[i 252 Entries Divvied Up Over Four Qualifying Nights]
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (December 23, 2009) – You can feel it in the air. No, not that chill that's settling in over much of the country. Rather, it's the anticipation; mounting as the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals draws ever closer with each passing day.
And with 252 entries from 27 different states as well as Australia, New Zealand and Canada making final preparations for the annual trek to the Tulsa State Fairgrounds' QuikTrip Center, the qualifying night assignments for the January 12-16, 2010, event atop the Tulsa Expo Raceway clay oval have been determined.
The stellar field, including seven past Chili Bowl champions and a multitude of track and series champions from throughout the country, has been quartered and distributed among the four Qualifying nights running from Tuesday through Friday. The top three finishers from each night's main event will be locked into the Saturday night, January 16, 50-lap Chili Bowl championship main event with the balance of Saturday's Rockstar Energy Drink feature lineups determined by qualifying night finishing positions.
Entry Updates:
Dustin Morgan has reportedly been announced as the driver of the Triple Crown Motorsports No. 1x entry, which opens the seat of the Ark Wrecking No. 93.
Also today, the fifth and final Loyet Motorsports entry was filled with Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters contender Tim Crawley of Benton, AR. With a sweep of the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series' Rock 'N Roll 50 at Riverside Speedway among his 16 feature wins in 2009, Crawley will be teamed with Brad Loyet, Jesse Hockett, Casey Shuman and Danny Lasoski in the orange No. 05 Midgets.
A glance at each night's qualifying lineups is as follows:
Tuesday, January 12 – Warren CAT Qualifying Night
Wingless Sprint Car aces Dave Darland and Jon Stanbrough, winger Danny Lasoski and Midget masters Bobby East and Steve Buckwalter will be among those moving the dirt on Warren CAT Qualifying Night. Tyler Walker and Kiwi shoe Michael Pickens make much anticipated returns to the Chili Bowl while Broken Arrow's Brady Bacon kicks off his bid to keep the Golden Driller within the Sooner State for just the second time in event history and the first time since Andy Hillenburg pulled off the win in 1994.
In addition to 65 or so drivers officially christening the Chili Bowl clay inside the QuikTrip Center, the Vacuworx Race of Champions is also included on Tuesday night's card.
Past Feature Starters (16): Danny Lasoski (14), Dave Darland (11), Jon Stanbrough (5), Steve Buckwalter (4), Davey Ray (4), Donnie Lehmann (4), Bobby East (3), Josh Ford (3), Aaron Fiscus (2), Troy Rutherford (2), Brady Bacon (1), Ryan Durst (1), Mat Neely (1), Michael Pickens (1), Tyler Walker (1), Paul White (1).
2009 Chili Bowl Main Event Starters: Steve Buckwalter, Dave Darland, Bobby East, Josh Ford, Jon Stanbrough.
Pick Six - Trying to Crack Saturday's Feature: Cale Conley, Cody Darrah, Andrew Felker, Dustin Morgan, Kevin Ramey, Matt Sherrell.
Rookies (11): Harris Brooks, Lex Burritt, Zach Cougill, Sean-Mikael Dodenhoff, Matt Gilbert, Andy Huston, Eric Johnson, Ray Allen Kulhanek, Richard McCormick, Evan Pardo, Andy Shouse.
On the Chili Bowl Seniority Charts: Donnie Lehmann 21, Danny Lasoski 18, David Camfield, Jr. 15, Dave Darland 12.
Tuesday's Entries: http://www.chilibowl.com/2010qualtuesday.asp
Also, Tuesday's Chili Bowl Race of Champions information is available at http://www.chilibowl.com/2010roc.asp.
Wednesday, January 13 – River Spirit Casino Qualifying Night
A winner of Chili Bowl preliminary features over each of the past two years, 2009 USAC Midget champion Brad Kuhn takes on a full house of River Spirit Qualifying Night contenders including National Midget Driver of the Year Bryan Clauson, 2006 Chili Bowl champ Tim McCreadie, Cole Whitt, Brad Sweet, Kevin Swindell, Terry McCarl, Casey Shuman, Tim Crawley and more.
Second Annual Chili Bowl winner Scott Hatton joins the field, Gary Taylor drives for 2006 champion car owner Steve Smith, Chad Boat tries to match his father's win in 1997 and USAC/CRA champ Mike Spencer guides a Bondio machine.
Past Feature Starters (16): Scott Hatton (8), Matt Westfall (5), Brad Kuhn (4), Joe Boyles (3), Rick Hendrix (3), Tim McCreadie (3), Casey Shuman (3), Rich Camfield (2), Cole Whitt (2), Bryan Clauson (1), A.J. Fike (1), Nathan High (1), Terry McCarl (1), Kevin Swindell (1), Gary Taylor (1), Brandon Waelti (1).
2009 Chili Bowl Main Event Starters: Brad Kuhn, Casey Shuman, Gary Taylor, Cole Whitt.
Pick Six - Trying to Crack Saturday's Feature: Jonathan Beason, Chad Boat, Tim Crawley, Randy Hannagan, Mike Spencer, Brad Sweet.
Rookies (11): Tanner Berryhill, Nick Chivello, Shane Cockrum, Greg Edenholm, Tyler Edwards, Wes Gutierrez, Andrew Hannula, Pat Schudy, Forrest Slater, Jeff Stasa, Dusty Zomer.
On the Chili Bowl Seniority Charts: Rich Camfield 19, Steve Newman 18, Scott Hatton 17, Joe Boyles 11, A.J. Fike 11, Rick Hendrix 11, Nick O'Neal 11, Matt Westfall 11.
Wednesday's Entries: http://www.chilibowl.com/2010qualwednesday.asp
Thursday, January 14 – Bully Dog Qualifying Night
Perfect on his way to an unprecedented fifth Golden Driller last year, Sammy Swindell kicks off his bid to become the first repeat winner in event history on Thursday's Bully Dog Qualifying Night, taking on a field of contenders that includes 2005 Chili Bowl champ Tracy Hines, NASCAR sensation Kasey Kahne, NASCAR Nationwide star Jason Leffler, Darren Hagen, Shane Cottle, Jesse Hockett, Wayne Johnson and more.
Garrett Hansen takes the wheel of three-time car champion car owner Andy Bondio's familiar No. 47, 2001 Chili Bowl king Jay Drake wheels one of the Kruseman entries, P.J. Jones tries to put one of three Steve Lewis entries in the Saturday finale and Thomas Meseraull tries to crack the field for a second year in a row.
Past Feature Starters (16): Sammy Swindell (16), Tracy Hines (11), Jason Leffler (10), Steve Knepper (9), Jay Drake (7), Shane Cottle (6), P.J. Jones (6), Kasey Kahne (5), Garrett Hansen (2), Jesse Hockett (2), Wayne Johnson (2), David Gough (1), Jonathan Hendrick (1), Shane Hollingsworth (1), Thomas Meseraull (1), Johnny Rodriguez (1).
2009 Chili Bowl Main Event Starters: Shane Cottle, Tracy Hines, Jesse Hockett, Thomas Meseraull, Sammy Swindell.
Pick Six - Trying to Crack Saturday's Feature: Caleb Armstrong, Henry Clarke, Darren Hagen, Kyle Larson, Billy Pauch, Jr., Josh Pelkey.
Rookies (11): Riley Adair, Chris Coker, Ronnie Gardner, Michael Koontz, Toni Lutar, Brad Mosen, Chad Pitts, Billy Puterbaugh, Jr., Cole Smith, Patrick Stasa, Tanner Swanson.
On the Chili Bowl Seniority Charts: Steve Knepper 19, Sammy Swindell 19, Tracy Hines 13, Jason Leffler 13, Jay Drake 12, P.J. Jones 12, Johnny Murdock 12, Shane Cottle 10.
Thursday's Entries: http://www.chilibowl.com/2010qualthursday.asp
Friday, January 15 – E3 Spark Plugs Qualifying Night
Two-time Chili Bowl champ Cory Kruseman tries to ignite a third Chili Bowl victory charge aboard one of his own entries on E3 Spark Plugs Qualifying Night. "The Kruser" will have his hand full with Jerry Coons, Jr., who rounds out a stellar Wilke Pak contingent, winged Sprint Car aces Joey Saldana, Jason Meyers and Daryn Pittman, three-time USAC Sprint Car champ Levi Jones and Brad Loyet, who rounds out a Loyet team that combined for 69 feature wins over the course of 2009.
Past Feature Starters (16): Jerry Coons, Jr. (10), Cory Kruseman (8), Tony Elliott (4), Johnny Heydenreich (3), Bud Kaeding (3), Bubba Altig (2), Don Droud, Jr. (2), Mike Hess (2), Levi Jones (2), Daryn Pittman (2), Chris Windom (2), Josh Wise (2), Brad Loyet (1), Jason Meyers (1), Bobby Michnowicz (1), Danny Stratton (1).
2009 Chili Bowl Main Event Starters: Jerry Coons, Jr., Levi Jones, Brad Loyet, Daryn Pittman, Chris Windom.
Pick Six - Trying to Crack Saturday's Feature: Dakoda Armstrong, Nick Knepper, Matt Mitchell, Joey Saldana, Hunter Schuerenberg, Tim Siner.
Rookies (10): Klint Angelette, J.D. Black, Alex Bowman, Bruce Buckwalter, Jr., Brad Cox, Rusty Dukes, Trevor Kobylarz, Kyle Neal, Kody Swanson, Clint Todd.
On the Chili Bowl Seniority Charts: Johnny Heydenreich 18, Jackie Burke 12, Jerry Coons, Jr. 12, Tony Elliott 12, Cory Kruseman 12, Mike Hess 11, Tim Siner 11.
Friday's Entries: http://www.chilibowl.com/2010qualfriday.asp
Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Quick Facts:
What: 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals
Where: Tulsa Expo Raceway – ¼-mile clay oval inside the QuikTrip Center at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds
When:
January 12-16, 2010
Tuesday – Warren CAT Qualifying Night plus Vacuworx Chili Bowl Race of Champions
Wednesday – River Spirit Casino Qualifying Night
Thursday – Bully Dog Qualifying Night
Friday – E3 Spark Plugs Qualifying Night
Saturday – Rockstar Energy Drink Championship Feature Events
Past Winners: Sammy Swindell (2009, 1998, 1996, 1992 and 1989), Damion Gardner (2008), Tony Stewart (2007 and 2002), Tim McCreadie (2006), Tracy Hines (2005), Cory Kruseman (2004 and 2000), Dan Boorse (2003 and 1999), Jay Drake (2001), Billy Boat (1997), Donnie Beechler (1995), Andy Hillenburg (1994), Dave Blaney (1993), Lealand McSpadden (1991), Jon Heydenreich (1990), Scott Hatton (1988), Rich Vogler (1987).
Trade Show: Always a popular attraction at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals is the Trade Show, which is open to the public each day (Tuesday through Saturday) free of charge. All variety of racing products, apparel and more is available with well over 100 different vendors. The Trade Show covers approximately 20,000 square feet.
Tickets: Four-night tickets for Wednesday through Saturday of the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals were depleted by the end of May. A limited number of reserved seats for Tuesday night's Warren CAT Qualifying Event and the Second Annual Vacuworx International Chili Bowl Race of Champions are available for $26 per person and may be obtained by calling 918-838-3777 or at the gate. Pit passes for all five nights are available at the gate as well.
Chili Bowl on TV: Portions of the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals will be broadcast on SPEED TV on a tape-delayed basis.
Chili Bowl on the Net: All official news pertaining to the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, including official entry lists, race results and recaps, is available first at www.chilibowl.com. Also, all five nights of the Chili Bowl Nationals will be broadcast live (audio) on www.racinboys.com.
Additional information regarding the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals is available at http://www.chilibowl.com/ or by calling 918-838-3777.
- Lonnie Wheatley on Dec 28, 2009
- Article Date: 12/28/2009