Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (December 5, 2008) – Let's face it. There's only one motorsports event in the world that draws seemingly universal attention. From the NASCAR ranks, to the drag strips, to your favorite Saturday night bullring and across the seas, people circle the dates of the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals on their calendar each year.
And with the pre-entry deadline of December 15 for the 23rd Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire still ten days away, the event office has already been flooded with entries in anticipation of next month's mega-event at the QuikTrip Center's Tulsa Expo Raceway.
Currently, a total of 147 entries representing 28 different states as well as Canada have been filed for the 23rd Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, which unfolds atop the ¼-mile Tulsa Expo Raceway clay oval on January 13-17, 2009.
The complete list of entries for the 23rd Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire is available at www.chilibowl.com/2009chilibowlentries.asp. Driver entry is just $150 if filed by December 15. Entries filed after the pre-entry deadline are $200.
The current list of entries already reads like a veritable who's who of auto racing, with past event winners Sammy Swindell, Cory Kruseman, Tracy Hines and Tim McCreadie among an early group of entries that also includes NASCAR star Kasey Kahne and author of much Chili Bowl lore, J.J. Yeley, among others.
With the event still more than five weeks away, last year's record count of 274 competitors could very well be in jeopardy as California native Damion Gardner is expected to make a bid to become the first back-to-back winner in Chili Bowl history.
The talent already entered for the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals represents a wide variety of racing disciplines, including NASCAR, ARCA, Late Models, DIRT Modifieds, winged and wingless Sprint Car racing and Midgets among others.
The 23rd Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire kicks off Tuesday night, January 13, with the first of four qualifying nights. Tuesday's card will also include the Chili Bowl Race of Champions, featuring past event winners and other top Chili Bowl contenders squaring off in a special feature race.
The top three finishers from the Qualifying Night features will automatically lock into the Saturday night, January 17, Chili Bowl championship feature, with the balance of Saturday's Bass Pro Shops championship feature events lined up according to Qualifying Night finishes.
Originally a two-day event that attracted 52 entries in 1987, the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals presented by General Tire has evolved into a five-night extravaganza of indoor, dirt track midget racing, and ranks among the world’s most prestigious auto racing events with the 2008 edition of the event attracting a record number of 274 competitors.
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, as those tickets were depleted in May.
Additional information regarding the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals presented by General Tire is available at http://www.chilibowl.com/.
Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire Pre-Entry Stats:
Most Chili Bowls Competed In (Among Pre-Entered Drivers): Donnie Lehmann 19, Sammy Swindell 18, Danny Lasoski 17, Critter Malone 16, Tracy Hines 12, Jason Leffler 12, J.J. Yeley 12, Jerry Coons, Jr. 11, Tony Elliott 11, Cory Kruseman 11, Dave Darland 10, A.J. Fike 10, Mike Hess 10, Tim Siner 10, Matt Westfall 10
Chili Bowl Championship Feature Starts (Among Pre-Entered Drivers): Sammy Swindell 15, Danny Lasoski 14, Dave Darland 11, Tracy Hines 10, Jason Leffler 10, Jerry Coons, Jr. 9, Cory Kruseman 8, Kasey Kahne 5, Matt Westfall 5, J.J. Yeley 5, Tony Elliott 4, Donnie Lehmann 4, Jon Stanbrough 4, Steve Buckwalter 3, Brad Kuhn 3, Tim McCreadie 3, Josh Ford 2, Mike Hess 2, Wayne Johnson 2, Critter Malone 2, Justin Allgaier 2, Bryan Clauson 1, A.J. Fike 1, David Gough 1, Jonathan Hendrick 1, Jesse Hockett 1, Shane Hollingsworth 1, Levi Jones 1, Jason Meyers 1, Kevin Swindell 1, Cole Whitt 1, Chris Windom 1.
And with the pre-entry deadline of December 15 for the 23rd Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire still ten days away, the event office has already been flooded with entries in anticipation of next month's mega-event at the QuikTrip Center's Tulsa Expo Raceway.
Currently, a total of 147 entries representing 28 different states as well as Canada have been filed for the 23rd Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, which unfolds atop the ¼-mile Tulsa Expo Raceway clay oval on January 13-17, 2009.
The complete list of entries for the 23rd Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire is available at www.chilibowl.com/2009chilibowlentries.asp. Driver entry is just $150 if filed by December 15. Entries filed after the pre-entry deadline are $200.
The current list of entries already reads like a veritable who's who of auto racing, with past event winners Sammy Swindell, Cory Kruseman, Tracy Hines and Tim McCreadie among an early group of entries that also includes NASCAR star Kasey Kahne and author of much Chili Bowl lore, J.J. Yeley, among others.
With the event still more than five weeks away, last year's record count of 274 competitors could very well be in jeopardy as California native Damion Gardner is expected to make a bid to become the first back-to-back winner in Chili Bowl history.
The talent already entered for the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals represents a wide variety of racing disciplines, including NASCAR, ARCA, Late Models, DIRT Modifieds, winged and wingless Sprint Car racing and Midgets among others.
The 23rd Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire kicks off Tuesday night, January 13, with the first of four qualifying nights. Tuesday's card will also include the Chili Bowl Race of Champions, featuring past event winners and other top Chili Bowl contenders squaring off in a special feature race.
The top three finishers from the Qualifying Night features will automatically lock into the Saturday night, January 17, Chili Bowl championship feature, with the balance of Saturday's Bass Pro Shops championship feature events lined up according to Qualifying Night finishes.
Originally a two-day event that attracted 52 entries in 1987, the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals presented by General Tire has evolved into a five-night extravaganza of indoor, dirt track midget racing, and ranks among the world’s most prestigious auto racing events with the 2008 edition of the event attracting a record number of 274 competitors.
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, as those tickets were depleted in May.
Additional information regarding the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals presented by General Tire is available at http://www.chilibowl.com/.
Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire Pre-Entry Stats:
Most Chili Bowls Competed In (Among Pre-Entered Drivers): Donnie Lehmann 19, Sammy Swindell 18, Danny Lasoski 17, Critter Malone 16, Tracy Hines 12, Jason Leffler 12, J.J. Yeley 12, Jerry Coons, Jr. 11, Tony Elliott 11, Cory Kruseman 11, Dave Darland 10, A.J. Fike 10, Mike Hess 10, Tim Siner 10, Matt Westfall 10
Chili Bowl Championship Feature Starts (Among Pre-Entered Drivers): Sammy Swindell 15, Danny Lasoski 14, Dave Darland 11, Tracy Hines 10, Jason Leffler 10, Jerry Coons, Jr. 9, Cory Kruseman 8, Kasey Kahne 5, Matt Westfall 5, J.J. Yeley 5, Tony Elliott 4, Donnie Lehmann 4, Jon Stanbrough 4, Steve Buckwalter 3, Brad Kuhn 3, Tim McCreadie 3, Josh Ford 2, Mike Hess 2, Wayne Johnson 2, Critter Malone 2, Justin Allgaier 2, Bryan Clauson 1, A.J. Fike 1, David Gough 1, Jonathan Hendrick 1, Jesse Hockett 1, Shane Hollingsworth 1, Levi Jones 1, Jason Meyers 1, Kevin Swindell 1, Cole Whitt 1, Chris Windom 1.
