Grundy County State’s Attorney Jason Helland won his race against his Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow.

• Morris Fire Chief Tracey Steffes beat Joliet Fire Chief Joe Formhals.

• Joliet Police Chief Brian Benton bested Morris Police Chief Brent Dite.

• Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk won the last race, clinching the Will County team victory, against Morris Mayor Richard Kopczick.

Steffes in an interview before the race said, “My plan is to I’m going to drive it like I stole it.” Afterward, he said, he used a little more strategy, including pulling in the side mirrors to reduce wind friction.

O’Dekirk said his strategy was simple: “Just go fast. It was to the floor all the way.”

Racers named the charity of their choice.

“There’s going to be $6,000 going to charity,” said Terry D’Arcy, sponsor for the Route 66 Classic, “That’s the important thing.”