TULSA, Okla. (Jan. 14, 2015)—Tyler Thomas of Collinsville, Okla., finished ninth in the Wednesday feature in the American Racing Custom Wheels Esslinger-powered Triple-X in the 29th annual Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tires at the River Spirit Expo Center.

The 18-year-old Thomas likely will start in the B main on Saturday’s championship night, one race away from advancing to the title finale in the Super Bowl of Midget racing.

“It should put us mid-pack in the B, a good spot,” Thomas said. “We were a little tight in the feature tonight. We know how to get the car freed up and we should be good enough to make the show.”

Thomas had a very successful preliminary night. He won his heat after starting on pole and started third in his qualifier and finished second. It put him ninth on the grid in the feature.

“I maintained my position in the feature,” Thomas said. “The car wasn’t bad, but it needed to be looser.”

This is the third Chili Bowl for Thomas. He finished eighth in the B main a year ago and was a 19th/did not finish in the C main in 2013.

The top three in Wednesday’s 25-lap preliminary feature—winner Rico Abreu of Rutherford, Calif., runner-up Chris Windom of Canton, Ill., and third place J.J. Yeley of Charlotte, N.C.,–advance to Saturday’s feature race.

For more information, go to www.tylerthomasmotorsports.com.