| KRMG Sports with Rick Couri |
Results tagged “QuikTrip center” from KRMG Sports with Rick Couri
Another one of those coveted Golden Driller trophies is going back to Tennessee. This time though, it's not in Sammy's hands as Kevin Swindell topped Saturday night's 50-lap Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals main event that wrapped up a full slate of Rockstar Energy Drink championship feature events atop the QuikTrip Center's Tulsa Expo Raceway.
The 20-year-old from Germantown, TN, led the final 26 rounds to become the youngest winner in Chili Bowl Nationals history, adding a sixth Golden Driller from the prestigious Midget racing event to the Swindell family collection that already includes hardware from his father's unmatched five wins.
After pole starter Darren Hagen and Cory Kruseman both enjoyed stints at the front of the field, Kevin Swindell took command just prior to the midway point and then survived a late caution in the hotly-contested affair that gave both Cole Whitt and a rallying Sammy Swindell one last opportunity.
"I felt like the best laps I ran all night were on the restarts, so I was somewhat confident but I knew I had to go," the younger Swindell explained.
Swindell went on successfully to Roger Slack's checkered flag to take the win in the Esslinger-powered John Christner Trucking No. 39 Spike in front of Whitt and his father Sammy, who rallied from the tail on several occasions after using a defending race winner's provisional to start the main event.
"This year he (Kevin) had a race that didn't tear up anything, this year I tore up a lot," the five-time Chili Bowl champion explained. "But we salvaged a first and a third, so we'll have to come back next year and try to make it a one-two like it probably could have been last year."
After winning Wednesday night's River Spirit Casino Qualifier, Kevin Swindell started the main event outside the front row only to fall back as far as sixth as pole starter Darren Hagen paced the early rounds.
"I wish I would of have been too tight at the beginning, but I was way too free and that really worried me and I kinda felt that I wasn't gonna be good enough at the end," Kevin Swindell explained.
But after Sammy Swindell was involved in tangles on laps eleven and 18 that Sammy said, "...shortened my race up too much," Kevin made the adjustments he needed.
"The yellows at the beginning helped," Kevin explained. "I got to work with the shocks a whole lot and just keep getting tighter and tighter. It was good enough."
While Friday's E3 Spark Plugs Qualifier winner Cory Kruseman had taken the lead away from Hagen on the ninth round, Cole Whitt and then Kevin Swindell set sail on the high side and began moving to the front.
Whitt battled past Hagen for second on the 20th round while Kevin Swindell moved past Jerry Coons, Jr., and Michael Pickens for fourth by the time the caution flew for a seven-car scramble in turn three in which Brad Loyet got upside down.
A lap later, Hagen's Chili Bowl victory hopes were doused when he got turned around in turn one, handing third to Swindell.
Swindell blasted past Whitt on the restart and then took the lead away from Kruseman on the 24th lap as Whitt got shuffled back a pair of positions after an exchange with Michael Pickens on a track conducive to extreme slide job activity.
Whitt worked his way back up to second by the 31st lap and tailed the leader the rest of the way, trying to mount a charge on several occasions including after the race's final caution set up a green-white-checkered run to the stripe.
Swindell proved too strong, with Whitt settling for second in the Keith Kunz Motorsports Toyota-powered Red Bull No. 71 Bullet.
"I was trying everything I could and I couldn't really keep up with Kevin," Whitt explained. "We were close, if Kevin made a few mistakes I could kinda get close to him but he made only a few."
The final restart didn't necessarily work to Whitt's advantage either, with the 18-year-old explaining that, "We were real good on long runs, we could build up a little air pressure in the right rear. On the restarts we'd be real, real tight on the cushion so I couldn't really throw it in there as hard as I wanted. Running second here is huge, there's just so many cars."
In a bid to become the first back-to-back winner in Chili Bowl history, Sammy Swindell's odds were long after being collected in a crash while leading Thursday night's Bully Dog Qualifying feature event.
Rather than risk damage by racing from a "C" Main, the veteran shoe opted to utilize the defending race winner's provisional for the main event. And by the end of the 50-lapper, Sammy had the capacity crowd on its feet as he had the lead duo in his crosshairs.
Starting from 25th, the opening rounds were rough with Sammy involved in a pair of incidents that prompted Kevin to say, "At the beginning it was easy to keep track of him because he was sittin' there on the yellows."
That changed soon after though. And, after dodging the seven-car scrum on lap 20, he was back in the hunt.
Sammy mixed it up among the top ten over the last 20 circuits, ultimately working his way up to third by the time the race's final caution flew after 48 laps.
Kevin had tracked his father's progress as good as possible, noting that, "With ten to go I saw he was sixth, and then on the green-white-checkered I could just tell by the crowd he was coming."
Sammy's charge for a sixth Golden Driller and second in a row came up short as he followed the young duo across the line to take the show position in the Esslinger-powered John Christner Trucking No. 1 Spike.
Jerry Coons, Jr., finished fourth in the finale for the second year in a row aboard the Wilke Pak Motorsports Toyota-powered Speedway Motors No. 4 Spike, with two-time Chili Bowl Hard Charger Award winner Chris Windom racing from 20th to a career-best event finish of fifth aboard the Keith Kunz Motorsports Esslinger-powered No. 17 Bullet.
Shane Cottle raced from 15th to sixth, with Mike Hess charging from 22nd to seventh. After leading from laps nine through 23, Kruseman was shuffled back to eighth at the finish, with Brad Sweet gaining eight positions to finish ninth in his first career Chili Bowl championship feature start. Sweet bested car owner and teammate Kasey Kahne, who finished 18th after winning the first "B" Main.
After winning the night's second "B" Main, Kyle Larson completed the top ten in one of two Cory Tucker Racing/BCI entries to crack the feature field.
New Zealand car owner Simon Longdill matched Kasey Kahne Racing, Keith Kunz Motorsports, Swindell Motorsports and Corey Tucker Racing/BCI by placing two entries in the championship finale with Michael Pickens finishing eleventh and 20th-runner Brad Mosen the event's top finishing Chili Bowl rookie contender.
Saturday's 20-race Rockstar Energy Drink slate of championship feature events opened with Ronnie Gardner winning the "K" Main.
Seventy-five year old Floyd Alvis won the first "J" Main, with IRA Sprint Car champ Billy Balog topping the second "J" Main.
Stonington, IL, shoe Derrick Myers provided early entertainment by reeling off an "I" Main win, an "H" Main win and a runner-up "G" Main showing before running out of steam in the first "F" Main.
Eric Sandage won the second "I" Main, while Austen Wheatley made a late move around Kevin Ramey to win the second "H" Main after early leader Aaron Ott decided to test the turn one retaining wall without success.
After Tanner Mullens held off Myers in the first "G" Main, Matt Sherrell bested fellow Owasso, OK, entrant Dex Eaton in the second "G" Main.
Ronnie Burke and Matt Mitchell won the twin "F" Mains, with Randy Hannagan and Gary Taylor best in the "E" Mains.
Johnny Rodriquez and Josh Wise took "D" Main checkered flags, with Shane Hollingsworth and Josh Pelkey first in the "C" Mains.
Kasey Kahne overtook Shane Cottle on the 11th round en route to winning the first "B" Main, with Cottle, Sweet, Chad Boat, Brad Loyet and Brent Beauchamp earning transfers to the main event. Loyet's night started in the "C" Main.
Kyle Larson made a lap 15 move around Windom to take the checkered flag in the second "B" Main ahead of Thomas Meseraull, Daniel Adler, Windom, Hess and Bobby East.
Kevin Swindell snared his first taste of Chili Bowl glory by wiring the field in Wednesday night's 25-lap River Spirit Casino Qualifying Showdown main event at the QuikTrip Center's Tulsa Expo Raceway.
Swindell, the son of five-time and defending Chili Bowl champion Sammy Swindell, outdueled Cole Whitt for the lead in the opening rounds and led all the way to the checkered flag with Whitt in tow, as tenth-starter Brad Kuhn nipped Tim McCreadie at the stripe for the third and final lock-in position to Saturday night's 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals 50-lap championship main event.
Eighteen-year-old Whitt earned the pole position for the feature event by racing from eighth to win his heat race with a last corner pass and then charging from sixth to win his qualifying race.
However, it was front row outside starter Swindell taking advantage of the topside to take command before the caution flew on consecutive occasions with two laps in the books that sent contenders Josh Ford and Bryan Clauson to the tail of the field.
The 20-year-old Swindell weathered another pair of cautions after laps five and 14 before racing to the checkered flag aboard the Esslinger-powered John Christner Trucking No. 39 Spike.
"Every time we got to traffic and I would of had to start moving around, the yellow came out," Swindell explained. "Everything kinda worked out and I managed to limit the mistakes on the cushion."
Whitt kept Swindell in his sights throughout but was never able to mount a serious challenge in the Toyota-powered Keith Kunz Motorsports No. 71 Red Bull Bullet.
"I wanted to get into traffic," Whitt commented. "But, then again, being at the Chili Bowl second is still great. Getting in the A Main was our goal tonight."
Behind the lead duo, the battle for the third and final lock-in position to Saturday night's 50-lap finale was fierce. While 2006 Chili Bowl champion Tim McCreadie held the third position much of the way, 2009 USAC National Midget champion Brad Kuhn worked his way past Daniel Adler and A.J. Fike for fourth soon after the lap 14 caution and went to work on McCreadie.
Late Model and DIRT Modified ace McCreadie and midgeteer Kuhn traded sliders over the final handful of laps with Kuhn nipping the New Yorker for the show position at the stripe by mere inches.
"I knew I had him at the line," Kuhn commented.
McCreadie settled for fourth in the Wilke Pak Motorsports No. 11w, with Brad Sweet rounding out the top five in the Kasey Kahne Racing No. 49.
Adler and Fike crossed the stripe sixth and seventh, respectively, with Jonathan Beason charging from 17th to eighth. National Midget Driver of the Year Bryan Clauson rebounded from his early incident to claim ninth, with Brandon Waelti completing the top ten.
McCreadie, Whitt, Fike, Sweet, Clauson, Swindell, Davey Ray and Kuhn topped Wednesday's heat race action that included 62 competitors, with Whitt, McCreadie, Clauson and Kevin Bayer winning the qualifying races.
Mike Spencer and Gary Taylor won the twin "C" Mains, with Beason and Casey Shuman topping the twin "B" Mains.
Shane Cockrum and Taylor both got upside down in the second heat race, Nick O'Neal flipped in "C" Main action and Brian Carter turned over as the checkered flag flew on the first "B" Main. There were no injuries.
Four Chili Bowl rookie contenders cracked the feature field, including Tyler Edwards, Cockrum, Dusty Zomer and Australia's Brad Cox. Cockrum fared the best in the feature with a 13th place showing after Edwards battled amongst the top five much of the way before losing power and coming to a stop on the track to bring out the lap 14 caution.
Action at the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals resumes with Thursday night's Bully Dog Qualifier, with racing action set to go green at 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday Night's River Spirit Casino Qualifying Showdown Results from the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals:
Heat Races (Top 40 in passing points to A Qualifiers; Balance to twin C Mains)
Heat 1: 1. #11W Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY; 2. #12H Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, CA; 3. #12JR Josh Pelkey, Peoria, AZ; 4. #10P Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 5. #56 Shane Hmiel, Pleasant Garden, NC; 6. #47X Mike Spencer, Temecula, CA; 7. #00 Pete Davis, Pleasanton, CA; 8. #6C Brian Carter
Heat 2: 1. #71 Cole Whitt, Alpine, CA; 2. #27C Tony Elliott, Warsaw, IN; 3. #14C Shane Cockrum, Benton, IL; 4. #91AU Brad Cox, Gunnedah, AUS; 5. #18 Floyd Alvis, San Carlos, CA; 6. #1AU Gary Taylor, Snohomish, WA; 7. #57 Kevin Studley, Plainfield, IN; 8. #33 Scott Fennell, Littleton, CO
Heat 3: 1. #69 A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 2. #73 Josh Ford, Oxnard, CA; 3. #85 Patrick Bruns, Champaign, IL; 4. #19W Wes Gutierrez, San Martin, CA; 5. #401 Daniel Adler, East Carondolet, IL; 6. #31B Bruce Douglass, Ventura, CA; 7. #11C Chett Gehrke, Broken Arrow, OK; 8. #6M Justin Mallo, Cheyenne, WY
Heat 4: 1. #49 Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 2. #60S Wink Schweitzer, Bakersfield, CA; 3. #91S Jeff Stasa, Kingman, KS; 4. #3J Julee Jamison, Highlands Ranch, CO; 5. #7B Joe Boyles, Greenwood, MO; 6, #73I Austin Wheatley, Lake Stevens, WA; 7. #7C Pat Schudy, Springfield, MO; 8. #12J Jay Mounce, Downs, IL
Heat 5: 1. #39B Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN; 2. #15N David Prickett, Fresno, CA; 3. #51S Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria, CA; 4. #36 Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, OK; 5. #14W Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 6. #37T Josh Grady, Farmington, NM; 7. #91 Donnie Trent, Honey Brook, PA; 8. #19T Tanner Mullens, Andale, KS
Heat 6: 1. #39 Kevin Swindell, Germantown, TN; 2. #12K Tyler Edwards, Ventura, CA; 3. #15H Scott Hatton, Roscoe, IL; 4. #75Z Dusty Zomer, Brandon, SD; 5. #11XC Steve Newman, Breckenridge, CO; 6. #44X Forrest Slater, Alabaster, AL; 7. #2G Terry Goodwin, Laveen, AZ; 8. #14 Tony Rossi, Brighton, CO
Heat 7: 1. #2 Davey Ray, Rockford, IL; 2. #07 Randy Hannagan, San Jose, CA; 3. #05S Casey Shuman, Tempe, AZ; 4. #2A J.C. Bland, Springfield, IL; 5. #10 Will Pierce, Lees Summit, MO; 6. #92 Jake Rosario, Guthrie, OK; 7. #19N Nick O'Neal, Wagoner, OK
Heat 8: 1. #17B Brad Kuhn, Avon, IN; 2. #3W Brandon Waelti, Sun Prairie, WI; 3. #91K Kevin Bayer, Bixby, OK; 4. #35T Tyler Robbins, Collinsville, IL; 5. #89H Andrew Hannula, Matawan, NJ; 6. #31E Evan Sewell, Tulsa, OK; 7. #14K Channing Zierolf, Houma, LA
C Mains (Top 4 in each transfer to back of corresponding B Main)
C Main 1: 1. #47X Mike Spencer, Temecula, CA; 2. #73I Austen Wheatley, Lake Stevens, WA; 3. #19T Tanner Mullens, Andale, KS; 4. #6C Brian Carter, Concord, NC; 5. #7C Pat Schudy, Springfield, MO; 6. #00 Pete Davis, Pleasanton, CA; 7. #14 Tony Rossi, Brighton, CO; 8. #18 Floyd Alvis, San Carlos, CA; 9. #44X Forrest Slater, Alabaster, AL; 10. #2G Terry Goodwin, Laveen, AZ; 11. #57 Kevin Studley, Plainfield, IN
C Main 2: 1. #1AU Gary Taylor, Snohomish, WA; 2. #11C Chet Gehrke, Broken Arrow, OK; 3. #31E Evan Sewell, Tulsa, OK; 4. #92 Jake Rosario, Guthrie, OK; 5. #6M Justin Mallo, Cheyenne, WY; 6. #14K Channing Zierolf, Houma, LA; 7. #31B Bruce Douglass, Ventura, CA; 8. #12J Jay Mounce, Downs, IL; 9. #19N Nick O'Neal, Wagoner, OK; 10. #91 Donnie Trent, Honey Brook, PA; DNS -- #33 Scott Fennell, Littleton, CO
A Qualifiers (Top 16 in combined passing points to A Main; Balance to twin B Mains)
A Qualifier 1: 1. #71 Cole Whitt, Alpine, CA; 2. #12JR Josh Pelkey, Peoria, AZ; 3. #3W Brandon Waelti, Sun Prairie, WI; 4. #12K Tyler Edwards, Ventura, CA; 5. #14C Shane Cockrum, Benton, IL; 6. #36 Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, OK; 7. #75Z Dusty Zomer, Brandon, SD; 8. #12H Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, CA; 9. #19W Wes Gutierrez, San Martin, CA; 10. #10P Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA
A Qualifier 2: 1. #11W Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY; 2. #39 Kevin Swindell, Germantown, TN; 3. #49 Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 4. #51S Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria, CA; 5. #05S Casey Shuman, Tempe, AZ; 6. #56 Shane Hmiel, Pleasant Garden, NC; 7. #27C Tony Elliott, Warsaw, IN; 8. #89H Andrew Hannula, Matawan, NJ; 9. #7B Joe Boyles, Greenwood, MO; 10. #11XC Steve Newman, Breckenridge, CO
A Qualifier 3: 1. #39B Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN; 2. #73 Josh Ford, Oxnard, CA; 3. #15H Scott Hatton, Roscoe, IL; 4. #2A J.C. Bland, Springfield, IL; 5. #2 Davey Ray, Rockford, IL; 6. #91AU Gunnedah, AUS; 7. #14W Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 8. #91S Jeff Stasa, Kingman, KS; 9. #60S Wink Schweitzer, Bakersfield, CA; 10. #10 Will Pierce, Lees Summit, MO
A Qualifier 4: 1. #91K Kevin Bayer, Bixby, OK; 2. #401 Daniel Adler, East Carondolet, IL; 3. #17B Brad Kuhn, Avon, IN; 4. #35T Tyler Robbins, Collinsville, IL; 5. #69 A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 6. #15N David Prickett, Fresno, CA; 7. #15N David Prickett, Fresno, CA; 8. #85 Patrick Bruns, Champaign, IL; 9. #37T Josh Grady, Farmington, NM; 10. #07 Randy Hannagan, San Jose, CA
B Mains (Top 4 in each transfer to A Main)
B Main 1: 1. #36 Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, OK; 2. #2 Davey Ray, Rockford, IL; 3. #75Z Dusty Zomer, Brandon, SD; 4. #91AU Brad Cox, Gunnedah, AUS; 6. #19W Wes Gutierrez, San Martin, CA; 7. #47X Mike Spencer, Temecula, CA; 8. #37T Josh Grady, Farmington, NM; 9. #91S Jeff Stasa, Kingman, KS; 10. #85 Patrick Bruns, Champaign, IL; 11. #19T Tanner Mullens, Andale, KS; 12. #10P Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 13. #12H Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, CA; 14. #11XC Steve Newman, Breckenridge, CO; 15. #73I Austen Wheatley, Lake Stevens, WA; 16. #6C Brian Carter, Concord, NC
B Main 2: 1. #05S Casey Shuman, Tempe, AZ; 2. #14W Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 3. #7B Joe Boyles, Greenwood, MO; 4. #56 Shane Hmiel, Pleasant Garden, NC; 5. #1AU Gary Taylor, Snohomish, WA; 6. #07 Randy Hannagan, San Jose, CA; 7. #11C Chett Gehrke, Broken Arrow, OK; 8. #27C Tony Elliott, Warsaw, IN; 9. #15N David Prickett, Fresno, CA; 10. #10 Will Pierce, Lees Summit, MO; 11. #3J Julee Jamison, Highlands Ranch, CO; 12. #60S Wink Schweitzer, Bakersfield, CA; 13. #89H Andrew Hannula, Matawan, NJ; 14. #92 Jake Rosario, Guthrie, OK; 15. #2A J.C. Bland, Springfield, IL; 16. #31E Evan Sewell, Tulsa, OK
A Main (25 laps - Top 3 advance to Saturday Night's Main Event)
1. #39 Kevin Swindell, Germantown, TN; 2. #71 Cole Whitt, Alpine, CA; 3. #17B Brad Kuhn, Avon, IN; 4. #11W Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY; 5. #49 Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 6. #401 Daniel Adler, East Carondolet, IL; 7. #69 A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 8. #36 Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, OK; 9. #39B Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN; 10. #3W Brandon Waelti, Sun Prairie, WI; 11. #12JR Josh Pelkey, Peoria, AZ; 12. #35T Tyler Robbins, Collinsville, IL; 13. #14C Shane Cockrum, Benton, IL; 14. #05S Casey Shuman, Tempe, AZ; 15. #15H Scott Hatton, Roscoe, IL; 16. #73 Josh Ford, Oxnard, CA; 17. #56 Shane Hmiel, Pleasant Grove, NC; 18. #91K Kevin Bayer, Bixby, OK; 19. #14W Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 20. #7B Joe Boyles, Greenwood, MO; 21. #91AU Brad Cox, Gunnedah, AUS; 22. #75Z Dusty Zomer, Brandon, SD; 23. #12K Tyler Edwards, Ventura, CA; 24. #2 Davey Ray, Rockford, IL
It's the biggest sporting event in Tulsa and you may never have been. But for racing fans around America and the world, the Chili Bowl nationals are a BIG deal.
Initially sponsored by the Chili Bowl food company of Bob Berryhill, these Nationals are known simply as The Chili Bowl: racing's winter answer to football's Super Bowl.
Monday was the annual news conference, you can hear the entire news conference here. Promoter Emmitt Hahn, along with Tulsa mayor Dewey Bartlett and Congressman John Sullivan are among those you will hear speak.
It accommodates over two hundred race rigs, bleachers for thousands of people and an ever-growing trade show. To stroll the aisles of Tulsa's QuikTrip Center, the home of The Golden Driller is to rub shoulders with champions from across America.
Are you headed to the QuikTrip Center for this one? Then you'll need the schedule so just click here to view it.
The presence of Sprint talent such as five-time Chili Bowl winner Sammy Swindell is what elevates Midget competition to a level unmatched.
The Chili Bowl's key ingredient is the clay which once covered the adjacent fairgrounds. Without sun or wind to harm it, the indoor garden (roughly a quarter-mile circle) is heavily saturated so that the boldest dirt track artists of our time can truly shine. The benchmark came in 1994 when the Jones brothers, P.J. and Page, went three-abreast for the lead with eventual winner Andy Hillenburg, a hometown hero from Broken Arrow who commands the loudest fan reaction.
It is this action which fills every corner for 50 laps that keeps people coming back. When more than 15,000 spectators walk out the door on the fifth and final night, they are so amazed at what they have seen that they cannot wait to return.
Tags:
One of Tulsa's most internationally known events haappens in January. It's the Chili Bowl Nationals and they are headed our way in a few days.
A field of competitors, including NASCAR stars are set to swarm upon Tulsa, Oklahoma on January 12-16, 2010, with 260 entries that have been filed for the 24th Annual Chili Bowl Nationals representing a total of 27 different states from coast to coast as well as New Zealand, Australia and Canada.
The QuikTrip Center at Expo Square will be the site of the 24th Annual Chili Bowl Nationals. Pre-qualifying begins Tuesday night, January 12th with qualifying events taking place Wednesday night through Friday. The event concludes with Saturday night's 50-lap Chili Bowl championship event.
| 2009 - Sammy Swindell 2008 - Damion Gardner 2007 - Tony Stewart 2006 - Tim McCreadie 2005 - Tracy Hines 2004 - Cory Kruseman 2003 - Dan Boorse 2002 - Tony Stewart 2001 - Jay Drake 2000 - Cory Kruseman 1999 - Dan Boorse 1998 - Sammy Swindell 1997 - Billy Boat 1996 - Sammy Swindell 1995 - Donnie Beechler 1994 - Andy Hillenburg 1993 - Dave Blaney 1992 - Sammy Swindell 1991 - Lealand McSpadden 1990 - Jon Heydenreich 1989 - Sammy Swindell 1988 - Scott Hatton 1987 - Rich Vogler |
Worse yet, at least for those many afflicted with that incurable passion for auto racing, the soothing sounds of radically souped-up engines screaming beyond comprehensible rev limits are few and far between, virtually silent for the time being in anticipation of the eventual whoosh of Santa's reindeer-powered sleigh.
There is an upside to the temporary silence of dirt tracks around the country though, as the Holiday season doesn't truly conclude until the final checkered flag has flown upon the best of America's Bowl events. It means that the premier auto racing event of the year, Tulsa, Oklahoma's Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, is little more than a month away.
Closing in on that quarter of a century mark, the 24th edition of the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals is slated for January 12-16, 2010, at the QuikTrip Center's Tulsa Expo Raceway at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds.
A tradition that started humbly enough as a two-day show that attracted 52 competitors and perhaps a handful or two more than 52 spectators in 1987 has evolved, if not mushroomed, into a worldwide showcase event that draws nearly 300 competitors and packs the spacious QuikTrip Center full of frenzied fans from around the world for five straight nights after a Monday afternoon practice session that whets the appetites of the most dedicated Chili Bowlers.
Competing in the ranks of the mighty Midget race cars atop the ΒΌ-mile clay oval annually are drivers from all variety of motorsports disciplines, including Sprint Cars, Midgets, Dirt Late Models, DIRT Modifieds, NHRA Drag Racing and even NASCAR.
Drivers come from far and wide, comprising a truly international field that will include at least one Aussie and a pair of Kiwis from New Zealand in 2010.
It annually sets up perhaps one of the most challenging, competitive events in all of sports. What other major sporting event hasn't had a back-to-back winner in its 23 previous renditions?
In 23 previous editions of the Chili Bowl Nationals, snaring that coveted Golden Driller winner's trophy on back-to-back occasions has proven a difficult task. So difficult in fact, that there has not yet been a back-to-back Chili Bowl champion.
That's something that Tennessee's Sammy Swindell will try to change in January. And, if anyone can pull off the repeat, Slammin' Sammy could be just the guy.
After all, few can boast the past Chili Bowl success that Swindell can. Actually, nobody can, as no other driver has accumulated five Golden Drillers.
After reaching the top step of the podium in 1989's Third Annual Chili Bowl, Swindell added on wins in 1992, 1996 and 1998 before waiting eleven years to add an unprecedented fifth Chili Bowl to kick off the 2009 racing season.
Care for some perspective? While Sammy has five Chili Bowl wins, the only other drives to score multiple wins include NASCAR star Tony Stewart, California's Cory Kruseman and Wisconsin's Dan Boorse. And they've won it just two times apiece, with another elite dozen drivers reveling in Chili Bowl glory on one occasion.
Those other twelve past Chili Bowl champions include Damion Gardner, Tim McCreadie, Tracy Hines, Jay Drake, Billy Boat, Donnie Beechler, Andy Hillenburg, Dave Blaney, Lealand McSpadden, Jon Heydenreich, Scott Hatton and inaugural race winner Rich Vogler.
After an event record 281 competitors took part in the 2009 edition of the Chili Bowl, the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals kicks off with a Monday, January 11, practice session. Four full nights of qualifying action follow on Tuesday through Friday, January 12-15, setting the grid for the Saturday, January 16, Chili Bowl Championship feature events.
While all four qualifying nights will include full cards of heat races, qualifying races and feature events, the Tuesday night, January 12, card will also include the Second Annual Chili Bowl Race of Champions.
The top three finishers from the Qualifying Night features will automatically lock into the Saturday night, January 16, 50-lap Chili Bowl championship feature with the balance of Saturday's championship feature events lined up according to Qualifying Night finishes.
A limited number of reserved seats remain for Tuesday night's Qualifying event and Race of Champions for just $26 apiece. Tickets may be obtained by calling the ticket office at 918-838-3777.
Only pit passes remain for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Additional information regarding the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals is available at http://www.chilibowl.com/.
Tags:
The first BMX Olympic medalists will compete after the sport made its official debut in the 2008 Olympic Games. Olympic Gold Medalist Maris Strombergs, from Latvia; Silver Medalist Mike Day, from the USA; and Bronze Medalist and current BMX World Champion Donny Robinson, from the USA, will be racing along with Team USA member Kyle Bennett who is in the ABA BMX PRO Title chase. And not to be excluded, the Women's 4-Cross World Champion Caroline Buchanan, of Australia, will also compete.
The Pro Spectacular features professional racers in the Grand Nationals performing astonishing stunts across a 100-square-foot track. The redesigned course will add more technical difficulty to this year's exciting competition attracting competitors from Italy, France, The Netherlands and the UK to Tulsa.
The excitement will unfold at the QuikTrip Center Thursday, Nov. 26 - Sunday, Nov. 29 and is expected to have an estimated $7.2 million economic impact for the city of Tulsa.
General admission tickets are $10 for the main event and spectator favorite, the Pro Spectacular on Friday, Nov. 27 with gates opening at 6:15 p.m. and the race at 7 p.m. Tickets to the Pro Spectacular may be purchased at exposquare.com, through Expo Ticket Xpress by calling 918.376.6000 or onsite the day of the show. All other races are free to attend.
Tags:
The triumph before a standing-room-only crowd came by the narrowest of margins though, as Hines flashed across the finish line in the Tony Stewart Racing Kistler Chevy-powered No. 21 Chevy/Bass Pro Shops Spike just 0.12-seconds ahead of fellow Hoosier State hotshoe Dave Darland.
Also assured of a starting slot in Saturday night's 50-lap Chili Bowl championship main event along with Hines and Darland is Illinois native and 2008 ARCA champion Justin Allgaier, who claimed the show position to lock into his third career Chili Bowl finale. Hines and Darland will both make their eleventh career championship feature starts on Saturday night.
Hines and Darland earned the front row for Thursday's feature through heat race and qualifying action and then hinted at the close finish to follow in the opening handful of circuits, dueling for the lead in wheel-to-wheel fashion with Hines running the low line and Darland on the top shelf.
After the battle was interrupted five laps in due to a Scott Hatton spin in turn two, Hines established a grip on the lead and moved to the upper portion of the racetrack, building nearly a straightaway advantage over the ensuing laps.
Hines pace was only marginally slowed after reaching lapped traffic at the midway point, with Darland making up minimal ground as Allgaier fought off Brent Beauchamp for the third and final lock-in position.
Hines' comfortable advantage went by the wayside as the caution flag flew just three laps short of the finish when Jason Meyers slid to a stop in turn three, surrendering the sixth position in the process.
After another pair of quick cautions, Darland was on Hines' tailtank for the green-white-checkered run. And, as Hines continued to work the high line over the final two laps, Darland got perhaps his best run of the race off the bottom of turn four on the final lap. Darland pulled alongside but fell just inches short as Hines took the checkered flag.
While Darland settled for second in the Toyota-powered Wilke-Pak Motorsports Speedway Motors No. 5 Spike, Allgaier slipped away from his chasers in the final scramble to secure third aboard Ebby Bergfield's Esslinger-powered Ethanol No. 86 Spike.
After battling each other throughout the night, including some qualifying race contact, Shane Cottle and Donnie Ray Crawford mixed it up for position much of the way in the feature event. Trading positions several times in the closing circuits, Cottle got the edge on the final lap to claim fourth with Crawford rounding out the top five.
Beauchamp got shuffled back to sixth in the final two-lap dash to the checkered flag, with Glenn Carson in seventh. After starting outside the second row, Jesse Hockett lost a left front shock in the early going and still managed an eighth-place showing.
Nathan High claimed ninth, with Jay Drake's first full night of competition behind the wheel in more than two years netted a tenth-place finish after starting 17th.
Among Thursday's heat race winners that also included Frank Polimeda, Rob Russell, Jimmy Light, Darland, Allgaier, Crawford, Cottle and Beauchamp, Drake later posted the night's second-narrowest victory when he nipped Michelle Decker by 0.023-seconds at the line in the first "B" Main.
The night's closest finish came in the third "A" qualifier when Scott Hatton edged Allgaier by just 0.009-seconds. Other qualifying race winners included Hockett, Wise and A.J. Fike, who surrendered a fifth-row feature starting position when he made a quick trip to the work area prior to the start.
Billy Pauch, Jr., and Garrett Hansen topped the "C" Mains, with Scott Pierovich joining Drake among the ranks of "B" Main winners.
There were nine tumbles over the course of the evening, including fence-manglers by Channing Zierolf and Nick Knepper in heat race competition. Jonathan Hendrick and Brad Sweet also got upside down in heat race action before returning for unsuccessful attempts to climb from "C" to "B" Main competition.
Scotty Weir and Dylan Peterson both got upside down in "C"Main action, with Eric Sandage, Ricky Ehrgott and Derek Hagar all flipping in the qualifiers.
The fourth and final qualifying night of the 23rd Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tires hits the track at 6:00 p.m. on Friday night, setting the stage for Saturday's slate of championship feature events.
Thursday Night's Warren CAT Qualifying Results from the 23rd Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals presented by General Tire
Heat Races (8 Laps - Top 40 in passing points to A Qualifiers; Balance to two C Mains)
Heat 1: 1. #44F Frank Polimeda, Fort Lee, NJ; 2. #37J Jeff Bland Jr., Bloomington, IN; 3. #7X Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 4. #21T Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 5. #26 Glenn Carson, Concord, CA; 6. #11B Scott Weir, Marion, IN; 7. #10C Scott Allen, Kansas City, KS; 8. #33A Stephen Arnold, Seymour, IN; 9. #68 Jonathan Hendrick, Fortville, IN
Heat 2: 1. #10R Rob Russell, Fremont, CA; 2. #21 Tracy Hines, New Castle, IN; 3. #2D Steve Davis, Norco, CA; 4. #11J Justin Melton, Flower Mound, TX; 5. #44 Ryan Pace, Brownsburg, IN; 6. 36X Dylan Peterson, Sioux Falls, SD; 7. #75 David Gough, Machesney Park, IL; 8. 331V Victor Davis, Simi Valley, CA; 9. #76K Frank Ikerd, Loma Linda, CA
Heat 3: 1. #4M Jimmy Light, Indianapolis, IN; 2. #27D Danny Jennings, Norman, OK; 3. #14J Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA; 4. #1D Dennis Rodriguez, Camarillo, CA; 5. #27 Ryan Kaplan, Chico, CA; 6. #0 Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, Ont.; 7. #6Z Cody Kershaw, Oak, Park, CA; 8. #0C Cameron Beard, Atwater, CA
Heat 4: 1. #5 Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN; 2. #69 A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 3. #25A Aaron Ott, York Springs, PA; 4. #9JR Derek Hagar, Marion, AR; 5. #07X Jennifer Greenberg, Albuquerque, NM; 6. #58 Cole Peard, Quincy, CA; 7. #2X Doug Day, Winder, GA; 8. #49 Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA
Heat 5: 1. #86 Justin Allgaier, Cornelius, NC; 2. #22 Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 3. #60 Eric Sandage, Alexander, AR; 4. #57 Kevin Studley, Plainfield, IN; 5. #38G Coleman Gulick, Binghamton, NY; 6. 10 Will Pierce, Lees Summit, MO; 7. #21K Kurt Mayhew, Demotte, IN; 8. #31L Chuck Knight, Fort Smith, AR
Heat 6: 1. #55 Donnie Ray Crawford, Tulsa, OK; 2. #15H Scott Hatton, Roscoe, IL; 3. #35X Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 4. #49P Billy Pauch Jr., Frenchtown, NJ; 5. #7C Chris Burns, Bethany, OK; 6. #10B Brock Lemley, Bellingham, WA; 7. #1M Garry Lee Maier, Cimarron, KS; 8. #05X Channing Zierolf, Houma, LA
Heat 7: 1. #67 Jay Drake, Brownsburg, IN; 2. #18 Donnie Trent, Honey Brook, PA; 3. #8R Ricky Ehrgott, Brownsburg, IN; 4. #57X Jason Holt, Brownsville, IN; 5. #7J Eric Todd, Falcon, MO; 6. #87C Tim Crawley, Little Rock, AR; 7. #7E Blake Miller, Yorba Linda, CA; 8. #24 Nick Foster Jr., San Jose, CA
Heat 8: 1. #1S Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 2. #75W Josh Wise, Columbus, IN; 3. #12JR Nathan High, Goodyear, AZ; 4. #83 Kurt Blackaby, Bentonville, AR; 5. #70 Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA; 6. #11A Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, MO; 7. #3A Bill Allen, Independence, MO; 8. #50T Tom Everhart, El Cajon, CA
Heat 9: 1. #112 Brent Beauchamp, Fairland, IN; 2. #7B Austin Brown, Millstadt, IL; 3. #05H Jesse Hockett, Warsaw, MO; 4. #7 Critter Malone, Speedway, IN; 5. #73T Samantha Taylor, Bonney Lake, WA; 6. #4F Chad Frewaldt, Kansas City, KS; 7. #64 Brett Miller, Chico, CA; 8. #55K Nick Knepper, Belleville, IL
C Mains (12 Laps - Top 4 in each transfer to back of corresponding B Main)
C Main 1: 1. #49P Billy Pauch Jr., Frenchtown, NJ; 2. #75 David Gough, Machesney Park, IL; 3. #58 Cole Peard, Quincy, CA; 4. #7C Chris Burns, Bethany, OK; 5. #73T Samantha Taylor, Bonney Lake, WA; 6. #68 Jonathan Hendrick, Fortville, IN; 7. #2X Doug Day, Winder, GA; 8. #31L Chuck Knight, Fort Smith, AR; 9. #10B Brock Lemley, Bellingham, WA; 10. #50T Tom Everhart, El Cajon, CA; 11. #3A Bill Allen, Independence, MO; 12. #10C Scott Allen, Kansas City, KS; 13. #11A Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, MO; 14. #11B Scott Weir, Marion, IN; 15. #1M Garry Lee Maier, Cimarron, KS DNS - #05X Channing Zierolf, Houma, LA; #55K Nick Knepper, Belleville, IL
C Main 2: 1. #70 Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA; 2. #7E Blake Miller, Yorba Linda, CA; 3. #27 Ryan Kaplan, Chico, CA; 4. #24 Nick Foster Jr., San Jose, CA; 5. #10 Will Pierce, Lees Summit, MO; 6. #0 Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, ONT; 7. #64 Brett Miller, Chico, CA; 8. #33A Stephen Arnold, Seymour, IN; 9. #31V Victor Davis, Simi Valley, CA; 10. #21K Kurt Mayhew, Demotte, IN; 11. #49 Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 12. #76K Frank Ikerd, Loma Linda, CA; 13. #7J Eric Todd, Falcon, MO; 14. #6Z Cody Kershaw, Oak Park, CA; 15. #0C Cameron Beard, Atwater, CA; 16. #87C Tim Crawley, Benton, AR; 17. #6X Dylan Peterson, Sioux Falls, SD
A Qualifiers (10 Laps - Top 16 in combined passing points to A Main; Balance to twin B Mains)
A Qualifier 1: 1. #69 A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 2. #112 Brent Beauchamp, Fairland, IN; 3. #14J Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA; 4. #7B Austin Brown, Millstadt, IL; 5. #35X Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 6. #10R Rob Russell, Fremont, CA; 7. #25A Aaron Ott, York Springs, PA; 8. #57X Jason Holt, Brownsville, IN; 9. #07X Jennifer Greenberg, Albuquerque, NM; 10. #60 Eric Sandage, Alexander, AR
A Qualifier 2: 1. #05H Jesse Hockett, Warsaw, MO; 2. #12JR Nathan High, Goodyear, AZ; 3. #26 Glenn Carson, Concord, CA; 4. #22 Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 5. #4M Jimmy Light, Indianapolis, IN; 6. #44 Ryan Pace, Brownsburg, IN; 7. #8G Coleman Gulick, Binghamton, NY; 8. #83 Kurt Blackaby, Bentonville, AR; 9. #9JR Derek Hagar, Marion, AR; 10. #8R Rick Ehrgott, Brownsburg, IN
A Qualifier 3: 1. #15H Scott Hatton, Roscoe, IL; 2. #86 Justin Allgaier, Cornelius, NC; 3. #5 Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN; 4. #21T Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 5. #67 Jay Drake, Brownsburg, IN; 6. #44F Frank Polimeda, Fort Lee, NJ; 7. #11J Justin Melton, Flower Mound, TX; 8. #7 Critter Malone, Speedway, IN; 9. #57 Kevin Studley, Plainfield, IN; 10. #27D Danny Jennings, Norman, OK
A Qualifier 4: 1. #75W Josh Wise, Columbus, IN; 2. #21 Tracy Hines, Newcastle, IN; 3. #1S Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 4. #55 Donnie Ray Crawford, Tulsa, OK; 5. #37J Jeff Bland Jr., Bloomington, IN; 6. #7X Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 7. #1D Dennis Rodriguez, Camarillo, CA; 8. #18 Donnie Trent, Honey Brook, PA; 9. #2D Steve Davis, Norco, CA; 10. #4F Chad Frewaldt, Kansas City, KS
B Mains (15 Laps - Top 4 advance to A Main)
B Main 1: 1. #67 Jay Drake, Brownsburg, IN; 2. #7X Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 3. #44F Frank Polimeda, Fort Lee, NJ; 4. #21T Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 5. #49 Billy Pauch Jr., Frenchtown, NJ; 6. #75 David Gough, Machesney Park, IL; 7. #18 Donnie Trent, Honey Brook, PA; 8. #7 Critter Malone, Speedway, IN; 9. #25A Aaron Ott, York Springs, PA; 10. #57X Jason Holt, Brownsville, IN; 11. #11J Justin Melton, Flower Mound, TX; 12. #7C Chris Burns, Bethany, OK; 13. #58 Cole Peard, Quincy, CA; 14. #07X Jennifer Greenberg, Albuquerque, NM; 15. #27D Danny Jennings, Norman, OK; DNS - #60 Eric Sandage, Alexander, AR
B Main 2: 1. #35X Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 2. #44 Ryan Pace, Brownsburg, IN; 3. #22 Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 4. #8G Coleman Gulick, Binghamton, NY; 5. #37J Jeff Bland Jr., Bloomington, IN; 6. #7E Blake Miller, Yorba Linda, CA; 7. #9JR Derek Hagar, Marion, PA; 8. #70 Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA; 9. #27 Ryan Kaplan, Chico, CA; 10. #1D Dennis Rodriguez, Camarillo, CA; 11. #2D Steve Davis, Norco, CA; 12. #83 Kurt Blackaby, Bentonville, AR; 13. #57 Kevin Studley, Plainfield, IN; 14. #8R Rick Ehrgott, Brownsburg, IN; 15. #4F Chad Frewaldt, Kansas City, KS; 16. #24 Nick Foster Jr., San Jose, CA
A Main (25 laps - Top 3 advance to Saturday Night's Main Event)
1. #21 Tracy Hines, Newcastle, IN; 2. #5 Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN; 3. #86 Justin Allgaier, Cornelius, NC; 4. #1S Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 5. #55 Donnie Ray Crawford, Tulsa, OK; 6. #112 Brent Beauchamp, Fairland, IN; 7. #26 Glen Carson, Concord, CA; 8. #05H Jesse Hockett, Warsaw, MO; 9. #12JR Nathan High, Goodyear, AZ; 10. #67 Jay Drake, Brownsburg, IN; 11. #7B Austin Brown, Millstadt, IL; 12. #44F Frank Polimeda, Fort Lee, NJ; 13. #75W Josh Wise, Columbus, IN; 14. #35X Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 15. #21T Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 16. #15H Scott Hatton, Roscoe, IL; 17. #44 Ryan Pace, Brownsburg, IN; 18. #14J Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA; 19. #22 Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 20. #69 A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 21. #7X Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 22. #8G Coleman Gulick, Binghamton, NY; 23. #4M Jimmy Light, Indianapolis, IN; 24. #10R Rob Russell, Fremont, CA
Tags:
Marketplace
From fast food to fine dining, find it all in our Local Business Directory .
Shop for cars, find a dealer, and get the latest automotive news in our Local Car Buying Guide powered by AutoTrader.com
"Pick Your Bundle!" Get Basic, Preferred, or Deluxe Bundle from Cox Cable - your friend in the digital age!
© All Media Guide, LLC. Portions of content provided by All Music Guide®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. 