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Coons Wheels up at Gas City Clauson Schurmberg at Lincoln T-Mez at Lincoln
Photos From 2011 USAC Midget Week by aXe
Jan 31 2012
POWRi Lucas Oil West Midget Series schedules
15 events for inaugural season in 2012
by Tim Tuttle
POWRi Racing Media Director
765 721-7599
timetuttle@aol.com
MILLSTADT, Ill. (Jan. 27, 2012)—The inaugural season of the POWRi Lucas Oil West Midget Series will have 15 events in 2012, racing in Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Illinois.
POWRi Racing, entering its eighth season of organizing and sanctioning events, made the decision with the support of Lucas Oil to expand into Texas and Oklahoma and establish a championship series for Midget teams and drivers in the region.
“We’ve found on our Western swings there are a lot of cars in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas and Oklahoma that are looking for a group to run with and be recognized in a championship,” POWRi co-founder Kenny Brown said. “We’ve taken that step to fill the void and it will also strengthen our POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series by increasing the competition in the races out West. This is a great direction for us to grow with our established strength in the Midwest.”
POWRi West will be in 11 co-sanctioned events with the POWRi National Midgets including the prestigious the RevHoney/Speedway Motors Midget Money Week at Solomon Valley Raceway in Beloit, Kan., on July 27, Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb., on July 28 and US 36 Raceway in Cameron, Mo., on July 29.
POWRi West and National Midgets open the season at Cowtown Speedway in Kennedale, Texas on March 16-17. The Midget Stampede at the ¼-mile track located near Fort Worth has a purse exceeding $40,000 with Friday’s feature paying $3,000 to win and $300 to start and Saturday’s $5,000 to win and $500 to start. $100 in tow money will be paid each night for the entrants not making the feature.
POWRi West’s four stand-alone events are at Will Rogers Raceway in Claremore, Okla., on May 25 and an October TBA and I-44 Speedway in Oklahoma City on May 26 and an October TBA.
POWRi West races twice (May 4, June 8) at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo., near Kansas City and once (June 9) at Springfield (Mo.) Raceway.
POWRi West is also part of the Missouri Mid-State Midget Nationals at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., on May 5 and the Charlene Meents Memorial at Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, Ill., on Oct. 12-13.
POWRi Lucas Oil West Midget Series 2012 schedule
+#March 16—Cowtown Speedway (1/4-mile), Kennedale, Texas;
+#March 17—Cowtown Speedway (1/4-mile), Kennedale, Texas;
+May 4—Valley Speedway (1/3-mile), Grain Valley, Mo.;
May 5--+Lucas Oil Speedway (3/8-mile), Wheatland, Mo.;
May 25—Will Rogers Raceway (1/5-mile), Claremore, Okla.;
May 26—I-44 Speedway (1/6-mile), Oklahoma City, Okila;
+June 8—Valley Speedway (1/3-mile), Grain Valley, Mo.;
+June 9—Springfield (Mo.) Raceway (1/4-mile);
July 27--+Solomon Valley Raceway (1/5-mile), Beloit, Kan.;
July 28--+Junction Motor Speedway (3/8-mile), McCool Junction, Neb.;
+July 29—US 36 Raceway (3/8-mile), Cameron, Mo.;
+@Oct. 12—Belle-Clair Speedway (1/5-mile), Belleville, Ill.;
+@ Oct. 13—Belle-Clair Speedway (1/5-mile), Belleville, Ill.;
Oct. TBA—Will Rogers Raceway (1/5-mile), Claremore, Okla.;
Oct. TBA—I-44 Speedway (1/6-mile), Oklahoma City, Okla.
+co-sanctioned with POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series, @--co-sanctioned with United States Auto Club; #co-sanctioned with Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association.
Printable schedules can be found under the DOWNLOADS link located at the top of POWRi web site.
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Jan 25 2012
POWRi - National Midget Schedule 30-event Season Released
MILLSTADT, Jan. 24, 2012: The POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series will open a 30-event season on March 16-17 with its first visit to Texas, racing at Cowtown Speedway in Kennedale.
The Midget Stampede at the ¼-mile track located near Fort Worth has a purse exceeding $40,000 with Friday’s feature paying $3,000 to win and $300 to start and Saturday’s $5,000 to win and $500 to start. $100 in tow money will be paid each night for the entrants not making the feature.
Cowtown will also be the inaugural event for the POWRi Lucas Oil West Midget Series. Its complete schedule will be released separately. POWRi National and West points will be awarded at Cowtown.
This will be the eighth season for POWRi National Midgets, co-founded by Kenny Brown and Jim Siner.
“We’re pretty excited to take the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series to Cowtown and Texas and debut our West series with it,” Brown said. “We’re spreading out from our Midwestern roots, but we’re equally proud to be returning to our traditional tracks that have been our partners in building POWRi.”
The National schedule has five events at Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, Ill., including the Arnie Knepper Memorial on Aug. 12 and the Charlene Meents Memorial on Oct. 12-13, the RevHoney/Speedway Motors Midget Money Week at Solomon Valley Raceway in Beloit, Kan., on July 27, Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb., on July 28 and US 36 Raceway in Cameron, Mo., on July 29, the Dana Godfrey Memorial at Macon (Ill.) Speedway on Aug. 17, the Cornfest Midget Classic at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wis. On Aug. 19, the Dean King Memorial at the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin on Sept. 1 and the Tom Knowles Memorial at Spoon River Speedway in Canton, Ill., on Sept. 15.
POWRi returns to Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., on May 5 for the Missouri Mid-State Midget Nationals. The American Sprint Car Series’ Warrior Region is also running in the event.
POWRi will co-sanction the Hut 100 with the United States Auto Club on June 2 at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind.
The schedule also includes three additional events at Macon (April 28, June 23, Sept. 29), two at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo. (May 4, June 8), two at Jacksonville (Ill.) Speedway (April 27, Sept. 14), two at Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway (June 22, Aug. 18), two at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wis., (July 15, Aug. 19), one at Peoria (Ill.) Speedway (May 19), one at Fayette County Speedway in Brownstown, Ill., (June 1), one at Springfield (Mo.) Raceway (June 9) and one at Wilmot (Wis.) Raceway (July 14).
Belle-Clair’s March 24 event will be run with Modifieds and the May 18 event will be run with Late Models.
The season-ending Charlene Meents Memorial at Belle-Clair on Oct. 12-13 will be broadcast tape-delayed by Lucas Oil on the Edge.
POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series 2012 schedule
March 16-17—Cowtown Speedway (1/4-mile), Kennedale, Texas
March 24—Belle-Clair Speedway (1/5-mile), Belleville, Ill.
April 27--Jacksonville (Ill.) Speedway (1/4-mile)
April 28—Macon (Ill.) Speedway (1/5-mile)
May 4—Valley Speedway (1/3-mile), Grain Valley, Mo.
May 5—Lucas Oil Speedway (3/8-mile), Wheatland, Mo.
May 18—Belle-Clair Speedway (1/5-mile), Belleville, Ill.
May 19—Peoria (Ill.) Speedway (1/4-mile)
June 1—Fayette County Speedway (1/4-mile), Fayette, Ill.
June 2--Tri-State Speedway (1/4-mile), Haubstadt, Ind.
June 8--Valley Speedway (1/3-mile), Grain Valley, Mo.
June 9—Springfield (Mo.) Raceway (1/4-mile)
June 22--Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway (1/4-mile)
June 23--Macon (Ill.) Speedway (1/5-mile)
July 14--Wilmot (Wis.) Raceway (1/3-mile)
July 15--Angell Park Speedway (1/3-mile), Sun Prairie, Wis.
July 27--Solomon Valley Raceway (1/5-mile), Beloit, Kan.;
July 28--Junction Motor Speedway (3/8-mile), McCool Junction, Neb.
July 29--+US 36 Raceway (3/8-mile), Cameron, Mo
Aug. 12—Belle-Clair Speedway (1/5-mile), Belleville, Ill.
Aug. 17--Macon (Ill.) Speedway (1/5-mile)
Aug. 18--Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway (1/4-mile)
Aug. 19--Angell Park Speedway (1/3-mile), Sun Prairie, Wis.
Sept. 1—Southern Illinois Center (1/5-mile), Du Quoin
Sept. 14—Jacksonville (Ill.) Raceway (1/4-mile)
Sept. 15—Spoon River Raceway (3/8-mile), Canton, Ill.
Sept. 29—Macon (Ill.) Speedway (1/5-mile)
Oct. 12--Belle-Clair Speedway (1/5-mile), Belleville, Ill
Oct. 13—-Belle-Clair Speedway (1/5-mile), Belleville, Ill.
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Contact: Tim Tuttle POWRi Racing Media Director
765 721-7599 timetuttle@aol.com
Jan 15 20
26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals
Three-Peat for Kevin Swindell!
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 14, 2012) – It took a quarter of a century to crown the first back-to-back winner in Chili Bowl Nationals history.
After crowning that champion last January, it only took one more year for a three-peat champion as 22-year-old Kevin Swindell of Germantown, TN, captured his third Golden Driller in a row by wiring the field in Saturday night’s 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals championship finale at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway.
And, for the second year in a row, it was Kevin taking Roger Slack’s checkered flag ahead of his father and five-time Chili Bowl king Sammy Swindell, though this time the younger Swindell needed no last corner heroics to take the top step on the podium in the feature event that was extended from 50 to 55 laps in tribute to popular Broken Arrow, OK, native and Chili Bowl competitor Donnie Ray Crawford, who lost his life in a tragic Saturday morning incident that cast a pall over the capacity crowd that numbered in excess of 17,000.
While Kevin officially led all 55 laps, Sammy kept the pressure on most of the way and challenged on several occasions in the event that was interrupted by caution just once after the initial start was negated. Ultimately, a near run-in with a lapped car for Sammy on the 52nd circuit gave Kevin the breathing room he needed to take the checkered flag with a 1.458-second advantage aboard the Esslinger-powered John Christner Trucking/NOS Energy Drinks No. 39 Spike.
“I was just trying to survive traffic,” Kevin Swindell explained afterward. “I figured if I could keep trying to pick them off and not make a big mistake, I should be alright.”
After the initial start was waved off when Levi Jones took a tumble in turn three, it was Kevin Swindell leading the feature field to the green flag with Elk Grove, California’s Kyle Larson alongside. K. Swindell jumped into the lead on the subsequent start with third-starter Sammy Swindell racing into second on the opening circuit behind his son. The Swindell duo worked the low side in the early rounds with Larson trying the high side in the early going and losing third to Cory Kruseman.
Just as the Swindell duo hit lapped traffic, Bud Kaeding spun to a stop in turn three with 14 laps in the books to bring out the final caution and setting up a 41-lap run to the checkered flag.
The Swindells took off again on the low side, with Larson reclaiming third by the 16th round as he tried to keep the lead pair within striking distance.
Vying for a sixth Chili Bowl triumph, Sammy Swindell began pressuring Kevin Swindell for the lead at the midway point by testing the upper portion of the track in turns one and two. But Kevin was up to the task, fending off the veteran shoe and then opening up an advantage as traffic came into play several laps later.
Sammy closed back in by the 40th lap though and even pulled alongside on the low side of turns one and two with Kevin up top on the 44th circuit. Kevin kept him at bay and then slipped away in the final handful of circuits when traffic played to his advantage.
With Kevin taking the victory, Sammy explained that, “I wasn’t there when he slipped and when I had a good run there wasn’t any place to go. The cars were so evenly matched, traffic was going to make the difference.”
Larson held down the show position from the 16th lap in the Keith Kunz Motorsports Speedway Toyota-powered No. 67 Bullet, keeping the leaders within sight but unable to mount a challenge. “Early in the race, I felt like I could have a shot because they were on the bottom in one and two and I felt like I was quicker up top,” the 19-year-old explained. “But as the race went on I just got tighter and tighter and couldn’t stay out of trouble on the cushion like I wanted to and they got too far ahead and got too many lappers between me and Sammy.”
While Bryan Clauson worked forward from his 11th starting position to fourth by the 20th round, it was Danny Stratton making a late move to snare fourth in Steve and Dianna Hampton’s Esslinger-powered Hampton’s Kustom Works No. 77s Twister.
Clauson rounded out the top five in the Esslinger-powered Indy Car/Indy 500 No. 39c Spike, with Brad Sweet and Kruseman in sixth and seventh, respectively.
Jerry Coons, Jr., turned in the feature’s top passing performance by charging from 23rd to eighth, with NASCAR Nationwide champion Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., and NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart completing the top ten.
Richard Vander Weerd was the only Chili Bowl rookie to make the championship feature cut, crossing the stripe in 19th. Two other drivers made first career Chili Bowl finales including Indiana’s Caleb Armstrong in 18th and California’s Rico Abreu in 21st.
With 259 competitors from 32 different states as well as Australia, Canada, Finland and New Zealand taking in the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals, a total of 20 feature events were contested on championship Saturday including the “A” Main event.
Vander Weerd and Abreu topped “B” Main action to reach the finale after Jon Stanbrough and Hunter Schuerenberg won the “C” Mains.
New Zealand’s Brad Mosen and Chili Bowl rookie contender David Gravel of Connecticut won “D” Mains, with Johnny Herrera and Chris Windom topping “E” Mains.
Davey Heskin and Cameron won “F” Mains, Chris Morgan and Michelle Decker were victorious in “G” Mains and Matt Westfall and A.J. Hopkins scored in “H” Mains. Evan Sewell and Ryan Beechler claimed “I” Main wins, Matt Johnson and Mike Spencer were best in “J” Main action and Mike Goodman opened the day with a “K” Main triumph.
K Main (10 Laps -- Positions 1, 3, 5 to back of 1st J Main; Pos. 2, 4, 6 to back of 2nd J Main)
K Main: 1. #77G Mike Goodman, Broken Arrow, OK; 2. #11XS Tony Norem, Dassel, MN; 3. #7RS Cilnt Boyles, Greenwood, MO; 4. #91 Jeff Stasa, Kingman, KS; 5. #05H Jake Swanson, Anaheim, CA; 6. #3H Bubba Hunt, Tulsa, Ok; 7. #2D Doug Day, Winder, GA; 8. #69 Randy Boyer, Belleville, KS; 9. #82 Eric Johnson, Rockford, IL; 10. #71P Tim Pyle, Gresham, OR; #11 2A Donald McIntosh, Dawsonville, GA; 12. #83X Bob Lawlor, San Carlos, CA; DNS -- #21AZ Mike Visser, Cottonwood, AZ; #87F Brian McClelland, Tulsa, OK; #11XC Steve Newman, Steamboat Springs, CO; #50 Ned Fry, West Burlington, IA; #6Y Vinny Villeggiante, Gresham, OR
J Mains (10 Laps -- Top 4 transfer to back of corresponding I Main)
J Main 1: 1. #85J Matt Johnson, Edmond, OK; 2. #17K Tanner Berryhill, Bixby, OK; 3. #33A Stephen Arnold, Seymour, IN; 4. #05H Jake Swanson, Anaheim, CA; 5. #77G Mike Goodman, Broken Arrow, OK; 6. #93R Jake Rosario, Guthrie, OK; 7. #71D Paige Polyak, Tiffin, OH; 8. #29 Brandon Hahn, Tulsa, OK; 9. #55 Kyle Smith, Moorpark, CA; 10. #44X Danny Smith, Argenta, IL; 11. #8 Mike Lapp, Goodyear, AZ; 12. #27 Kody Swanson, Kingsburg, CA; 13. #4X Shawn Peterson, Irving, TX; DNS - #12H Jarrod Hull, Sikeston, MO; #21JR Kevin Michnowicz, Lomita, CA; #7RS Clint Boyles, Greenwood, MO
J Main 2: 1. #51S Mike Spencer, Temecula, CA; 2. #87R Rich Camfield, Decatur, IL; 3. #57K Steve Schaberg, Glenwood, AR; 4. #88D Rusty Dukes, Fair Grove, MO; 5. #2G Terry Goodwin, Laveen, AZ; 6. #88W Dustin Weland, Parker, CO; 7. #77D Dalten Gabbard, Peoria, AZ; 8. #11XS Tony Norem, Dassel, MN; 9. #67X Britton Bock, Angwin, CA; 10. #3H Bubba Hunt, Tulsa, OK; 11. #21X Nick Speidel, Muncie, IN; 12. #W94 Waylon Weaver, Claremore, OK; 13. #35W Rick Wright, Ponca City, OK; 14. #91 Jeff Stasa, Kingman, KS; 15. #83H Jonathon Halford, Tulsa, OK; 16. #91H Mike Hudson, Carterville, IL
I Mains (10 Laps -- Top 4 transfer to back of corresponding H Main)
I Main 1: 1. #31E Evan Sewell, Tulsa, OK: 2. #17 Michael Koontz, Bloomington, IN; 3. #85J Matt Johnson, Edmond, OK; 4. #17K Tanner Berryhill, Bixby, OK; 5. #05H Jake Swanson, Anaheim, CA; 6. #59 Dex Eaton, Owasso, OK; 7. #23 Tim Lynch, Columbus, IN; 8. #83 Kurt Blackaby, Bentonville, AR; 9. #71X Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, OH; 10. #11X Dustin Hapka, Grand Forks, ND; 11. #33A Stephen Arnold, Seymour, IN; 12. #2AZ Rick Shuman, Gilbert, AZ; 13. #20X Jimmy Harris, Broken Arrow, OK; 14. #22S Steve Stasa, Kingman, KS; 15. *#7C Pat Schudy, Springfield, MO; DNS - #15K Connor Kassik, Lake Havasu, AZ
*7C scored in 15th because of muffler falling off
I Main 2: 1. #81B Ryan Beechler, McKinney, TX; 2. #86 Josh Most, Red Oak, IA; 3. #41 Brandon Waelti, Sun Prairie, WI; 4. #73F Greg Edenholm, Malibu, CA; 5. #19D Steven Drevicki, Reading, PA; 6. #9H Matt Hummel, San Jose, CA; 7. #9B Harris Brooks, Houston, TX; 8. #87R Rich Camfield, Decatur, IL; 9. #51S Mike Spencer, Temecula, CA; 10. #7T Todd McVay, Lees Summit, MO; 11. #17M Andee Beierle, Bismarck, ND; 12. #12J Joe Walker, Harrisonville, MO; 13. #0X Johnny Murdock, Kaufman, TX; 14. #57K Steve Schaberg, Glenwood, AR; 15. #88D Rusty Dukes, Fair Grove, MO; DNS - #94AU Brad Cox, Gunnedah, Aus
H Main (10 Laps -- Top 4 transfer to back of corresponding G Main)
H Main 1: 1. #14W Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 2. #2X Tyler Millwood, Kingston, CA; 3. #15N T.J. Smith, Fresno, CA; 4. #17K Tanner Berryhill, Bixby, OK; 5. #82W Robbie Whitchurch, Chico, CA; 6. #21V Jimmy Voitel, Covina, CA; 7. #17 Michael Koontz, Bloomington, IN; 8. #85J Matt Johnson, Edmond, OK; 9. #22K Kyle Bellm, Nixa, MO; 10. #31E Evan Sewell, Tulsa, OK; 11. #17W Cole Wood, Auburn, CA; 12. #9D Sean Dodenhoff, Bakersfield, CA; 13. #20 Tadd Holliman, Beaver Lake, NE; 14. #13 Ryan York, Racine, MN; DNS -- #29S Tim Kent, Sapulpa, OK; #51B Ryan Blakeman, Jacksonville, IL
H Main 2: 1. #2R A.J. Hopkins, Brownsburg, IN; 2. #98G Gavin Galbraith, Washington, MO; 3. #28 Alex Schutte, Rohnert Park, CA; 4. #81B Ryan Beechler, McKinney, TX; 5. #7B Joe Boyles, Greenwood, MO; 6. #41 Brandon Waelti, Sun Prairie, WI; 7. #86 Josh Most, Red Oak, IA; 8. #45X C.J. Johnson, Quinter, KS; 9. #73F Greg Edenholm, Malibu, CA; 10. #12 Chris Gurley, Hebron, IN; 11. #19N Nick O'Neal, Wagoner, OK; 12. #7JR J.D. Black, Grain Valley, MO; 13. #25M Derrick Myers, Stonington, IL; 14. #44S Clint Schubert, Calhan, CO; DNS - #8J Blake Hahn, Sapulpa, OK; #77X Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL
G Main (10 Laps -- Top 4 transfer to back of corresponding F Main)
G Main 1: 1. #6X Chris Morgan, Topeka, KS; 2. #94 Darren Kingston, Vandalia, IL; 3. #14W Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 4. #86C David Camfield Jr., Decatur, IL; 5. #8R Bobby Ruffin, Crandall, TX; 6. #38N Kyle Neal, Ewing, IL; 7. #15N T.J. Smith, Fresno, CA; 8. #17K Tanner Berryhill, Bixby, OK; 9. #7W Harli White, Lindsay, OK; 10. #2X Tyler Millwood, Kingston, CA; 11. #23F Jesse Sobbing, Glenwood, IA; 12. #49 Trevor Kobylarz, Birdsboro, PA; 13. #12JR Josh Pelkey, Peoria, AZ; 14. #77B Mike Boesel, Bennett, CO; 15. #25 Dylan Peterson, Sioux Falls, SD; DNS - #96 Cody Brewer, Choctaw, OK
G Main 2: 1. #7D Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 2. #28 Alex Schutte, Rohnert Park, CA; 3. #49JR Bobby Michnowicz, Lomita, CA; 4. #37T Chris Urish, Elkhart, IL; 5. #2R A.J. Hopkins, Brownsburg, IN; 6. #81B Ryan Beechler, McKinney, TX; 7. #6M Justin Mallo, Cheyenne, WY; 8. #0G Greg Bragg, Visalia, CA; 9. #0B Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, Ontario; 10. #12S Bryan Severs, Collison, IL; 11. #27C Kip Hughes, Enid, Ok; 12. #9M Cory Mallo, Cheyenne, WY; 13. #98G Gavin Galbraith, Washington, MO; 14. #8B Bob Ream Jr., Glendale, AZ; 15. #89JR Ron Kuhn, Independence, MO; DNS - #8K Donnie Ray Crawford, Broken Arrow, OK
F Main (10 Laps -- Top 4 transfer to back of corresponding E Main)
F Main 1: 1. #17X Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN; 2. #93 Dustin Morgan, Broken Arrow, OK; 3. #71KT Kevin Thomas Jr., Cullman, AL; 4. #191 Chase Barber, Brownsburg, IN; 5. #32 Danny Jennings, Norman, OK; 6. #33 Davey Ray, Indianapolis, IN; 7. #7J Shawn Jackson, Bear, DE; 8. #14W Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 9. #40 Andy Huston, Roseville, IL; 10. #86C David Camfield Jr., Decatur, IL; 11. #10 Will Pierce, Lees Summit, MO; 12. #6X Chris Morgan, Topeka, KS; 13. #94 Darren Kingston, Vandalia, IL; 14. #35T Tyler Robbins, Collinsville, IL; 15. #11B Travis Berryhill, American Canyon, CA; DNS - #75 Wes McIntyre, McCordsville, IN
F Main 2: 1. #37X Cameron Hagin, Broken Arrow, OK; 2. #2B Tyler Reddick, Corning, CA; 3. #15D Andrew Deal, Caney, KS; 4. #28 Alex Schutte, Rohnert Park, CA; 5. #51X Matt Lundy, Phoenix, AZ; 6. #11XS Donovan Peterson, Brookings, SD; 7. #37T Chris Urish, Elkhart, IL; 8. #15B Danny Burke, Houston, TX; 9. #14R Troy DeCaire, Tampa, FL; 10. #58 Cole Peard, Quincy, CA; 11. #00 Pete Davis, Pleasanton, CA; 12. #11H Garrett Hood, Concordia, KS; 13. #18 Floyd Alvis, San Carlos, CA; 14. #49JR Bobby Michnowicz, Lomita, CA; 15. #7D Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; DNS -- #33X Jason Lair, Del City, OK
E Main (10 Laps -- Top 4 transfer to back of corresponding D Main)
E Main 1: 1. #75H Johnny Herrera, Albuquerque, NM; 2. #87C Daniel Robinson, Wayne City, IL; 3. #1T Tony Roney, Herculaneum, MO; 4. #55F Taylor Ferns, Shelby Township, MI; 5. #11J Justin Melton, Flower Mound, TX; 6. #93 Dustin Morgan, Broken Arrow, OK; 7. #7X Layne Himebaugh, Collinsville, OK; 8. #4J Tim Crawley, Benton, AR; 9. #17X Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN; 10. #89 Cody Darrah, Red Lion, PA; 11. #191 Chase Barber, Brownsburg, IN; 12. #71KT Kevin Thomas Jr., Cullman, AL; 13. #39B Jake Blackhurst, Mapleton, IL; 14. #7A Austin Brown, Millstadt, IL; 15. #22X Keith Martin, Alvarado, TX; 16. #6 Aaron Pierce, Daleville, IL
E Main 2: 1. #11W Chris Windom, Canton, IL; 2. #7DA Dalton Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 3. #73S Alex Sewell, Broken Arrow, OK; 4. #94X Kevin Olson, Machesney Park, IL: 5. #2B Tyler Reddick, Coming, CA; 6. #3F Tony Elliott, Warsaw, IN; 7. #15D Andrew Deal, Caney, KS; 8. #7 Shannon McQueen, Tehachapi, CA; 9. #51 Brent Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 10. #88 Brendan Bright, Collegeville, PA; 11. #24E Rick Eckert, York, PA; 12. #37X Cameron Hagin, Broken Arrow, OK; 13. #9U Doug McCune, Colleyville, TX; 14. #21M Billy Lawhead, El Reno, OK; 15. #91X Kyle Steffens, St. Charles, MO; 16. #28 Alex Schutte, Rohnert Park, CA
D Main (15 Laps -- Top 6 transfer to back of corresponding C Main)
D Main 1: 1. #47 Brad Mosen, Auckland, NZ; 2. #98K P.J. Jones, Torrance, CA; 3. #88H Johnathon Henry, Stockton, CA; 4. #11BX Brett Anderson, Belleville, IL; 5. #21b Christopher Bell, Norman, OK; 6. #1J J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 7. #17R Mario Clouser, Auburn, IL; 8. #75H Johnny Herrera, Albuquerque, NM; 9. #1T Tony Roney, Herculaneum, MO; 10. #91B Kevin Bayer, Bixby, OK; 11. #4B Ronnie Burke Jr., League City, TX; 12. #87C Daniel Robinson, Wayne City, IL: 13. #57B Bill Balog, Brookfield, WI; 14. #1W Paul White, Waco, TX; 15. #55F Taylor Ferns, Shelby Township, MI; 16. #14JR Matt Streeter, Galt, CA; 17. #31 Steve Budres, Beloit, WI; 18. #98 JC Bland, Springfield, IL
D Main 2: 1. #71K David Gravel, Watertown, CT; 2. #72 Ryan Bernal, Hollister, CA; 3. #43 Brent Beauchamp, Indianapolis, IN; 4. #26 Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA; 5. #85 Shane Hollingsworth, Lafayette, IN; 6. #7DA Dalton Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 7. #19X Billy Wease, Noblesville, IN; 8. #2T Thomas Meseraull, San Jose, CA; 9. #94X Kevin Olson, Machesney Park, IL; 10. #15P David Prickett, Fresno, CA; 11. #14C Shane Cockrum, Benton, IL; 12. #6R Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids, IA; 13. #10W George White, Fort Worth, TX; 14. #11W Chris Windom, Canton, IL; 15. #05 Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO; 16. #86E Chris Ennis, San Diego, CA; 17. #73S Alex Sewell, Broken Arrow, OK; 18. #23C Tyler Courtney, Indianapolis, IN
C Mains (15 Laps -- Top 6 to back of corresponding B Main)
C Main 1: 1. #05S Jon Stanbrough, Avon, IN: 2. #5 Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN; 3. #12B Chad Boat, Phoenix, AZ; 4. #4 Bobby East, Brownsburg, IN; 5. #36 Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, OK; 6. #4G Coleman Gulick, Binghamton, NY; 7. #35 Justin Grant, Ione, CA; 8. #11BX Brett Anderson, Belleville, IL; 9. #19 Patrick Stasa, Kingman, KS; 10. #1J JJ Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 11. #98K P.J. Jones, Torrance, CA; 12. #21B Christopher Bell, Norman, OK; 13. #6A David Gough, Machesney Park, IL; 14. #8V Jace VanderWeerd, Visalia, CA; 15. #88H Johnathon Henry, Stockton, CA; 16. #25B Steve Buckwalter, Royersford, PA; 17. #78 Nick Wean, Phillipsburg, NJ; 18. #47 Brad Mosen, Auckland, NZ; 19. #05R Ryan Pace, Brownsburg, IN; 20. #67Z Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN
C Main 2: 1. #35S Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO; 2. #51J R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, AZ; 3. #05T Gary Taylor Snohomish, WA; 4. #9 Levi Roberts, Broomfield, CO; 5. #91K Dereck King, Goreville, IL; 6. #5H Mike Hess, Springfield, IL; 7. #35M Matt Sherrell, Owasso, OK; 8. #71 Jason Leffler, Long Beach, CA; 9. #27S Andy Shouse, Oklahoma City, OK: 10. #05G Damion Gardner, Concord, CA; 11. #44 Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 12. #43 Brent Beauchamp, Indianapolis, IN; 13. #85 Shane Hollingsworth, Lafayette, IN; 14. #11C Chet Gehrke, Broken Arrow, OK; 15. #72 Ryan Bernal, Hollister, CA; 16. #7DA Dalton Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 17. #26 Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA; 18. #16 Jimmy Light, Erie, PA; 19. #81 Markus Niemela, Rauma, Finland; 20. #71K David Gravel, Watertown, CT
B Mains (20 Laps -- Top 6 in each advance to A Main)
B Main 1: 1. #19S Richard VanderWeerd, Visalia, CA; 2. #7CA Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 3. #24 Tracy Hines, New Castle, IN; 4. #63 Nick Knepper, Belleville, IL; 5. #2 Bud Kaeding, Campbell, CA; 6. #3NZ Jerry Coons Jr., Tucson, AZ; 7. #5 Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN; 8. #4 Bobby East, Brownsburg, IN; 9. #8L Matt Ward, Glenpool, OK; 10. #12B Chad Boat, Phoenix, AZ; 11. #77 Alex Bright, Collegeville, PA; 12. #73 Josh Ford, Oxnard, CA; 13. #11T Tyler Edwards, Salina, OK; 14. #36 Jonathon Beason, Broken Arrow, OK; 15. #05S Jon Stanbrough, Avon, IN; 16. #22 Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 17. #7M Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 18. #15 Tim Siner, Dupo, IL; 19. #4G Coleman Gulick, Binghamton, NY; 20. #37 Bubba Altig, Mechanicsburg, IL
B Main 2: 1. #67K Rico Abreu, Rutherford, CA; 2. #2H Casey Shuman, Rattlesnake Bend, AZ; 3. #5D Zach Daum, Pocahontas, IL; 4. #3 Darren Hagen, Riverside, CA; 5. #17B Brad Kuhn, Avon, IN; 6. #3AJ A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 7. #0 Ryan Smith, Kunkletown, PA; 8. #05T Gary Taylor, Snohomish, WA; 9. #9 Levi Roberts, Broomfield, CO; 10. #35S Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO; 11. #37B Brady Short, Bedford, IN; 12. #5H Mike Hess, Springfield, IL; 13. #11A Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, MO; 14. #11 Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK; 15. #47X Shaun Insley, Royal Oak, NZ; 16. #51J R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, AZ; 17. #71S Ronnie Gardner, Corona, CA; 18. #91K Dereck King, Goreville, IL; 19. #71B Jack Haudenschild, Wooster, OH; 20. #21 Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK
A Main (55 laps)
1. #39 Kevin Swindell, Germantown, TN
2. #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN
3. #67 Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA
4. #77s Danny Stratton, Riverside, CA
5. #39c Bryan Clauson, Noblesville IN
6. #49x Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA
7. #21k Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA
8. #3nz Jerry Coons, Jr., Tucson, AZ
9. #39i Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Olive Branch, MS
10. #14 Tony Stewart, Columbus, IN
11. #24 Tracy Hines, Wilkinson, IN
12. #3 Darren Hagen, Riverside, CA
13. #5d Zach Daum, Pocahontas, IL
14. #17b Brad Kuhn, Avon, IN
15. #05p Michael Pickens, Auckland, NZ
16 #71xx Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN
17. #2h Casey Shuman, Rattlesnake Bend, AZ
18. #7ca Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, IN
19. #2 Bud Kaeding, Campbell, CA
20. #19s Richard Vander Weerd, Visalia, CA
21. #67k Rico Abreu, Rutherford, CA
22. #63 Nick Knepper, Belleville, IL
23. #3aj A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL
24. #56 Levi Jones, Olney, IL.
Jan 14 2012
What you have been waiting for the run for the Golden Driller all set for today!
Well here it is time for that big Alphabet soup run down all day saturday at the Quick Trip Center in Tulsa. Yes its the big main event day so I Hope all you out there got a good nights sleep? This will go on most of the day and evening before that Golden Driller Trophy is handed out.
Time now for the last aproximatly 248 not qualified for tonights big main event yet to "shit or get off the pot" so to speak!
We have the last 4 night main event qualifers locked in and that is one tough group that will start up front for the big one. My pick to win is that Rookie California kid starting out side the front row right next to the last 2 big Golden Driller trophy wins, Kevin Swindell in the first row. He is Kyle Larson!
So hold on to Your hats there are only 18 races left today for the last 248 not qualified so far to be one of last 12 to transfer into the big one scheduled for tonight. The first one being B main 1 all the way to the final race the K main event.
aXe
Kruseman Conquers Friday Field!
1/13/2012
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 13, 2012) – Two-time Chili Bowl champion Cory Kruseman made his way back to the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway victory lane by topping Friday night’s 25-lap Vacuworx International qualifying feature at the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals.
Kruseman battled past Indy 500-bound Bryan Clauson for the lead on the high side en route to a Chili Bowl record seventh career preliminary feature win aboard his Esslinger-powered MavTV/Lucas Oil No. 21k Esslinger, with runner-up Levi Jones and third-place Clauson also locking into Saturday night’s 50-lap Chili Bowl championship finale.
With Kruseman, who has claimed Golden Driller trophies in 2000 and 2004, gridding the feature field inside the second row, Clauson led the way to the green flag with Jac Haudenschild alongside. Clauson gunned into the lead at the drop of Roger Slack’s green flag, with Kruseman working into second in the initial rounds before the race’s only caution flew after six rounds for turn one chaos that sent Kevin Bayer and Brad Loyet pitside for the night.
With Clauson working the bottom of the track Esslinger-powered Indy Car/Indy 500 No. 39c Spike, Kruseman began challenging on the top side and finally surged into the lead exiting the fourth corner on the ninth circuit.
“We got the momentum going around the top and obviously momentum is always faster when the track is gonna get drier and drier,” Kruseman explained afterward.
Clauson wasn’t done yet though, keeping the pressure on and pulling alongside several times until a slight bobble in turns three and four on the 15th round opened the door for fifth-starter Levi Jones to race into second aboard the RW56 Esslinger-powered Three Wide Life No. 56 Esslinger.
Kruseman kept Jones and Clauson at bay over the final ten circuits despite lapped traffic in the final handful of rounds that forced him to the low side for a couple of rounds to maintain command.
Kruseman crossed the stripe with a 0.574-second advantage, locking into his 11th career Chili Bowl championship finale and third in a row after a three-year dry spell from 2007 to 2009.
Jones, who topped Septembers Gold Crown Midget Nationals, secured a starting berth in his third career Chili Bowl finale and first since 2009 by virtue of his runner-up finish while Clauson landed in his third finale as well by taking the show position after claiming fifth in last year’s 50-lapper.
Haudenschild brought Bernie Stuebgen’s Toyota-powered Indy Race Parts No. 71b Triple-X home fourth, with Gary “Bubba” Altig advancing a handful of positions to round out the top five in Esslinger-powered A.J. Felker Racing No. 37 FSC.
Daryn Pittman was sixth, with Nick Knepper, Ryan Smith, Bud Kaeding and 23rd starter Ronnie Gardner completing the top ten.
Finland’s Markus Niemela and Connecticut’s David Gravel were the only Chili Bowl rookie contenders to make Friday’s feature cut, finishing 17th and 18th, respectively.
Bayer, Davey Ray, Brent Beauchamp, Knepper, Derrick Myers, Haudenschild, Levi Roberts and Dave Darland topped heat race action for Friday night’s 60-car field, with Ryan Smith, Kaeding, Jones and Clauson winning the qualifying races.
After getting caught up in an opening lap tangle and flipping, Brad Loyet bounced back to win the first “C “Main and then climbed to third behind Joey Saldana and Brad Mosen in the first “B” Main to transfer to the feature event.
Bill Balog chased Rick Eckert to the line in the second “C” Main and then earned a transfer to the “A” as well behind Beauchamp, Bayer and Shane Hollingsworth in the second “B” Main.
Sixty Friday night competitors brought this year’s Chili Bowl Nationals competitor total to 259, three more than the total of 256 over each of the past two years.
Friday’s Vacuworx International Qualifier Results from the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals:
Heat Races (8 Laps each, Top 40 in passing points to A Qualifiers; Balance to twin C Mains)
Heat 1: 1. #91B Kevin Bayer, Bixby, OK; 2. #49 Trevor Kobylarz, Birdsboro, PA; 3. #56 Levi Jones, Olney, IL; 4. #67Z Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN; 5. #15B Danny Burke, Houston;
Heat 2: 1. #33 Davey Ray, Indianapolis, IN; 2. #21K Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA; 3. #37 Bubba Altig, Mechanicsburg, IL; 4. #20 Tadd Holliman, Beaver Lake, NE; 5. #28 Alex Schutte, Rohnert Park, CA;
Heat 3: 1. #43 Brent Beauchamp, Indianapolis, IN; 2. #71K David Gravel, Watertown, CT; 3. #81 Markus Niemela, Rauma, Finland; 4. #7DA Dalton Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 5. #71S Ronnie Gardner, Corona, CA;
Heat 4: 1. #63 Nick Knepper, Belleville, IL; 2. #35S Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO; 3. #0 Ryan Smith, Kunkletown, PA; 4. #21 Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK; 5. #17W Cole Wood, Auburn, CA;
Heat 5: 1. #25M Derrick Myers, Stonington, IL; 2. #2 Bud Kaeding, Campbell, CA; 3. #22X Keith Martin, Alvarado, TX; 4. #85 Shane Hollingsworth, Lafayette, IN; 5. #51B Ryan Blakeman, Jacksonville, IL
Heat 6: 1. #71B Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH; 2. #5H Mike Hess, Springfield, IL; 3. #0G Greg Bragg, Visalia, CA; 4. #32 Danny Jennings, Norman, OK; 5. #47 Brad Mosen, Auckland, NZ;
Heat 7: 1. #9 Levi Roberts, Broomfield, CO; 2. #4 Bobby East, Brownsburg, IN; 3. #77X Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL; 4. #11H Garrett Hood, Concordia, KS; 5. #14R Troy DeCaire, Tampa, FL;
Heat 8: 1. Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN; 2. #39C Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN; 3. #11J Justin Melton, Flower Mound, TX; 4. #0B Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, Ontario; 5. #8R Bobby Ruffin, Crandall, TX;
C Mains (10 Laps – Top 4 in each transfer to back of corresponding B Main)
C Main 1: 1. #05 Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO; 2. #191 Chase Barber, Brownsburg, IN; 3. #7 Shannon McQueen, Tehachapi, CA; 4. #77B Mike Boesel, Bennett, CO; 5. #17 Michael Koontz, Bloomington, IN; 6. #0X Johnny Murdock, Kaufman, TX; 7. #29 Brandon Hahn, Tulsa, OK; 8. #11X Dustin Hapka, Grand Forks, ND; 9. #12H Jerrod Hull, Sikeston, MO; DNS - #21AZ Mike Visser, Cottonwood, AZ
C Main 2: 1. #24E Rick Eckert, York, PA; 2. #57B Bill Balog, Brookfield, WI; 3. #14R Troy DeCaire, Tampa, FL; 4. #89JR Ron Kuhn, Independence, MO; 5. #86 Josh Most, Red Oak, IA; 6. #22S Steve Stasa, West Hills, CA; 7. #19D Steven Drevicki, Reading, PA; 8. #87R Rich Camfield, Decatur, IL; DNS - #05H Jake Swanson, Anaheim, CA; #6Y Vinny Villeggiante, Gresham, OR
A Qualifiers (10 Laps – Top 16 in combined passing points to A Main; Balance to twin B Mains)
A Qualifier 1: 1. #0 Ryan Smith, Kunkletown, PA; 2. #21 Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK; 3. #71B Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH; 4. #33 Davey Ray, Indianapolis, IN; 5. #81 Markus Niemela, Rauma, Finland; 6. #49 Trevor Kobylarz, Birdsboro, PA; 7. #28 Alex Schutte, Rohnert Park, CA; 8. #47 Brad Mosen, Auckland, NZ; 9. #22X Keith Martin, Alvarado, TX; 10. #11H Garrett Hood, Concordia, KS
A Qualifier 2: 1. #2 Bud Kaeding, Campbell, CA; 2. #21K Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA; 3. #67Z Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN; 4. #43 Brent Beauchamp, Indianapolis, IN; 5. #11J Justin Melton, Flower Mound, TX; 6. #71K David Gravel, Watertown, CT; 7. #91B Kevin Bayer, Bixby, OK; 8. #71S Ronnie Gardner, Corona, CA; 9. #85 Shane Hollingsworth, Lafayette, IN; 10. #20 Tadd Holliman, Beaver Lake, NE
A Qualifier 3: 1. #56 Levi Jones, Olney, IL; 2. #5H Mike Hess, Springfield, IL; 3. #35S Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO; 4. #9 Levi Roberts, Broomfield, CO; 5. #25M Derrick Myers, Stonington, IL; 6. #4 Bobby East, Brownsburg, IN; 7. #7DA Dalton Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 8. #17W Cole Wood, Auburn, CA; 9. #0B Glenn Styres, Oshweken, ONT; 10. #8R Bobby Ruffin, Crandall, TX
A Qualifier 4: 1. #39C Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN; 2. #37 Bubba Altig, Mechanicsburg, IL; 3. #5 Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN; 4. #63 Nick Knepper, Belleville, IL; 5. #0G Greg Bragg, Visalia, CA; 6. #51B Ryan Blakeman, Jacksonville, IL; 7. #87C Daniel Robinson, Wayne City, IL; 8. #32 Danny Jennings, Norman, OK; 9. #15B Danny Burke, Houston, TX; 10. #77X Joey Moughan, Springfield, MO
B Mains (15 Laps – Top 4 in each transfer to A Main)
B Main 1: 1. #67Z Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN; 2. #47 Brad Mosen, Auckland, NZ; 3. #05 Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO; 4. #71S Ronnie Gardner, Corona, CA; 5. #87C Daniel Robinson, Wayne City, IL; 6. #7 Shannon McQueen, Tehachapi, CA; 7. #22X Keith Martin, Alvarado, TX; 8. #191 Chase Barber, Brownsburg, IN; 9. #11H Garrett Hood, Concordia, KS; 10. #33 Davey Ray, Indianapolis, IN;
B Main 2: 1. #43 Brent Beauchamp, Indianapolis, IN; 2. #91B Kevin Bayer, Bixby, OK; 3. #85 Shane Hollingsworth, Lafayette, IN; 4. #57B Bill Balog, Brookfield, WI; 5. #7DA Dalton Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 6. #11J Justin Melton, Flower Mound, TX; 7. #24E Rick Eckert, York, PA; 8. #15B Danny Burke, Houston, TX; 9. #32 Danny Jennings, Norman, OK; 10. #14R Troy DeCaire, Tampa, FL;
A Main (25 laps – Top 3 advance to Saturday Night's Main Event)
“A” Main: 1. #21k Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA; 2. #56 Levi Jones, Olney, IL; 3. #39c Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN; 4. #71b Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH; 5. #37 Bubba Altig, Mechanicsburg, IL; 6. #21 Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK; 7. #63 Nick Knepper, Belleville, IL; 8. #0 Ryan Smith, Kunkletown, PA; 9. #2 Bud Kaeding, Campbell, CA; 10. #71s Ronnie Gardner, Corona, CA; 11. #35s Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO; 12. #5 Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN; 13. #9 Levi Roberts, Broomfield, CO; 14. #4 Bobby East, Brownsburg, IN; 15. #5h Mike Hess, Springfield, IL; 16. #67z Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN; 17. #81 Markus Niemela, Rauma, FIN; 18. #71k David Gravel, Watertown, CT; 19. #47 Brad Mosen, Auckland, NZ; 20. #43 Brent Beauchamp, Indianapolis, IN; 21. #57b Bill Balog, Brookfield, WI; 22. #85 Shane Hollingsworth, Lafayette, IN; 23. #91b Kevin Bayer, Bixby, OK; 24. #05 Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO.
Saturday's Chili Bowl Feature's Lineups!
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 14, 2012) – Prior to last year, no driver had ever been able to pull off back-to-back Chili Bowl triumphs at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway.
Now, after becoming the first driver in event history to post two wins in a row last January, Kevin Swindell is in prime position for a three-peat as will start Saturday night’s 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals 50-lap finale from the pole position.
Swindell, who won Thursday night’s Suburban Chevrolet qualifying main event, drew the pole position after Friday night’s card with Tuesday’s Warren CATwinner Kyle Larson drawing the front row outside position for the Saturday night finale.
Five-time Chili Bowl champion Sammy Swindell will start third after winning Wednesday’s River Spirit Casino qualifier, with Cory Kruseman drawing the fourth starting position after winning Friday’s Vacuworx International qualifying main event.
A total of 259 competitors from 32 different states as well as Australia, Canada, Finland and New Zealand have battled it out atop the ¼-mile clay oval inside the QuikTrip Center over the past four nights to set the lineups for Saturday’s slate of 20 feature events, beginning with a “K” Main at 12:00 noon and climbing through the alphabet with twin “J” Mains, twin “I” Mains, etc., until culminating with Saturday night’s 50-lap championship finale.
A dozen drivers, including each qualifying night winner along with second and third place finishers, have already earned starting berths in the 26th Chili Bowl finale, with another dozen spots to be determined through the day’s racing action.
Each night’s second-place finishers drew to determine rows three and four of the feature, with Danny Stratton and Shane Cottle in row three and Levi Jones and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., in row four.
Third place finishers drew as well, with Brad Sweet and two-time Chili Bowl champ and reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart in row five with Bryan Clauson and Kiwi Michael Pickens in row six.
Saturday’s Championship Saturday feature's lineups
For the 26th Anniversary Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals are as follows:
The big one, A Main (50 Laps):
39 Kevin Swindell (Germantown, TN) – 67 Kyle Larson (Elk Grove, CA)
1 Sammy Swindell (Germantown, TN) – 21k Cory Kruseman (Ventura, CA)
77s Danny Stratton (Riverside, CA) – 71xx Shane Cottle (Kokomo, IN)
56 Levi Jones (Olney, IL) – 39i Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (Olive Branch, MS)
49x Brad Sweet (Grass Valley, CA) – 14 Tony Stewart (Columbus, IN)
39c Bryan Clauson (Noblesville, IN) – 05p Michael Pickens (Auckland, NZ)
B Main 1 Transfer 1 – B Main 2 Transfer 1
B Main 1 Transfer 2 – B Main 2 Transfer 2
B Main 1 Transfer 3 – B Main 2 Transfer 3
B Main 1 Transfer 4 – B Main 2 Transfer 4
B Main 1 Transfer 5 – B Main 2 Transfer 5
B Main 1 Transfer 6 – B Main 2 Transfer 6
B Mains (20 Laps – Top 6 Transfer to A Main)
B Main 1:
19s Richard Vander Weerd (Visalia, CA) – 11T Tyler Edwards (Salina, OK)
7m Kevin Ramey (Ft. Worth, TX) – 37 Bubba Altig (Mechanicsburg, IL)
24 Tracy Hines (Wilkinson, IN) – 7ca Caleb Armstrong (New Castle, IN)
8L Matt Ward (Glenpool, OK) – 63 Nick Knepper (Belleville, IL)
15 Tim Siner (Dupo, IL) – 77 Alex Bright (Collegeville, PA)
3nz Jerry Coons, Jr. (Tucson, AZ) – 2 Bud Kaeding (Campbell, CA)
22 Brian Camarillo (Camarillo, CA) – 73 Josh Ford (Oxnard, CA)
C Main 1 Transfer 1 – C Main 1 Transfer 2
C Main 1 Transfer 3 – C Main 1 Transfer 4
C Main 1 Transfer 5 – C Main 1 Transfer 6
B Main 2:
11 Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) – 71b Jac Haudenschild (Wooster, OH)
37b Brady Short (Bedford, IN) – 5d Zach Daum (Pocahontas, IL)
2h Casey Shuman (Rattlesnake Bend, AZ) – 21 Daryn Pittman (Owasso, OK)
67k Rico Abreu (Rutherford, CA) – 47x Shaun Insley (Royal Oak, NZ)
11a Andrew Felker (Carl Junction, MO) – 0 Ryan Smith Kunkletown, PA)
3aj A.J. Fike (Galesburg, IL) – 17b Brad Kuhn (Avon, IN)
3 Darren Hagen (Riverside, CA) – 71s Ronnie Gardner (Corona, CA)
C Main 2 Transfer 1 – C Main 2 Transfer 2
C Main 2 Transfer 3 – C Main 2 Transfer 4
C Main 2 Transfer 5 – C Main 2 Transfer 6
C Mains (15 Laps – Top 6 Transfer to Corresponding B Main)
C Main 1:
12b Chad Boat (Phoenix, AZ) – 05s Jon Stanbrough (Avon, IN)
36 Jonathan Beason (Broken Arrow, OK) – 5 Dave Darland (Lincoln, IN)
6a David Gough (Machesney Park, IL) – 78 Nick Wean (Phillipsburg, NJ)
35 Justin Grant (Ione, CA) – 4 Bobby East (Brownsburg, IN)
19 Patrick Stasa (Kingman, KS) – 4g Coleman Gulick (Binghamton, NY)
05r Ryan Pace (Brownsburg, IN) – 67z Joey Saldana (Brownsburg, IN)
25b Steve Buckwalter (Royersford, PA) – 8v Jace Vander Weerd (Visalia, CA)
D Main 1 Transfer 1 – D Main 1 Transfer 2
D Main 1 Transfer 3 – D Main 1 Transfer 4
D Main 1 Transfer 5 – D Main 1 Transfer 6
C Main 2:
51J R.J. Johnson (Phoenix, AZ) – 35s Hunter Schuerenberg (Sikeston, MO)
35m Matt Sherrell (Owasso, OK) – 05T Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA)
27s Andy Shouse (Oklahoma City, OK) – 9 Levi Roberts (Broomfield, CO)
44 Don Droud, Jr. (Lincoln, NE) – 91k Dereck King (Goreville, IL)
11c Chett Gehrke (Broken Arrow, OK) – 5h Mike Hess (Springfield, IL)
05g Damion Gardner (Concord, CA) – 71 Jason Leffler (Long Beach, CA)
16 Jimmy Light (Erie, PA) – 81 Markus Niemela (Rauma, Finland)
D Main 2 Transfer 1 – D Main 2 Transfer 2
D Main 2 Transfer 3 – D Main 2 Transfer 4
D Main 2 Transfer 5 – D Main 2 Transfer 6
D Mains (15 Laps – Top 6 Transfer to Corresponding C Main)
D Main 1:
98k P.J. Jones (Torrance, CA) – 11bx Brett Anderson (Belleville, IL)
88h Johnathon Henry (Stockton, CA) – 47 Brad Mosen (Auckland, NZ)
17r Mario Clouser (Auburn, IL) – 21b Christopher Bell (Norman, OK)
31 David Budres (Beloit, WI) – 57b Bill Balog (Brookfield, WI)
1J J.J. Yeley (Phoenix, AZ) – 14jr Matt Streeter (Galt, CA)
4b Ronnie Burke, Jr. (League City, TX) – 91b Kevin Bayer (Bixby, OK)
98 J.C. Bland (Springfield, IL) – 1w George White (Waco, TX)
E Main 1 Transfer 1 – E Main 1 Transfer 2
E Main 1 Transfer 3 – E Main 1 Transfer 4
D Main 2:
6r Jody Rosenboom (Rock Rapids, IA) – 71k David Gravel (Watertown, CT)
26 Shane Golobic (Fremont, CA) – 15p David Prickett (Fresno, CA)
10w George White (Ft. Worth, TX) – 43 Brent Beauchamp (Indianapolis, IN)
72 Ryan Bernal (Hollister, CA) – 19x Billy Wease (Noblesville, IN)
23c Tyler Courtney (Indianapolis, IN) – 85 Shane Hollingsworth (Lafayette, IN)
14c Shane Cockrum (Benton, IL) – 86e Chris Ennis (San Diego, CA)
2T Thomas Meseraull (San Jose, CA) – 05 Brad Loyet (Sunset Hills, MO)
E Main 2 Transfer 1 – E Main 2 Transfer 2
E Main 2 Transfer 3 – E Main 2 Transfer 4
E Mains (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer to Corresponding D Main)
E Main 1:
75h Johnny Herrera (Albuquerque, NM) – 55F Taylor Ferns (Shelby Twp, MI)
89 Cody Darrah (Red Lion, PA) – 87c Daniel Robinson (Wayne City, IL)
39b Jake Blackhurst (Mapleton, IL) – 6 Aaron Pierce (Daleville, IN)
1T Tony Roney (Herculaneum, MO) – 11J Justin Melton (Flower Mound, TX)
4J Tim Crawley (Benton, AR) – 7x Layne Himebaugh (Collinsville, OK)
7a Austin Brown (Millstadt, IL) – 22x Keith Martin (Alvarado, TX)
F Main 1 Transfer 1 – F Main 1 Transfer 2
F Main 1 Transfer 3 – F Main 1 Transfer 4
E Main 2:
11w Chris Windom (Canton, IL) – 88 Brenden Bright (Collegeville, PA)
3F Tony Elliott (Warsaw, IN) – 7da Dalton Armstrong (New Castle, IN)
91x Kyle Steffens (St. Charles, MO) – 73s Alex Sewell (Broken Arrow, OK)
94x Kevin Olson (Machesney Park, IL) – 7 Shannon McQueen (Tehachapi, CA)
21m Billy Lawhead (Tulsa, OK) – 9u Doug McCune (Colleyville, TX)
51 Brent Camarillo (Camarillo, CA) – 24e Rick Eckert (York, PA)
F Main 2 Transfer 1 – F Main 2 Transfer 2
F Main 2 Transfer 3 – F Main 2 Transfer 4
F Mains (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer to Corresponding E Main)
F Main 1:
93 Dustin Morgan (Broken Arrow, OK) – 17x Davey Heskin (St. Michael, MN)
71kt Kevin Thomas, Jr. (Cullman, AL) – 191 Chase Barber (Brownsburg, IN)
11b Travis Berryhill (American Canyon, CA) – 40 Andy Huston (Roseville, IL)
75 Wes McIntyre (McCordsville, IN) – 32 Danny Jennings (Norman, OK)
7J Shawn Jackson (Bear, DE) – 10 Will Pierce (Lees Summit, MO)
35T Tyler Robbins (Collinsville, IL) – 33 Davey Ray (Indianapolis, IN)
G Main 1 Transfer 1 – G Main 1 Transfer 2
G Main 1 Transfer 3 – G Main 1 Transfer 4
F Main 2:
51x Matt Lundy (Phoenix, AZ) – 33x Jason Lair (Del City, OK)
2b Tyler Reddick (Corning, CA) – 15b Danny Burke (Houston, TX)
00 Pete Davis (Pleasanton, CA) – 37x Cameron Hagin (Broken Arrow, OK)
15d Andrew Deal (Caney, KS) – 11h Garrett Hood (Concordia, KS)
1xs Donovan Peterson (Brookings, SD) – 18 Floyd Alvis (San Carlos, CA)
58 Cole Peard (Quincy, CA) – 14r Troy DeCaire (Tampa, FL)
G Main 2 Transfer 1 – G Main 2 Transfer 2
G Main 2 Transfer 3 – G Main 2 Transfer 4
G Mains (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer to Corresponding F Main)
G Main 1:
6x Chris Morgan (Topeka, KS) – 94 Darren Kingston (Vandalia, IL)
86c David Camfield, Jr. (Decatur, IL) – 49 Trevor Kobylarz (Birdsboro, PA)
38n Kyle Neal (Ewing, IL) – 96 Cody Brewer (Choctaw, OK)
12jr Josh Pelkey (Peoria, AZ) – 8r Bobby Ruffin (Crandall, TX)
25 Dylan Peterson (Sioux Falls, SD) – 23F Jesse Sobbing (Glenwood, IA)
7w Harli White (Lindsay, OK) – 77b Mike Boesel (Bennett, CO)
H Main 1 Transfer 1 – H Main 1 Transfer 2
H Main 1 Transfer 3 – H Main 1 Transfer 4
G Main 2:
7d Michelle Decker (Guthrie, OK) – 8b Bob Ream, Jr. (Glendale, AZ)
8k Donnie Ray Crawford (Broken Arrow, OK) – 89jr Ron Kuhn (Independence, MO)
9m Cory Mallo (Cheyenne, WY) – 49jr Bobby Michnowicz (Lomita, CA)
37T Chris Urish (Elkhart, IL) – 0b Glenn Styres (Ohsweken, ONT)
27c Kip Hughes (Enid, OK) – 6m Justin Mallo (Cheyenne, WY)
12s Bryan Severs (Collison, IL) – 0g Greg Bragg (Visalia, CA)
H Main 2 Transfer 1 – H Main 2 Transfer 2
H Main 2 Transfer 3 – H Main 2 Transfer 4
H Mains (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer to Corresponding G Main)
H Main 1:
29s Tim Kent (Sapulpa, OK) – 15n T.J. Smith (Fresno, CA)
82w Robbie Whitchurch (Chico, CA) – 51b Ryan Blakeman (Jacksonville, IL)
14w Matt Westfall (Ludlow Falls, OH) – 9d Sean Dodenhoff (Bakersfield, CA)
21v Jimmy Voitel (Covina, CA) – 17w Cole Wood (Auburn, Ca)
22k Kyle Bellm (Nixa, MO) – 13 Ryan York (Racine, MN)
2x Tyler Millwood (Kingston, GA) – 20 Tadd Holliman (Beaver Lake, NE)
I Main 1 Transfer 1 – I Main 1 Transfer 2
I Main 1 Transfer 3 – I Main 1 Transfer 4
H Main 2:
2r A.J. Hopkins (Brownsburg, IN) – 12 Chris Gurley (Hebron, IN)
98g Gavin Galbraith (Washington, MO) – 28 Alex Schutte (Rohnert Park, CA)
8J Blake Hahn (Sapulpa, OK) – 7b Joe Boyles (Greenwood, MO)
19n Nick O’Neal (Wagoner, OK) – 25m Derrick Myers (Stonington, IL)
44s Clint Schubert (Calhan, CO) – 45x C.J. Johnson (Quinter, KS)
7jr J.D. Black (Grain Valley, MO) – 77x Joey Moughan (Springfield, IL)
I Main 2 Transfer 1 – I Main 2 Transfer 2
I Main 2 Transfer 3 – I Main 2 Transfer 4
I Mains (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer to Corresponding H Main)
I Main 1:
31e Evan Sewell (Tulsa, OK) – 20x Jimmy Harris (Broken Arrow, OK)
83 Kurt Blackaby (Bentonville, AR) – 17 Michael Koontz (Bloomington, IN)
15k Connor Kassik (Lake Havasu, AZ) – 71x Sheldon Haudenschild (Wooster, OH)
7c Pat Schudy (Springfield, MO) – 22s Steve Stasa (Kingman, KS)
2az Rick Shuman (Gilbert, AZ) – 23 Tim Lynch (Columbus, IN)
59 Dex Eaton (Owasso, OK) – 11x Dustin Hapka (Grand Forks, ND)
J Main 1 Transfer 1 – J Main 1 Transfer 2
J Main 1 Transfer 3 – J Main 1 Transfer 4
I Main 2:
81b Ryan Beechler (McKinney, TX) – 9b Harris Brooks (Houston, TX)
41 Brandon Waelti (Sun Prairie, WI) – 86 Josh Most (Red Oak, IA)
12J Joe Walker (Harrisonville, MO) – 73F Greg Edenholm (Malibu, CA)
9h Matt Hummel (San Jose, CA) – 0x Johnny Murdock (Kaufman, TX)
94au Brad Cox (Gunnedah, AUS) – 17m Andee Beierle (Bismarck , ND)
7T Todd McVay (Lees Summit, MO) – 19d Steven Drevicki (Reading, PA)
J Main 2 Transfer 1 – J Main 2 Transfer 2
J Main 2 Transfer 3 – J Main 2 Transfer 4
J Mains (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer to Corresponding I Main)
J Main 1:
85J Matt Johnson (Edmond, OK) – 33a Stephen Arnold (Seymour, IN)
4x Shawn Peterson (Irving, TX) – 29 Brandon Hahn (Tulsa, OK)
17k Tanner Berryhill (Bixby, OK) – 93r Jake Rosario (Guthrie, OK)
44x Danny Smith (Argenta, IL) – 12h Jerrod Hull (Sikeston, MO)
71d Paige Polyak (Tiffin, OH) – 55 Kyle Smith (Moorpark, CA)
8 Mike Lapp (Goodyear, AZ) – 27 Kody Swanson (Kingsburg, CA)
21jr Kevin Michnowicz (Lomita, CA) - K Main Transfer 1
K Main Transfer 3 – K Main Transfer 5
J Main 2:
91h Mike Hudson (Carterville, IL) – 67x Britton Bock (Angwin, CA)
57k Steve Schaberg (Glenwood, AR) – 87r Rich Camfield (Decatur, IL)
83h Jonathan Halford (Tulsa, OK) – 77d Dalten Gabbard (Peoria, AZ)
51s Mike Spencer (Temecula, CA) – 2g Terry Goodwin (Laveen, AZ)
W94 Waylon Weaver (Claremore, OK) – 88w Dustin Weland (Parker, CO)
88d Rusty Dukes (Fair Grove, MO) – 21x Nick Speidel (Muncie, IN)
35w Rick Wright, Jr. (Ponca City, OK) – K Main Transfer 2
K Main Transfer 4 – K Main Transfer 6
K Main (10 Laps – Finishers 1,3 and 5 Transfer to J Main 1; Finishers 2,4 and 6 Transfer to J Main 2)
K Main:
77g Mike Goodman (Tulsa, OK) – 11xs Tony Norem (Dassel, MN)
82 Eric Johnson (Rockford, IL) – 7rs Clint Boyles (Greenwood, MO)
69 Randy Boyer (Belleville, KS) – 91 Jeff Stasa (Kingman, KS)
05h Jake Swanson (Anaheim, CA) – 21az Mike Visser (Cottonwood, AZ)
2d Doug Day (Winder, GA) – 71p Tim Pyle (Gresham, OR)
87F Brian McClelland (Tulsa, OK) – 11cx Steve Newman (Steamboat Springs, CO)
3h Bubba Hunt (Tulsa, OK) – 50 Ned Fry (W. Burlington, IA)
83x Bob Lawlor (San Carlos, CA) – 6y Vinny Villeggiante (Gresham, OR)
2a Donald McIntosh (Dawsonville, GA)
Jan 13 2012
Kevin Swindell Takes Thursday Chili Bowl Win!
Shane Cottle 2nd Kevin Swindell Winner and Brad Sweet 3rd
On Thursday night, the 22-year-old from Germantown, TN, put himself in a prime position for a three-peat by winning the 25-lap Suburban Chevrolet qualifying feature event atop the ¼-mile clay oval on the third night of action at the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals.
Swindell battled past Brad Sweet on the sixth round and then weathered a pair of late cautions to take his second career Chili Bowl preliminary win aboard the Esslinger-powered John Christner Trucking/NOS Energy Drinks No. 39 Spike. Swindell took the checkered flag with a 1.705-second advantage over Indiana’s Shane Cottle and Sweet, who also locked into Saturday night’s 50-lap Chili Bowl championship finale.
With Swindell starting the feature outside the second row, Sweet led the field to the green flag with J.J. Yeley alongside. Sweet gunned into the lead at the start, with Swindell into second on the opening round ahead of third-starter Shane Golobic and Yeley.
With the leaders all working the low side, Swindell moved to the top of turns three and four and swept past Sweet for the lead upon the completion of the sixth round. Sweet kept Swindell within striking distance, with traffic coming into play just three laps later.
Swindell found open track again after the 12th round when Don Droud, Jr., spun to a stop in turn three after contact from another car. Swindell went the final half of the race virtually unchallenged, though he nearly spun exiting turn four on the 20th circuit.
“It seems like coming off turn four is a little different this year,” Swindell explained. “It’s challenging, you almost have to diamond it to hit it right.”
The only thing that slowed his charge to the checkered flag was a pair of incidents with 21 laps in the books. After Damion Gardner came to a stop in turn four after contact while battling for sixth with Yeley, it was Golobic and Buckwalter tangling in the same corner while dicing for fourth on the ensuing restate with Yeley caught up in the fracas and getting upside down.
Swindell cruised to the stripe over the final four laps, while Cottle raced past Sweet on the 23rd lap to snare runner-up honors in Dr. Kenneth Love’s Mopar-powered RDL Holdings No. 71xx Spike. “We started a little tight, but as the track slicked off we got better and better,” Cottle explained.
Sweet held on for the show position in the Kasey Kahne Racing Speedway Engines-powered Sage Fruit No. 49x Spike, explaining that, “We were a little conservative with our car, we didn’t see it getting quite that slick.”
California’s Richard VanderWeerd turned in the strongest performance thus far by a Chili Bowl rookie contender by climbing from seventh to claim fourth aboard Mike Sala’s No. 19s Spike, with Indiana’s Brady Short rounding out the top five.
Tracy Hines turned in the night’s top passing performance by racing from 22nd to sixth after advancing through both “C” and “B” Main action, with Rico Abreu, Tim Siner, 17th-starter A.J. Fike and 16th-starter Brian Camarillo completing the top ten.
VanderWeerd was one of two event rookies to make Thursday’s feature cut, with fellow California contender Ryan Bernal posting a 21st place finish.
Johnny Herrera, Golobic, Patrick Stasa, Gardner, Siner, Shane Cockrum, Kyle Steffens and Billy Lawhead each posted heat race victories among the 66-car field, with Golobic, J.C. Bland, Bernal and Cottle winning the Qualifying races.
Tim Crawley and Chris Windom won the “C” Mains, with Cockrum and Mario Clouser victorious in the “B” Mains.
Thursday’s Suburban Chevrolet Qualifier Results from the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals:
Heat Races (8 Laps each, Top 40 in passing points to A Qualifiers; Balance to twin C Mains)
Heat 1: 1. #75H Johnny Herrera, Albuquerque, NM; 2. #98 JC Bland, Springfield, IL; 3. #44S Clint Schubert, Calhan, CO; 4. #37B Brady Short, Bedford, IN; 5. #51X Matt Lundy, Phoenix, AZ; 6. #24 Tracy Hines, New Castle, IN; 7. #94AU Brad Cox, Gunnedah, Australia; 8. #2D Doug Day, Winder, GA; 9. #35M Matt Sherrell, Owasso, OK
Heat 2: 1. #26 Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA; 2. #1J J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 3. #98K P.J. Jones, Torrance, CA; 4. #19S Richard VanderWeerd, Visalia, CA; 5. #3AJ A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 6. #7J Shawn Jackson, Bear, DE; 7. #2AZ Rick Shuman, Gilbert, AZ; 8. #15K Conner Kassik, Lake Havasu, AZ; 9. #81B Ryan Beechler, McKinney, TX
Heat 3: 1. #19 Patrick Stasa, Kingman, KS; 2. #22 Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 3. #8J Blake Hahn, Sapulpa, OK; 4. #71XX Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 5. #11B Travis Berryhill, American Canyon, CA; 6. #27C Kip Hughes, Enid, OK; 7. #12J Joe Walker, Harrisonville, MO; 8. #83H Jonathan Halford, Tulsa, OK
Heat 4: 1. #05G Damion Gardner, Concord, CA; 2. #39 Kevin Swindell, Germantown, TN; 3. #93 Dustin Morgan, Broken Arrow, OK; 4. #7D Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 5. #2R A.J. Hopkins, Brownsburg, IN; 6. #88D Rusty Dukes, Fair Grove, MO; 7. #2G Terry Goodwin, Laveen, AZ; 8. #77G Mike Goodman, Broken Arrow, OK
Heat 5: 1. #15 Tim Siner, Dupo, IL; 2. #25B Steve Buckwalter, Royersford, PA; 3. #25 Dylan Peterson, Sioux Falls, SD; 4. #17R Mario Clouser, Auburn, IL; 5. #29S Tim Kent, Sapulpa, OK; 6. #31E Evan Sewell, Tulsa, OK; 7. #85J Matt Johnson, Edmond, OK; 8. #11W Chris Windom, Canton, IL
Heat 6: 1. #14C Shane Cockrum, Benton, IL: 2. #49X Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 3. #39B Jake Blackhurst, Mapleton, IL: 4. #9M Cory Mallo, Cheyenne, WY; 5. #44 Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 6. #91H Mike Hudson, Carterville, IL: 7. #71P Tim Pyle, Gresham, OR; 8. #1XS Donovan Peterson, Brookings, SD
Heat 7: 1. #91X Kyle Steffens, St. Charles, MO; 2. #6A David Gough, Machesney Park, IL: 3. #12B Chad Boat, Phoenix, AZ; 4. #38N Kyle Neal, Ewing, IL; 5. #00 Pete Davis, Pleasanton, CA; 6. #71D Paige Polyak, Tiffin, OH; 7. #69 Randy Boyer, Belleville, KS; 8. #22K Kyle Bellm, Nixa, MO
Heat 8: 1. #21M Billy Lawhead, El Reno, OK; 2. #72 Ryan Bernal, Hollister, CA; 3. #67K Rico Abreu, Rutherford, CA; 4. #6X Chris Morgan, Topeka, KS; 5. #14W Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 6. #4J Tim Crawley, Benton, AR; 7. #17K Tanner Berryhill, Bixby, OK; DNS - #2A Donald McIntosh, Dawsonville, GA
C Mains (10 Laps – Top 4 in each transfer to back of corresponding B Main)
C Main 1: 1. #4J Tim Crawley, Benton, AR; 2. #29S Tim Kent, Sapulpa, OK; 3. #35M Matt Sherrell, Owasso, OK; 4. #22K Kyle Bellm, Nixa, MO; 5. #31E Evan Sewell, Tulsa, OK; 6. #12J Joe Walker, Harrisonville, MO; 7. #2AZ Rick Shuman, Gilbert, AZ; 8. #85J Matt Johnson, Edmond, OK; 9. #83H Jonathon Halford, Tulsa, OK; 10. #2G Terry Goodwin, Laveen, AZ; 11. #88D Rusty Dukes, Fair Grove, MO; 12. #77G Mike Goodman, Broken Arrow, OK; 13. #69 Randy Boyer, Belleville, KS
C Main 2: 1. #11W Chris Windom, Canton, IL; 2. #24 Tracy Hines, Wilkinson, IN; 3. #51X Matt Lundy, Phoenix, AZ; 4. #1XS Donovan Peterson, Brookings, SD; 5. #81B Ryan Beechler, McKinney, TX; 6. #15K Conner Kassik, Lake Havasu, AZ; 7. #94AU Brad Cox, Gunnedah, AUS; 8. #91H Mike Hudson, Carterville, IL; 9. #17K Tanner Berryhill, Bixby, OK; 10. #71D Paige Polyak, Tiffin, OH; DNS -- #2D Doug Day, Winder, GA; #71P Tim Pyle, Gresham, OR; #2A Doug McIntosh, Dawsonville, GA
A Qualifiers (10 Laps – Top 16 in combined passing points to A Main; Balance to twin B Mains)
A Qualifier 1: 1. #26 Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA; 2. #37B Brady Short, Bedford, IN; 3. #1J J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 4. #15 Tim Siner, Dupo, IL: 5. #93 Dustin Morgan, Broken Arrow, OK; 6. #05G Damion Gardner, Concord, CA; 7. #00 Pete Davis, Pleasanton, CA; 8. #25 Dylan Peterson, Sioux Falls, SD; 9. #9M Cory Mallo, Cheyenne, WY; 10. #44S Clint Schubert, Calhan, CO
A Qualifier 2: 1. #98 JC Bland, Springfield, IL; 2. #67K Rico Abreu, Rutherford, CA; 3. #39 Kevin Swindell, Germantown, TN; 4. #98K P.J. Jones, Torrance, CA; 5. #22 Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 6. #14C Shane Cockrum, Benton, IL; 7. #14W Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 8. #39B Jake Blackhurst, Mapleton, IL; 9. #38N Kyle Neal, Ewing, IL; 10. #7J Shawn Jackson, Bear, DE
A Qualifier 3: 1. #72 Ryan Bernal, Hollister, CA; 2. #19S Richard VanderWeerd, Visalia, CA; 3. #25B Steve Buckwalter, Royersford, PA; 4. #17R Mario Clouser, Auburn, IL; 5. #75H Johnny Herrera, Albuquerque, NM; 6. #3AJ A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 7. #6A David Gough, Machesney Park, IL; 8. #91X Kyle Steffens, St. Charles, MO; 9. #6X Chris Morgan, Topeka, KS; 10. #27C Kip Hughes, Enid, OK
A Qualifier 4: 1. #71XX Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 2. #49X Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 3. #44 Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 4. #12B Chad Boat, Phoenix, AZ; 5. #8J Blake Hahn, Sapulpa, OK; 6. #11B Travis Berryhill, American Canyon, CA; 7. #7D Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 8. #2R A.J. Hopkins, Brownsburg, IN; 9. #21M Billy Lawhead, El Reno, OK; 10. #19 Patrick Stasa, Kingman, KS
B Mains (15 Laps – Top 4 in each transfer to A Main)
B Main 1: 1. #14C Shane Cockrum, Benton, IL; 2. #3AJ A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 3. #19 Patrick Stasa, Kingman, KS; 4. #35M Matt Sherrell, Owasso, OK; 5. #75H Johnny Herrera, Albuquerque, NM; 6. #91X Kyle Steffens, St. Charles, MO; 7. #4J Tim Crawley, Benton, AR; 8. #93 Dustin Morgan, Broken Arrow, OK; 9. #00 Pete Davis, Pleasanton, CA; 10. #7J Shawn Jackson, Bear, DE; 11. #6X Chris Morgan, Topeka, KS; 12. #9M Cory Mallo, Cheyenne, WY; 13. #25 Dylan Peterson, Sioux Falls, SD; 14. #29S Tim Kent, Sapulpa, OK; 15. #8J Blake Hahn, Sapulpa, OK; 16. #22K Kyle Bellm, Nixa, MO
B Main 2: #17R Mario Clouser, Auburn, IL; 2. #6A David Gough, Machesney Park, IL: 3. #24 Tracy Hines, Wilkinson, IN; 4. #44 Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 5. #11W Chris Windom, Canton, IL; 6. #39B Jake Blackhurst, Mapleton, IL: 7. #21M Billy Lawhead, El Reno, OK; 8. #51X Matt Lundy, Phoenix, AZ; 9. #11B Travis Berryhill, American Canyon, CA; 10. #1XS Donovan Peterson, Brookings, SD; 11. #7D Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 12. #38N Kyle Neal, Ewing, IL; 13. #27C Kim Hughes, Enid, OK; 14. #2R A.J. Hopkins, Brownsburg, IN; 15. #14W Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 16. #44S Clint Schubert, Calhan, CO
A Main (25 laps – Top 3 advance to Saturday Night's Main Event)
“A” Main: 1. #39 Kevin Swindell, Germantown, TN; 2. #71xx Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 3. #49x Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 4. #19s Richard VanderWeerd (Visalia, CA); 5. #37b Brady Short, Bedford, IN; 6. #24 Tracy Hines, Wilkinson, IN; 7. #67k Rico Abreu, Rutherford, CA; 8. #15 Tim Siner, Dupo, IL; 9. #3aj A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 10. #22 Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 11. #12b Chad Boat, Phoenix, AZ; 12. #35m Matt Sherrell, Owasso, OK; 13. #6a David Gough, Machesney Park, IL; 14. #44 Don Droud, Jr., Lincoln, NE; 15. #19 Patrick Stasa, Kingman, KS; 16. #05g Damion Gardner, Concord, CA; 17. #25b Steve Buckwalter, Royersford, PA; 18. #98k P.J. Jones, Torrance, CA; 19. #26 Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA; 20. #17r Mario Clouser, Auburn, IL; 21. #72 Ryan Bernal, Hollister, CA; 22. #1J J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 23. #14c Shane Cockrum, Benton, IL; 24. #98 J.C. Bland, Springfield, IL (DNS).
Jan 12 2012
Sammy Swindell Cashes in on River Spirit Casino Qualifier at Chili Bowl!
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 11, 2012) – Sammy Swindell kept up his winning ways at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway by topping Wednesday night’s 25-lap River Spirit Casino Qualifier “A” Main event at the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals.
The five-time Chili Bowl champion battled ahead of Danny Stratton after a handful of circuits and raced on to his seventh preliminary Chili Bowl main event win in front of Stratton and reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart, who also locked into Saturday night’s 50-lap championship finale by virtue of earning podium finishes.
With the triumph in the Esslinger-powered John Christner Trucking/NOS Energy Drinks No. 1 Spike, Swindell locked into a Chili Bowl record 19th Chili Bowl finale.
“Here, the driver can influence the car a lot,” Swindell explained of his Chili Bowl success. “You’ve got to have a good car, but you can make it a bit different about where you place the car and what you do with the car.”
After winning his third Vacuworx International Race of Champions in four tries on Tuesday night, Swindell made a late run from his sixth starting position to win Wednesday night’s opening heat race and then climbed from sixth to second in his qualifying race to earn the pole position for the main event.
But, Swindell had his hands full with fellow front row starter Stratton over the initial handful of circuits as the pair battled for the lead in wheel-to-wheel fashion with Swindell on the low side and Stratton up top. “We had a pretty good run for a while there side-by-side,” Swindell explained of the opening rounds afterwards.
Swindell surged ahead in turn two on the sixth round and made his way to the upper portion of the track and set sail with Stratton and third-starter Stewart in his wake.
The savvy veteran reached traffic by the midway point and picked off one car after another over the ensuing rounds, with four cars separating himself from Stratton when the race’s only caution flew after 21 laps when Chris Ennis climbed a wheel and flipped in turn four.
With the lapped cars in place, Swindell checked out over the final four circuit to take the checkered flag with a 3.647-second advantage over Stratton in Steve and Dianna Hampton’s Esslinger-powered Hampton’s Kustom Works No. 77s Twister.
“We had a stuck bleeder in the right rear and Sammy kinda ran away with it,” Stratton explained after securing a starting berth for his third career Chili Bowl finale. “I was just trying to hang on there to get a spot in the ‘A’ on Saturday.”
Making his first Chili Bowl start since 2008, two-time event winner Stewart landed in his 11th Chili Bowl final by taking the show position in the Chevrolet Performance Parts No. 14 Spike.
“The big thing is Saturday night that you’re shooting for,” Stewart commented. “The goal for everybody tonight is to try to get in that top three and as long as you make that, that’s a good night.”
Behind the lead trio, Zach Daum held down the fourth position most of the way in front of Tyler Edwards and Jason Leffler. But, when Daum’s mount stumbled after the lap 21 restart, Edwards and Leffler mixed it up for fourth only to have Leffler slide to a stop in turn two after contact on the final lap just as Swindell took the checkered flag.
Edwards claimed the fourth position aboard Danny Felker’s Hatfield Chevy-powered No. 11T Spike, with Daum rounding out the top five in the Fontana-powered Daum Insurance No. 5d Eagle.
Caleb Armstrong raced 18th to claim sixth, with Chili Bowl rookie contender Shaun Insley of New Zealand in seventh. Another rookie contender, Pennsylvania’s Alex Bright, was eighth, with Brad Kuhn salvaging a ninth place run after climbing through both “C” and “B” Main competition just to make the feature cut after a lackluster heat race. Josh Ford completed the top ten from 16th.
In addition to Insley and Bright, California’s Jace VanderWeerd also made Wednesday’s feature cut as a rookie contender and placed 17th.
Like Kuhn, Gary Taylor worked through “C” and “B” Main action as well to finish 12th, just one spot behind Loyet Motorsports teammate Jon Stanbrough, who also advanced from “B” Main action.
Swindell, Billy Wease, Edwards, Robbie Whitchurch, VanderWeerd, Insley, Leffler and Brent Camarillo topped heat race action for Wednesday night’s 67-car field. Austin Brown won the first “C” Main, with Gavin Galbraith beating Taylor and Kuhn to the stripe in the second “C” Main. After Stanbrough won the first “B” Main, Armstrong beat a rallying Kuhn to the line in the second “B” Main. David Prickett, Christopher Bell, Stewart and Daum each claimed qualifying race wins.
Donnie Ray Crawford, last year’s Wednesday night feature winner, endured a tough evening. After a wild flip exiting turn two in his heat race, the third-generation racer advanced from “C” Main action only to get upside down again in a “B” Main scramble that put an early end to his night.
Wednesday’s River Spirit Casino Qualifier Results from the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals:
Heat Races (8 Laps each, Top 40 in passing points to A Qualifiers; Balance to twin C Mains)
Heat 1: 1. #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN; 2. #58 Cole Peard, Quincy, CA; 3. #14JR Matt Streeter, Galt, CA; 4. #86C David Camfield Jr., Decatur, IL; 5. #2X Tyler Millwood, Kingston, GA;
Heat 2: 1. #19X Billy Wease, Noblesville, IN; 2. #21V Jimmy Voitel, Covina, CA; 3. #77S Danny Stratton, Riverside, CA; 4. #12S Bryan Severs, Collison, IL; 5. #94X Kevin Olson, Machesney Park, IL;
Heat 3: 1. #11T Tyler Edwards, Salina, OK; 2. #89 Cody Darrah, Red Lion, PA; 3. #15P David Prickett, Fresno, CA; 4. #3F Tony Elliott, Warsaw, IN; 5. #05S Jon Stanbrough, Avon, IN;
Heat 4: 1. #82W Robbie Whitchurch, Chico, CA; 2. #91K Dereck King, Goreville, IL; 3. #7JR J.D. Black, Grain Valley, MO; 4. #75 Wes McIntyre, McCordsville, IN; 5. #7CA Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, IN;
Heat 5: 1. #8V Jace VanderWeerd, Visalia, CA; 2. #86E Chris Ennis, San Diego, CA; 3. #35T Tyler Robbins, Collinsville, IL; 4. #21B Christopher Bell, Norman, OK; 5. #4G Coleman Gulick, Binghamton, NY;
Heat 6: 1. #47X Shaun Insley, Royal Oak, NZ; 2. #14 Tony Stewart, Columbus, IN; 3. #78 Nick Wean, Phillipsburg, NJ; 4. #37T Chris Urish, Elkhart, IL; 5. #11BX Brett Anderson, Belleville, IL;
Heat 7: 1. #71 Jason Leffler, Long Beach, CA; 2. #5D Zach Daum, Pocahontas, IL; 3. #7W Harli White, Lindsay, OK; 4. #1T Tony Roney, Herculaneum, MO; 5. #12JR Josh Pelkey, Peoria, AZ;
Heat 8: 1. #51 Brent Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 2. #77 Alex Bright, Collegeville, PA; 3. #2B Tyler Reddick, Coming, CA; 4. #1W Paul White, Waco, TX; 5. #41 Brandon Waelti, Sun Prairie, WI;
C Mains (10 Laps – Top 4 in each transfer to back of corresponding B Main)
C Main 1: 1. #7A Austin Brown, Millstadt, IL; 2. #15D Andrew Deal, Caney, KS; 3. #2X Tyler Millwood, Kingston, GA; 4. #71KT Kevin Thomas Jr., Cullman, AL; 5. #83 Kurt Blackaby, Bentonville, AR; 6. #9H Matt Hummel, San Jose, CA; 7. #59 Dex Eaton, Owasso, OK; 8. #4X Shawn Petersen, Irving, TX; 9. #51S Mike Spencer, Temecula, CA; 10. #88W Dusty Weland, Parker, CO;
C Main 2: 1. #98G Gavin Galbraith, Washington, MO; 2. #05T Gary Taylor, Snohomish, WA; 3. #17B Brad Kuhn, Avon, IN; 4. #8K Donnie Ray Crawford, Broken Arrow, OK; 5. #41 Brandon Waelti, Sun Prairie, WI; 6. #7C Pat Schudy, Springfield, MO; 7. #7T Todd McVay, Lees Summit, MO; 8. #57K Steve Schaberg, Glenwood, AR; 9. #44X Danny Smith, Argenta, IL; 10. #8 Mike Lapp, Goodyear, AZ;
A Qualifiers (10 Laps – Top 16 in combined passing points to A Main; Balance to twin B Mains)
A Qualifier 1: 1. #15P David Prickett, Fresno, CA; 2. #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN; 3. #14JR Matt Streeter, Galt, CA; 4. #91K Dereck King, Goreville, IL; 5. #1W Paul White, Waco, TX; 6. #12JR Josh Pelkey, Peoria, AZ; 7. #05S Jon Stanbrough, Avon, IN; 8. #8V Jace VanderWeerd, Visalia, CA; 9. #1T Tony Roney, Herculaneum, MO; 10. #7JR J.D. Black, Grain Valley, MO
A Qualifier 2: 1. #21B Christopher Bell, Norman, OK; 2. #77S Danny Stratton, Riverside, CA; 3. #47X Shaun Insley, Royal Oak, NZ; 4. #86E Chris Ennis, San Diego, CA; 5. #73 Josh Ford, Oxnard, CA; 6. #89 Cody Darrah, Red Lion, PA; 7. #4G Coleman Gulick, Binghamton, NY; 8. #86C David Camfield Jr., Decatur, IL; 9. #58 Cole Peard, Quincy, CA; 10. #35T Tyler Robbins, Collinsville, IL
A Qualifier 3: 1. #14 Tony Stewart, Columbus, IN; 2. #71 Jason Leffler, Long Beach, CA; 3. #11T Tyler Edwards, Salina, OK; 4. #78 Nick Wean, Phillipsburg, NJ; 5. #37T Chris Urish, Elkhart, IL; 6. #2B Tyler Reddick, Corning, CA; 7. #94X Kevin Olson, Machesney Park, IL; 8. #21V Jimmy Voitel, Covina, CA; 9. #19N Nick O'Neal, Wagoner, OK; 10. #12S Bryan Severs, Collison, IL
A Qualifier 4: 1. #5D Zach Daum, Pocahontas, IL; 2. #77 Alex Bright, Collegeville, PA; 3. #11BX Brett Anderson, Belleville, IL; 4. #19x Billy Wease, Noblesville, IN; 5. #7CA Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 6. #3F Tony Elliott, Warsaw, IN; 7. #75 Wes McIntyre, McCordsville, IN; 8. #51 Brent Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 9. #82W Robbie Whitchurch, Chico, CA; 10. #7W Harli White, Lindsay, OK
B Mains (15 Laps – Top 4 in each transfer to A Main)
B Main 1: 1. #05S Jon Stanbrough, Avon, IN; 2. #11BX Brett Anderson, Belleville, IL; 3. #8V Jace VanderWeerd, Visalia, CA; 4. #1W Paul White, Waco, TX; 5. #89 Cody Darrah, Red Lion, PA; 6. #94X Kevin Olson, Machesney Park, IL; 7. #7A Austin Brown, Millstadt, IL; 8. #71KT Kevin Thomas Jr., Cullman, AL; 9. #15D Andrew Deal, Caney, KS; 10. #35T Tyler Robbins, Collinsville, IL;
B Main 2: 1. #7CA Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 2. #17B Brad Kuhn, Avon, IN; 3. #4G Coleman Gulick, Binghamton, NY; 4. #05T Gary Taylor, Snohomish, WA; 5. #3F Tony Elliott, Warsaw, IN; 6. #1T Tony Roney, Herculaneum, MO; 7. #51 Brent Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 8. #2B Tyler Reddick, Corning, CA*; 9. #75 Wes McIntyre, McCordsville, IN; 10. #58 Cole Peard, Quincy, CA;
*Penalized a spot for hitting the restart cone
A Main (25 laps – Top 3 advance to Saturday Night's Main Event)
“A” Main: 1. #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN; 2. #77s Danny Stratton, Riverside, CA; 3. #14 Tony Stewart, Columbus, IN; 4. #11T Tyler Edwards, Salina, OK; 5. #5d Zach Daum, Pocahontas, IL; 6. #7ca Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 7. #47x Shaun Insley, Royal Oak, NZ; 8. #77 Alex Bright, Collegeville, PA; 9. #17b Brad Kuhn, Avon, IN; 10. #73 Josh Ford, Oxnard, CA; 11. #05s Jon Stanbrough, Avon, IN; 12. #05T Gary Taylor, Snohomish, WA; 13. #78 Nick Wean, Phillipsburg, NJ; 14. #91k Derek King, Goreville, IL; 15. #4g Coleman Gulick, Binghamton, NY; 16. #71 Jason Leffler, Long Beach, CA; 17. #8v Jace VanderWeerd, Visalia, CA; 18. #11bx Brett Anderson, Belleville, IL; 19. #15p David Prickett, Fresno, CA; 20. #21b Christopher Bell, Norman, OK; 21. #19x Billy Wease, Noblesville, IN; 22. #14jr Matt Streeter, Galt, CA; 23. #86e Chris Ennis, San Diego, CA; 24. #1w Paul White, Waco, TX.
Jan 11 2012
Larson Wins Chili Bowl Opener!
photo from aXe's collection
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 10, 2012) – Coming off a remarkable breakthrough season in 2011, Kyle Larson added yet another notch to the win column by topping Tuesday night’s 25-lap Warren CAT Qualifying feature event to kick off the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway.
The 19-year-old from Elk Grove, CA, raced by Kevin Ramey for the lead on the high side on the fifth round and worked traffic flawlessly over the final ten circuits to post the victory in front of NASCAR Nationwide champion Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., and New Zealand’s Michael Pickens, with each of the podium finishers locked into Saturday’s 50-lap Chili Bowl championship feature event.While youth prevailed in the Qualifying feature event, veteran shoe Sammy Swindell snared his third Vacuworx International Race of Champions victory in four years by leading all 20 circuits of the special feature event. While the five-time Chili Bowl champion was out front all the way, he had to fend off a late bid from his son Kevin Swindell, two-time and reigning Chili Bowl champion, to secure the win.
While Larson, who ranked as the nation’s winningest open wheel driver in 2011 with triumphs across a variety of series, gridded the feature field outside the second row, it was Ramey and Chili Bowl rookie contender Matt Ward leading the Warren CAT feature field to the green flag from the front row.
Ramey gunned into the lead at the drop of the green flag, with Larson sweeping past Ward on the high side to take second on the third lap, moments before George White spun in turn three to bring out the first of three cautions in the initial six circuits.
With Fort Worth, Texas, shoe Ramey working the low side, Larson stuck to the high side and charged into the lead entering turn one on the fifth lap. Upon the completion of the fifth round, Thomas Meseraull caught the berm exiting turn four and went for a wild ride, with the race’s final caution flying a lap later when Ronnie Burke, Jr., spun to a stop in turn four.
With Larson out front in the Keith Kunz Motorsports Speedway Toyota-powered No. 67 Bullet, Ramey tried to mount a charge to regain the lead as action resumed.
“I could see him on the bottom sometimes in one and two, so I dropped back down there for a little bit until I felt like it got to slow,” Larson explained. “I wasn’t sure where Ricky (Stenhouse, Jr.) was, and I figured Ricky’s the type that would be up top so I had to get back up there as quick as I could.”
Indeed, Stenhouse, Jr., was into second by the eighth round, but Larson kept his chasers in the distance. Even when lapped traffic came into play after 15 laps, Larson’s pace was undeterred.
“Lapped traffic was pretty tough,” Larson commented. “They were all running the top so we had to throw some sliders at them and luckily they didn’t race us back too hard.”
Larson on His way for the WIN!
Larson raced on to the checkered flag without challenge, crossing the stripe with a 1.573-second advantage over Stenhouse, Jr., in the CTR-BCI Esslinger-powered No. 39i Spike.
“I kinda wanted a caution to get to his back bumper,” Stenhouse, Jr., commented afterward. “But then I knew Michael (Pickens) would be in third and it would be a battle, so I was kinda glad we just ran it on out.”
After starting seventh, Pickens battled past Brady Bacon for fourth on the 12th round and then took third from Ramey the next time around. Pickens kept the Loyet Motorsports Esslinger-powered Vacuworx International No. 05p Spike in the show position the rest of the way to lock into his fourth Chili Bowl finale in as many tries.
“The main thing is to be locked in,” the accomplished Kiwi shoe explained. “Now we can sit back and relax and don’t have to tear up any equipment.”
Bacon slipped around Ramey on the final circuit to snare fourth in the Wilke-Pak Toyota-powered No. 11 Spike, with Ramey rounding out the top five in the Printplace Motorsports Fontana-powered No. 7m Spike.
Casey Shuman advanced a half-dozen positions to claim sixth, while Ward crossed the stripe seventh after being the only rookie to make Tuesday night’s feature cut.
Andrew Felker was eighth, with 17th-starter Jerry Coons, Jr., and Darren Hagen completing the top ten.
After being unable to start his heat race, Jonathan Beason rallied back with triumphs in both “C” and “B” Main action before climbing to 12th in the feature event. Jimmy Light worked the alphabet as well, advancing from “C” Main competition to claim 17th in the “A” Main.
Meseraull, Johnathon Henry, Burke, Jr., Ryan Pace, R.J. Johnson, Ward, Jody Rosenboom and Justin Grant topped heat race action for Tuesday night’s 66-car field. Cameron Hagin and Beason won the “C” Mains, with Coons, Jr., and again Beason atop the “B” Mains.
With a stellar 14-car field assembled for VIROC IV, the Fourth Annual Vacuworx International Race of Champions, Sammy Swindell was the last one to draw for position. And, the 13 drivers before him left him the pole position.
That was all Swindell needed, as he jumped ahead of fellow front row starter Jason Leffler at the outset and led all the way to take the $2,500 triumph over the field of past Chili Bowl champions and standouts.
Working forward from fifth though, Kevin Swindell made it interesting after taking second from Damion Gardner on the 15th lap. Kevin challenged his father for the point before a caution flew with five laps to go for a tangle involving Brady Bacon and Leffler.
Sammy kept the younger Swindell at bay on the restart until the final lap, when Kevin pulled alongside on the backstretch. Sammy worked the low side of three and four though to retain command and took the checkered flag with a car-length advantage over Kevin.
Tracy Hines claimed the show position in VIROC IV action behind Swindell and Swindell, with Gardner and Joey Saldana rounding out the top five.
Tuesday’s Warren CAT Qualifier Results from the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals:
Heat Races (8 Laps each, Top 40 in passing points to A Qualifiers; Balance to twin C Mains)
Heat 1: 1. #2T Thomas Meseraull, San Jose, CA; 2. #2H Casey Shuman, Rattlesnake Bend, AZ; 3. #7X Layne Himebaugh, Collinsville, OK; 4. #9U Doug McCune, Colleyville, TX; 5. #10W George White, Fort Worth, TX;
Heat 2: 1. #88H Johnathon Henry; 2. #3 Darren Hagen, Riverside, CA; 3. #27S Andy Shouse, Oklahoma City, OK; 4. #39I Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Olive Branch, MS; 5. #55F Taylor Ferns, Shelby Township, MI;
Heat 3: 1. #4B Ronnie Burke, Jr., League City, TX; 2. #9D Sean Dodenhoff, Bakersfield, CA; 3. #88 Brenden Bright, Collegeville, PA; 4. #49JR Bobby Michnowicz, Lomita, CA; 5. #12 Chris Gurley, Hebron, IN;
Heat 4: 1. #05R Ryan Pace, Brownsburg, IN; 2. #05P Michael Pickens, Auckland, NZ; 3. #11A Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, MO; 4. #11 Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK; 5. #10 Will Pierce, Lees Summit, MO;
Heat 5: 1. #51J R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, AZ; 2. #7M Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 3. #67 Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA; 4. #6 Aaron Pierce, Daleville, IL; 5. #8B Bob Ream Jr., Glendale, AZ;
Heat 6: 1. #8L Matt Ward, Glenpool, OK; 2. #3NZ Jerry Coons Jr., Tucson, AZ; 3. #15N T.J. Smith, Fresno, CA; 4. #23C Tyler Courtney, Indianapolis, IN; 5. #31 David Budres, Beloit, WI;
Heat 7: 1. #6R Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids, IA; 2. #7B Joe Boyles, Greenwood, MO; 3. #18A Floyd Alvis, San Carlos, CA; 4. #6M Justin Mallo, Cheyenne, WY; 5. #13 Ryan York, Racine, MN;
Heat 8: 1. #35 Justin Grant, Ione, CA; 2. #45X C.J. Johnson, Quinter, KS; 3. #94 Darren Kingston, Vandalia, IL; 4. #11C Chett Gehrke, Broken Arrow, OK; 5. #96 Cody Brewer, Choctaw, OK;
C Mains (10 Laps – Top 4 in each transfer to back of corresponding B Main)
C Main 1: 1. #37X Cameron Hagin, Broken Arrow, OK; 2. #23F Jesse Sobbing, Glenwood, IA; 3. #10 Will Pierce, Lees Summit, MO; 4. #73S Alex Sewell, Broken Arrow, OK; 5. #20X Jimmy Harris, Broken Arrow, OK;
C Main 2: 1. #36 Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, OK; 2. #33X Jason Lair, Del City, OK; 3. #16 Jimmy Light, Erie, PA; 4. #40 Andy Huston, Roseville, IL; 5. #9B Harris Brooks, Houston, TX;
A Qualifiers (10 Laps – Top 16 in combined passing points to A Main; Balance to twin B Mains)
A Qualifier 1: 1. #3 Darren Hagen, Riverside, CA; 2. #8L Matt Ward, Glenpool, OK; 3. #27S Andy Shouse, Oklahoma City, OK; 4. #05R Ryan Pace, Brownsburg, IN; 5. #6M Justin Mallo, Cheyenne, WY;
A Qualifier 2: 1. #11 Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK; 2. #39i Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Olive Branch, MS; 3. #11A Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, MO; 4. #51J R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, AZ; 5. #6R Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids, IA;
A Qualifier 3: 1. #7M Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 2. #2H Casey Shuman, Rattlesnake Bend, AZ; 3. #2T Thomas Meseraull, San Jose, CA; 4. #35 Justin Grant, Ione, CA; 5. #31 David Budres, Beloit, WI;
A Qualifier 4: 1. #05P Michael Pickens, Auckland, NZ; 2. #67 Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA; 3. #23C Tyler Courtney, Indianapolis, IN; 4. #11C Chett Gehrke, Broken Arrow, OK; 5. #88H Johnathon Henry, Stockton, CA;
B Mains (15 Laps – Top 4 in each transfer to A Main)
B Main 1: 1. #3NZ Jerry Coons Jr., Tucson, AZ; 2. #23C Tyler Courtney, Indianapolis, IN; 3. #88H Johnathon Henry, Stockton, CA; 4. #10W George White, Fort Worth, TX; 5. #55F Taylor Ferns, Shelby Township, MI; 6. #73S Alex Sewell, Broken Arrow, OK; 7. #7X Layne Himebaugh, Collinsville, OK; 8. #17X Davey Heskin, St. Michael, MN; 9. #37X Cameron Hagin, Broken Arrow, OK; 10. #10 Will Pierce, Lees Summit, MO;
B Main 2: 1. #36 Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, OK; 2. #16 Jimmy Light, Erie, PA; 3. #31 David Budres, Beloit, WI; 4. #4B Ronnie Burke, Jr., League City, TX; 5. #88 Brenden Bright, Collegeville, PA; 6. #6 Aaron Pierce, Daleville, IN; 7. #9U Doug McCune, Colleyville, TX; 8. #33X Jason Lair, Del City, OK; 9. #40 Andy Huston, Roseville, IL; 10. #18 Floyd Alvis, San Carlos, CA;
A Main 25 laps – Top 3 advance to Saturday Night's Main Event
“A” Main: 1. #67 Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA; 2. #39i Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Olive Branch, MS; 3. #05p Michael Pickens, Auckland, NZ; 4. #11 Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK; 5. #7m Kevin Ramey, Ft. Worth, TX; 6. #2h Casey Shuman, Rattlesnake Bend, AZ; 7. #8L Matt Ward, Glenpool, OK; 8. #11a Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, MO; 9. #3nz Jerry Coons, Jr., Tucson, AZ; 10. #3 Darren Hagen, Riverside, CA;
Vacuworx International Race of Champions (20 laps)
VIROC IV event:
1. #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN; 2. #39 Kevin Swindell, Germantown, TN; 3. #24 Tracy Hines, Greenfield, IN; 4. #05G Damion Gardner, Concord, CA; 5. #67Z Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN; 6. #39C Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN; 7. #14 Tony Stewart, Columbus, IN; 8. #05 Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills MO; 9. #67 Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA; 10. Brad Mosen, Auckland, NZ;
Latest from Tulsa
The first night at the 2012 Chili bowl is over,
Congratulations too Sammy Swindell for His ROC maine event win.
Race of Champions Sammy,Kevin,Hines,Gardner
While Californias Kyle Larson took the first nights preliminary main even putting him first one qualified for Sat nights big feature event.
A main Larson Stenhouse Pickens Bacon Ramey Shuman Ward Felker Coons Hagen
more coming in the morning
aXe
Chili Bowl Kicks Off Tonight!
TULSA, Okla. (January 10, 2012) – The Bowl Season isn’t quite done yet, as the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals kicks off tonight at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway with the first of four qualifying nights as well as the Fourth Annual Vacuworx International Race of Champions.
While 14 drivers square off in VIROC IV, including NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart, 67 drivers are currently slated to battle it out in the Warren CAT Qualifying event with tonight’s top three finishers locked into Saturday night’s 50-lap Chili Bowl championship finale.
Three drivers will be pulling double-duty tonight by competing in both the Warren CAT Qualifier as well as VIROC IV, including NASCAR Nationwide champion Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., California sensation Kyle Larson and Oklahoma ace Brady Bacon.
While those three mix it up with “Smoke”, a pair of Swindell’s and more in VIROC IV, the Warren CAT Qualifier portion also includes the likes of Michael Pickens, Jerry Coons, Jr., Darren Hagen, Thomas Meseraull, Casey Shuman and Jonathan Beason among others.
A complete list of Tuesday’s Warren CAT Qualifiers is available at http://www.chilibowl.com/entries/manual.aspx?c=1032, with Tuesday’s VIROC IV contenders listed at http://www.chilibowl.com/entries/manual.aspx?c=1034.
Tuesday’s hot laps get under way at 5:00 p.m. with racing action going green at 6:00 p.m. Tickets for Tuesday’s action are available at the door for $43. Pit passes only are available for the rest of the week.
For more information, contact the Chili Bowl office at 918-838-3777 or check www.chilibowl.com
Jan 9 2012
Tulsa's Quick Trip Center is Chili Bowl Ready!
With all the teams in place inside the QuikTrip Center, all that remains between Tuesday’s kickoff of the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals is Monday’s practice session atop the ¼-mile Tulsa Expo Raceway clay oval from 9:00 a.m. until approximately 6:00 p.m.
With another couple of entries filed on Sunday, the current count for the prestigious event is at 264 from 32 different states as well as Australia, Canada, Finland and New Zealand.
Among the additions to the entry list on Sunday is past New Zealand Midget champion Shaun Insley, who takes the seat of the second Andy Bondio entry and teams with fellow Kiwi Brad Mosen.
Monday’s practice session will be followed by four full nights of qualifying action on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, which will set the stage for Saturday’s slate of championship feature events.
Tuesday’s Warren CAT Qualifier will also include the Fourth Annual Vacuworx International Race of Champions (VIROC IV), which will include NASCAR champions Tony Stewart and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., along with a host of other Chili Bowl stars.
Tickets remain for Tuesday’s card of events for just $43 and may be obtained by calling 918-838-3777 or at the gate.
Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Quick Facts:
What: 26th 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 10-14, 2011
Tuesday – Warren CAT Qualifying Night plus Vacuworx Chili Bowl Race of Champions
Wednesday – River Spirit Casino Qualifying Night
Thursday – Suburban Chevrolet Qualifying Night
Friday – Vacuworx International Qualifying Night
Saturday – Lucas Oil Championship Feature Events
The five nights of racing action will be preceded by a practice session on Monday, January 9.
Past Winners: Kevin Swindell (2010 and 2011), 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: A limited number of reserved seats for Tuesday night's Warren CAT Qualifying Event and the Fourth Annual Vacuworx International Chili Bowl Race of Champions are available for $43 per person and may be obtained by calling 918-838-3777 or at the gate if still available. Pit passes for all five nights are available at the gate as well.
Chili Bowl on the Net: All official news pertaining to the 26th 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.
Jan 7 2012
Chili Bowl Chock-Full of Champions!
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 6, 2012) – The Chili Bowl Nationals has long been known as a gathering place of the best of the best from all forms of racing, from the upper echelons of the sport to the grassroots level.
And the 26th edition of the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals set for next Tuesday through Saturday at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway is no exception with NASCAR champions Tony Stewart and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., headlining an impressive list of 2011 series champions.
While Stewart and Stenhouse took titles under National television spotlights, champions from all variety of Sprint Car and Midget series as well as one the nation’s premier Late Model series will be on hand as well.
Coming off his third NASCAR Sprint Cup title, Stewart returns to the Chili Bowl for the first time since 2008 in search of his third Chili Bowl triumph.
Stenhouse, who made the cut for his second Chili Bowl championship finale last January, went on to capture his first championship at the next level by taking the top spot with the NASCAR Nationwide series.
While the Chili Bowl is teeming with open wheel aces from the Sprint Car and Midget ranks that Stewart and Stenhouse climbed, Rick Eckert represents the popular Late Model racers. Eckert makes his fifth Chili Bowl appearance and first since 2010 after capturing the World of Outlaws Late Model championship in 2011.
Among the open wheelers, at least three drivers captured multiple championships in 2011 including Levi Jones, Brad Loyet and Brady Short.
Jones captured both the USAC Sprint Car and USAC Silver Crown championships in 2011 and takes aim at his first Chili Bowl finale since 2009.
Loyet added his third POWRi Midget championship in 2011 while also capturing the ASCS Warrior Region title in his rookie year of Sprint Car competition. Spearheading the potent six-car Loyet Motorsports stable, Loyet guns for his fourth consecutive Chili Bowl championship main event.
Short, a part of the A.J. Felker stable, tries for his first Chili Bowl finale after earning the MSCS (Non-Wing Sprint Car) and Bloomington Speedway titles in 2011.
One champion actually landed a ride for the Chili Bowl by earning his title, as the Midwest Open Wheel Association fields an entry for Jerrod Hull as part of his championship package with the Illinois-based winged Sprint Car series.
With countless champions from previous years throughout the QuikTrip Center, champions from 2011 include the following:
Bill Balog - IRA (Winged Sprint Cars)
Bryan Clauson – USAC Midgets
Shane Cottle – Kokomo Speedway (Non-Wing Sprint Cars)
Dave Darland – King of Indiana Sprint Series (Non-Wing Sprint Cars)
Rick Eckert – World of Outlaw Late Models
Taylor Lynn Ferns – USAC Mopar D1 Midgets
Blake Hahn – ASCS2 Outlaw Micro Sprints
Jerrod Hull – Midwest Open Wheel Association (MOWA)
C.J. Johnson – NCRA (Winged Sprint Cars)
Levi Jones - USAC Sprint Cars and USAC Silver Crown
Brad Kuhn – BMARA Midgets
Cory Kruseman – USAC Western States Midgets
Brad Loyet – ASCS Warrior Region (winged Sprint Cars) and POWRi Midgets
Brady Short – MSCS and Bloomington Speedway (Non-Wing Sprint Cars)
Mike Spencer – USAC/CRA (Non-Wing Sprint Cars)
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. – NASCAR Nationwide
Tony Stewart – NASCAR Sprint Cup
Richard VanderWeerd – USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Cars (Non-Wing)
Matt Westfall – Waynesfield Raceway Park (Non-Wing Sprint Cars)
Currently, there are 261 entries for next week’s Chili Bowl Nationals representing 31 states as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Finland.
Following Monday’s practice session, four nights of qualifying action on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will set Saturday’s feature grids, with the top three finishers from each night locking into Saturday’s 50-lap championship “A” Main.
Tuesday’s card will also include the Fourth Annual Vacuworx International Race of Champions (VIROC IV).
A limited number of tickets are available for the Tuesday night, January 10, Warren CAT Chili Bowl Qualifier and Vacuworx International Race of Champions for just $43 apiece. Tickets may be obtained by calling the ticket office at 918-838-3777.
The five nights of racing action will be preceded by a practice session on Monday, January 9.
Past Winners: Kevin Swindell (2010 and 2011), 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: A limited number of reserved seats for Tuesday night's Warren CAT Qualifying Event and the Fourth Annual Vacuworx International Chili Bowl Race of Champions are available for $43 per person and may be obtained by calling 918-838-3777 or at the gate if still available. Pit passes for all five nights are available at the gate as well.
Chili Bowl on the Net: All official news pertaining to the 26th 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.
Denver, CO. - The Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association (RMMRA)
finalized their 15 race dates for 2012, with races in Colorado, Texas, New Mexico and Wyoming.
The season will start on March 16th - 17th at the fast ¼ mile dirt Cowtown Speedway in Kennedale, TX and will be sanction by POWRI and co-sanction by the RMMRA with a $50,000.00 purse.
After several years, the RMMRA will make their return to Aztec Speedway in Aztec, N.M. Memorial weekend May 26th - 27th, and a first time appearance at Sweetwater Events Complex 3/8 mile dirt in Rocksprings, WY on August 17th - 18th. Other special races will be at Phillips County Raceway in Holyoke, CO on Wednesday July 4th and July 27th (Friday) at Phillips County Raceway (Holyoke) and July 28th (Saturday) at I-76 Speedway in Ft. Morgan, CO., both races on July 27th and 28th will be double points.
The season will end on August 25th at El Paso County Fairgrounds in Calhan, CO.
Other Notes: There will be a general membership meeting on January 21 at USA Performance Engines located at 1001 E. 75th Ave., Denver, CO.
For more information, log on to www.rmmra.com
2012 Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association Schedule
March
16/17 - (Cowtown Speedway; Kennedale, TX.) 1/4 Mile Dirt (Friday & Saturday)
$50,000.00 Purse
POWRI/RMMRA
May
12 (I-76 Speedway; Ft. Morgan, CO.) 1/4 Mile Dirt
19 - (El Paso County Fairgrounds; Calhan, CO.) 1/3 Mile Dirt
26/27 - (Aztec Speedway; Aztec, N.M.) 3/8th Mile Dirt (Saturday & Sunday)
$9,000.00 Purse
June
9 - (I-76 Speedway; Ft. Morgan, CO.) 1/4 Mile Dirt
16 - (El Paso County Fairgrounds; Calhan, CO.) 1/3 Mile Dirt
July
04 - (Phillips County Raceway; Holyoke, CO.) 3/8 Mile Dirt (Wednesday)
21 - (El Paso County Fairgrounds; Calhan, CO.) 1/3 Mile Dirt
27 - (Phillips County Raceway; Holyoke, CO.) 3/8 Mile Dirt (Friday)
**Double Points**
28 - (I-76 Speedway; Ft. Morgan, CO.) 1/4 Mile Dirt (Saturday)
**Double Points**
August
17/18 - (Sweetwater Events; Rocksprings, WY.) 1/4 Mile Dirt (Friday & Saturday)
$9,000.00 Purse
25 - (El Paso County Fairgrounds; Calhan, CO.) 1/3 Mile Dirt (Saturday)
Jan 6 2012
Berryhill Posts $5,000 Hard Charger Chili Bowl Bonus!
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 4, 2012) – Bob Berryhill has been an influence at the Chili Bowl Nationals since its inception in 1987, with his Original Chili Bowl food company sponsoring the fledgling event in its formative years.
Now, with the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals set to fire off next Tuesday night at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway, Berryhill has stepped up by offering a Hard Charger bonus for the championship Saturday, January 14, portion of the prestigious event.
Berryhill, who will serve as Grand Marshall for this year’s Chili Bowl Nationals, has offered up $5,000 in bonus money for some Hard Chargers on Saturday to be split among three drivers.
The driver that passes the most cars during Saturday’s slate of alphabet feature competition will pocket $2,500, the driver that passes the second most cars will earn a $1,500 bonus and the driver that passes the third most cars will earn an extra $1,000.
With 261 entries from 31 different states as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Finland currently filed for the event, Saturday’s feature action will begin with at least one “K” Main followed up by twin “J” Mains, “I” Mains, etc. leading the way to the 50-lap championship “A” Main event.
Four nights of qualifying action on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will set Saturday’s feature grids, with the top three finishers from each night locking into Saturday’s “A” Main.
Tuesday’s card will also include the Fourth Annual Vacuworx International Race of Champions (VIROC IV).
A limited number of tickets are available for the Tuesday night, January 10, Warren CAT Chili Bowl Qualifier and Vacuworx International Race of Champions for just $43 apiece. Tickets may be obtained by calling the ticket office at 918-838-3777.
Jan 4 2012
20-lap Vacuworx International Race of Champions IV Field is Set for Chili Bowl
Sammy Swindell Tries for Third Win
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 3, 2012) – Over the past quarter of a century, a select group of drivers and car owners have left the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway carrying a Golden Driller trophy each January after the Chili Bowl.
And, during next Tuesday’s opening night of the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals, that group along with some other event standouts will square off in the Fourth Annual $2,500-to-win, 20-lap Vacuworx International Race of Champions, dubbed VIROC IV.
The VIROC IV card will be part of Tuesday’s Warren CAT Qualifying event, the first of four qualifying nights that sets the field for the Saturday, January 14, championship slate of feature events.
Fourteen drivers, including reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champion and two-time Chili Bowl champion Tony Stewart, have been tabbed for a spot in the Fourth Annual Vacuworx International Race of Champions (VIROC IV).
Gunning for a third triumph in four VIROC tries is Sammy Swindell. The five-time Chili Bowl champion topped the inaugural VIROC event in 2009 and then made it two-for-three with a win last January. Brad Loyet topped the second VIROC event in 2010.
The field for VIROC III is as follows:
1 Sammy Swindell (Germantown, TN) - Five Golden Drillers keeps Swindell entrenched in the VIROC field. Swindell has topped two of three previous VIROC events.
05 Brad Loyet (Sunset Hills, MO) – With the VIROC field not yet filled, the 2011 ASCS Warrior Region and POWRi Midget champion lands a spot by way of his 2010 VIROC triumph. Loyet landed in the 2010 event on the strength of 21 Midget feature wins in 2009, the first to reach such a mark since Billy Boat posted 21 Midget wins in 1995.
05g Damion Gardner (Concord, CA) – “The Demon”, who flipped across the finish line in preliminary action last year, snared the Golden Driller in 2008.
11 Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK) – Hailing from nearby Broken Arrow, Bacon is tabbed as the Wilke-Pak rep in VIROC. Wilke-Pak took top Chili Bowl honors in 2003 with Tracy Hines at the wheel.
14 Tony Stewart (Columbus, IN) – The reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champion returns to the Chili Bowl for the first time since 2008. “Smoke” snared Golden Drillers in both 2002 and 2007.
21k Cory Kruseman (Ventura, OK) – Spearheading a four-car team that includes freestyle motocross star Brian Deegan, Kruseman claimed Chili Bowl glory in 2000 and 2004.
24 Tracy Hines (Wilkinson, IN) – T. Hines drove a Wilke-Pak entry to Chili Bowl victory lane in 2003.
39 Kevin Swindell (Germantown, TN) – Kevin pulled off something that neither his dad nor 1,154 other Chili Bowl competitors have been able to do; pull off back-to-back wins. Swindell tries for a three-peat after wins in the past two editions of the Chili Bowl.
39c Bryan Clauson (Noblesville, IN) – Clauson lands a spot after earning National Midget Driver of the Year honors in 2011. Clauson also claimed USAC’s National Driver’s Championship, which landed him a ride in the 2012 Indianapolis 500.
39i Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (Olive Branch, MS) – Further evidence that the sticky quarter-mile circle of black gumbo clay in West Memphis known as “The Ditch” breeds good racers (reference Sammy Swindell above), Stenhouse, Jr., lands in VIRCO after capturing the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide championship.
47 Brad Mosen (Auckland, NZ) – The KIWI gives VIROC some true “international” flavor. Mosen is the primary driver for Andy Bondio, who has claimed three Golden Drillers, one with Lealand McSpadden in 1991 and then Kruseman in 2000 and 2004.
67 Kyle Larson (Elk Grove, CA) – The Tebow times Ten of dirt track racing, the 19-year-old seemingly walked on water over portions of 2011 with wins in winged sprint cars (World of Outlaws and ASCS National) along with all three USAC National divisions (Silver Crown, Sprint Cars and Midgets). Driving for past Chili Bowl winning owner Keith Kunz, a Belleville Nationals triumph and a sweep of all three open wheel portions of Eldora’s Four Crown Nationals were among his notable triumphs.
67z Joey Saldana (Brownsburg, IN) – The World of Outlaws ace lands a spot driving a Midget co-owned by Gary Zarounian, who owned the Midget driven to Chili Bowl victory lane in 1995 by Donnie Beechler.
71 Jason Leffler (Long Beach, CA) – The NASCAR Nationwide shoe captured his Golden Driller as the car owner for 2008 Chili Bowl winner Damion Gardner.
Several drivers will pull double-duty on Tuesday night, competing in both the VIROC IV event as well as Warren CAT Qualifying event including Brady Bacon, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., and Kyle Larson.
A limited number of tickets are available for the Tuesday night, January 10, Warren CAT Chili Bowl Qualifier and Vacuworx International Race of Champions for just $43 apiece. Tickets may be obtained by calling the ticket office at 918-838-3777.
Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Quick Facts:
What: 26th 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 10-14, 2011
Tuesday – Warren CAT Qualifying Night plus Vacuworx Chili Bowl Race of Champions
Wednesday – River Spirit Casino Qualifying Night
Thursday – Suburban Chevrolet Qualifying Night
Friday – Vacuworx International Qualifying Night
Saturday – Lucas Oil Championship Feature Events
The five nights of racing action will be preceded by a practice session on Monday, January 9.
Past Winners: Kevin Swindell (2010 and 2011), 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: A limited number of reserved seats for Tuesday night's Warren CAT Qualifying Event and the Fourth Annual Vacuworx International Chili Bowl Race of Champions are available for $43 per person and may be obtained by calling 918-838-3777 or at the gate if still available. Pit passes for all five nights are available at the gate as well.
Chili Bowl on the Net: All official news pertaining to the 26th 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.
Jan 3 2011
Rumble in Fort Wayne -- Friday results
by Wendy Atkin
Tony Stewart won the 50-lap midget feature Friday that capped the opening night of the 14th annual Rumble in Fort Wayne for his record-extending eighth career victory at the Memorial Coliseum Expo Center.
Another program of midgets, winged outlaw modified midgets, mini-sprints, karts and quarter midgets is scheduled for Saturday. Spectator gates open at 11 a.m., with the main portion of the program after 6 p.m. Tickets and pit passes will be available at the door.
MIDGETS
Qualifications – 1. Tony Stewart, 2x, Stewart, 7.830 seconds; 2. Jon Stanbrough, 7, Daugherty, 7.972; 3. Dave Darland, 0, Daugherty, 8.169; 4. Billy Wease, 99, Burrow, 8.179; 5. Jacob Wilson, 10, Moore, 8.251; 6. David Gough, 6, A&G, 8.275; 7. Mike Fedorcak, 97, Stewart, 8.278; 8. Bryan Nuckles, 59, Nuckles, 8.282; 9. Nick Hamilton, 8, Hamilton, 8.286; 10. Mike Wallace, 10, Wallace, 8.297; 11. Brandon Knupp, 78, Chambers, 8.315; 12. Tim Jedrzejek, 8up, Williams, 8.320; 13. Cory Setser, 56, Rencurrel, 8.327; 14. Kyle Hamilton, 33, Hamilton, 8.327; 15. Jim “Timex” Morgan, 2, Afterhours, 8.328; 16. Jim Anderson, 99g, Guess, 8.342; 17. Joe Liguori, 67, Sexton, 8.352; 18. Mike Osite, 20, Fedorcak, 8.375; 19. Taylor Ferns, 55, Ferns, 8.380; 20. Rich Corson, 15, Corson-Savage, 8.427; 21. Donnie Adams Jr., 49, Burrow, 8.466; 22. Rex Norris III, 63, Norris, 8.485; 23. Bobby Santos III, 98, Burrow, 8.501; 24. Matt Westfall, 19, Ryder, 8.540; 25. Cooper Clouse, 14, Clouse, 8.543; 26. Chris Jagger, 27, Jagger, 8.554; 27. Steve Irwin, 0s, Flying Zero, 8.708; 28. Amanda Quinones, 15k, Knupp, 8.852; 29. Dan Dunigan Jr., 19d, Dunigan, 8.897; 30. Terry Ahern, 6t6, Ahern, 9.015; 31. Isaac Chapple, 52, Chapple, 9.070; 32. Eric Shirey, 22, Sexton, 9.135; 33. Deano Lennon, 61, Lennon, 9.262; 34. Joey Burrow, 92, Burrow, 9.464; 35. Zach Fuhrman, 32x, Fuhrman, 9.553; 36. Kevin Shirey, 41, Sexton, 9.575; 37. Tyler Cottongim, 28, Cottongim, 9.700; 38. David Fuhrman, 32, Fuhrman, 9.753; 39. Derek Bischak, 31, Bischak, 11.199; 40. Gary Bradley, 4, Bradley, NT; 41. Chris Neuenschwander, 3, Barnett, NT.
First heat (10 laps) – Stewart, Knupp, Gough, Anderson, Chapple, Jagger, Neuenschwander, K. Shirey, Adams.
Second heat (10 laps) – Jedrzejek, Stanbrough, Liguori, Irwin, Cottongim, E. Shirey, Norris, Fedorcak.
Third heat (10 laps) – Darland, Setser, Santos, Quinones, Osite, Nuckles, Lennon, D. Fuhrman.
Fourth heat (10 laps) – K. Hamilton, Wease, Westfall, N. Hamilton, Ferns, Bischak, Burrow, Dunigan.
Fifth heat (10 laps) – Morgan, Wilson, Corson, Clouse, Ahern, Z. Fuhrman, Wallace.
First semi-feature (12 laps) – Gough, Corson, Neuenschwander, Wallace, E. Shirey, Dunigan, N. Hamilton.
Second semi-feature (12 laps) – Liguori, Anderson, Clouse, Nuckles, Norris, Adams, Ferns, K. Shirey.
Third semi-feature (12 laps) – Santos, Irwin, Fedorcak, Chapple, Lennon, Ahern.
Fourth semi-feature (12 laps) – Westfall, D. Fuhrman, Quinones, Z. Fuhrman, Cottongim, Jagger, Burrow.
Feature (50 laps) – 1. Tony Stewart, 2. Kyle Hamilton, 3. Jon Stanbrough, 4. David Gough, 5. Joe Liguori, 6. Brandon Knupp, 7. Tim Jedrzejek, 8. Cory Setser, 9. Billy Wease, 10. Bobby Santos III, 11. Jacob Wilson, 12. Dave Darland, 13. Matt Westfall, 14. Jim “Timex” Morgan. Lap leaders: Darland 1-16, Stewart 17-50.
WINGED OUTLAW MODIFIED MIDGETS
Qualifications – 1. Ben Quinones, 007, Quinones, 8.134 seconds; 2. Ryan Smith, 22, VanDoren, 8.249; 3. Matt Janisch, 14j, Janisch,8.316; 4. John Ivy, 94, Henry, 8.317; 5. Cap Henry, 04, Henry, 8.407; 6. Erick Rudolph, 32, Rudolph, 8.444; 7. Tyler Ross, 3t, Holmquist, 8.575; 8. Bill Dunham, 84, Dunham, 8.577; 9. Chris Stockham, 44, Stockham, 8.594; 10. Larry Joe Sroufe, 21s, Sroufe, 8.628; 11. A.J. Lesiecki, 14, Lesiecki, 8.772; 12. Clay Sanders, 21, Sanders, 8.778; 13. Randy Brown, 55b, Brown, 8.783; 14. Tim Neil, 19n, Dunigan, 8.790; 15. Ben Taylor, 19, Taylor, 8.795; 16. Brandon Knupp, 20, Chambers, 8.800; 17. Chase Ridenour, 11r, Ridenour, 8.806; 18. Nick Landon, 82, Landon, 8.807; 19. Brian Gerster, 7, Underwood, 8.864; 20. Drew Dorsett, 11b, Bickel-Sager, 8.949; 21. Dan Dunigan Jr., 19d, Dunigan, 8.952; 22. Michael Kettnich, 19k, Kettnich, 8.995; 23. Rusty Strausbaugh, 29, Strausbaugh, 9.003; 24. Jason Ormsby, 51, Ormsby, 9.034; 25. Richard Smith, 12, Smith, 9.052; 26. Mark Zumbrun, 35, Zumbrun, 9.068; 27. Jim “Timex” Morgan, 51m, Ormsby, 9.103; 28. Jeremy Glasford, 14, Glasford, 9.132; 29. Howard McCormick, 26m, Sager, 9.217; 30. Butch Hamilton, 1h, Hamilton, 9.226; 31. Larry Fox, 28, Fox, 9.236; 32. Gary Klein, 68, Klein, 9.238; 33. Steve Shockney Jr., 28s, Shockney, 9.428; 34. Kyle Henry, 51h, Ormsby, 9.434; 35. Nick Eastin, 93, Eastin, 9.446; 36. Ryan Nawrocki, 5n, Reed, 9.733; 37. Steve Myers, 88, Myers, 9.934; 38. Ed Wilberg Sr., 5, Wilberg, 10.380.
First heat (10 laps) – C. Henry, Stockham, Dunigan, Ri. Smith, McCormick, Ridenour, Shockney, Myers, Brown, Quinones.
Second heat (10 laps) – Ry. Smith, Neil, Rudolph, Sroufe, K. Henry, Landon, Zumbrun, Wilberg, Hamilton, Kettnich.
Third heat (10 laps) – Janisch, Ross, Lesiecki, Morgan, Eastin, Strausbaugh, Taylor, Fox, Gerster.
Fourth heat (10 laps) – Ivy, Knupp, Dunham, Glasford, Sanders, Nawrocki, Klein, Ormsby, Dorsett.
First semi-feature (12 laps) – Sroufe, Ridenour, Ormsby, Taylor, Strausbaugh, Sanders, K. Henry.
Second semi-feature (12 laps) – McCormick, Gerster, Glasford, Eastin, Zumbrun, Wilberg, Hamilton, Fox, Kettnich, Landon, Ri. Smith, Shockney, Myers.
Feature (30 laps) – 1. Tyler Ross, 2. John Ivy, 3. Erick Rudolph, 4. Cap Henry, 5. Matt Janisch, 6. Brandon Knupp, 7. Ryan Smith, 8. Larry Joe Sroufe, 9. Jason Ormsby, 10. Bill Dunham, 11. Dan Dunigan Jr., 12. Chase Ridenour, 13. Jeremy Glasford, 14. Brian Gerster, 15. Howard McCormick, 16. A.J. Lesiecki, 17. Tim Neil; 18. Chris Stockham. Lap leaders: Ross 1-30.
MINI-SPRINTS
Qualifications – 1. Lynn Ambrose, 1, Ambrose, 9.041 seconds (establishes track record); 2. Doug Jones, 37, Jones, 9.272; 3. Lynsey Tilton, 74, Tilton, 9.402; 4. Collin Parker, 25, Parker, 9.439; 5. Becca Stiefel, 328, Stiefel, 9.652; 6. Collin Ambrose, 36, Ambrose, 9.671; 7. Ron Coleman, 44, Coleman, 10.093; 8. Gary Bradley, 4, Bradley, 12.631; 9. Kyle McIntosh, 17b, Eaglin, 13.082.
Heat (10 laps) – Parker, Tilton, C. Ambrose, McIntosh, L. Ambrose, Stiefel, Jones, Coleman, Bradley.
Feature (15 laps) – 1. Lynn Ambrose, 2. Lynsey Tilton, 3. Kyle McIntosh, 4. Doug Jones, 5. Becca Stiefel, 6. Ron Coleman, 7. Gary Bradley, 8. Collin Parker, 9. Collin Ambrose. Lap leaders: L. Ambrose 1-15.
Stewart gives Rumble rivals another migraine
By RON WARE Classic Motorsports
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Tony Stewart spent Friday nursing a headache – a regular occurrence, he admitted.
“I have a headache every day,” he said.
Imagine how his competition felt.
The three-time NASCAR champion made a triumphant return to the Rumble in Fort Wayne, easily winning the 50-lap midget feature that capped the opening night of the 14th annual indoor event. Racing on the 1/6-mile track for the first time in three years, he passed Dave Darland on lap 17 and rolled to his eighth victory here in 13 starts before a nearly full house at the Memorial Coliseum Expo Center.
Headache or not, there was no hiding his grin.
“It’s exciting to be back,” said Stewart, a 40-year-old native Hoosier who raced in Australia the past two off-seasons. “This isn’t your normal weekly racing. You don’t get many chances to run indoors.
“It’s fun to race (at the Rumble). It’s still a good time. We have lots of things going on in the (Stewart-Haas Racing) shop, so we didn’t get to race sprint cars in Australia this year. If you can’t race sprint cars in Australia, what could be better than to come back here and to do (January’s) Chili Bowl?”
Including a victory earlier in the month in an all-star kart race, Stewart has won seven of his past 12 races overall – including the dramatic 5-for-10 finish to the Sprint Cup season that gave him his third NASCAR championship.
If the likes of Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson couldn’t stop him, did his midget rivals have a chance?
Actually, Stewart said, he figured he would need every trick in the book to pass Darland, the pole-sitter.
Starting third in the 14-car field, Stewart quickly dispatched Jon Stanbrough, then hounded Darland, nudging him in turn two on lap 17. He streaked alongside down the backstretch, then darted inside between turns three and four to wrest the lead.
Kyle Hamilton, a 19-year-old rising star, came on to finish second, five car-lengths back, followed by Stanbrough, David Gough and Joe Liguori. Darland placed 12th after being caught up in an accident.
“I was giving him everything I had,” Stewart said of Darland, who has two wins and 10 top-three finishes in 18 races here. “He’s so good, it’s hard to rattle him. You have to give him some love taps to let him know you’re there.”
Darland, the winner on the second night last season, said his car’s handling went away after about 10 laps .“Our car just wasn’t good enough to hold him off,” he said.
Hamilton hoped a slippery track would play into his hands, but Stewart masterfully guided his Mike Fedorcak-built Munchkin-Volkswagen home despite having to weave through traffic.
“We started getting some oil on the track that helped me out,” Hamilton said. “He started to get loose at the end. I was hanging in there.
“You think about what could have been, but I’ll take second to Tony.”
Tyler Ross and Lynn Ambrose led all the way in winning the winged outlaw modified midget and mini-sprint features, respectively.
Jason Dunn notched three victories in karts.
Another full day of midget, winged midget, mini-sprint, kart and quarter midget racing is scheduled for Saturday {Dec. 31}, with spectator gates opening at 11 a.m. and the main portion of the program after 6 p.m. Additionally, stuntman Henry “The Pitbull” Rife will attempt a world record indoor jump of 10 cars on an ATV. He crashed on landing last season while attempting the feat, breaking his collarbone.
14th annual Rumble in Fort Wayne SATURDAY RESULTS
by Wendy Atkin
Tony Stewart swept the two-day Rumble in Fort Wayne for the second time in his career, surviving a race of attrition Saturday night to capture the 50-lap midget feature in convincing fashion.
The three-time NASCAR champion grabbed the lead when David Gough's ignition broke on lap 18 and led the rest of the way despite a series of caution periods and heavy lapped traffic. Jon Stanbrough managed a runner-up finish even though his car caught fire early in the event, producing a red flag. The fire crew doused the fire, which started when the car's "heat insulation laid over on the header," according to team owner Rick Daugherty, and Stanbrough charged from the rear of the field. Rex Norris III, Billy Wease and Dave Darland rounded out the top five.
Stewart's weekend sweep gives him nine Rumble in Fort Wayne feature wins in 14 career starts since 1999. Including the final 10 races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase and a kart victory in Indianapolis earlier in the month, he's won eight of his past 13 races.
Ryan Smith won a crash-filled winged outlaw modified midget feature. Doug Jones captured the mini-sprint main.
MIDGETS
Qualifications – 1. Tony Stewart, 2x, Stewart, 7.830 seconds; 2. Jon Stanbrough, 0, Daugherty, 8.115; 3. Derek Bischak, 31, Bischak, 8.049; 4. David Gough, 6, 8.081; 5. Cory Setser, 56, Rencurrel, 8.115; 6. Mike Fedorcak, 97, Stewart, 8.135; 7. Joe Liguori, 67, Sexton, 8.148; 8. Billy Wease, 99, Burrow, 8.150; 9. Bryan Nuckles, 59, Nuckles, 8.194; 10. Jacob Wilson, 10, Moore, 8.214; 11. Donnie Adams Jr., 49, Burrow, 8.232; 12. Rich Corson, 15, Corson-Savage, 8.241; 13. Rex Norris III, 63, Norris, 8.244; 14. Mike Wallace, 10, Wallace, 8.247; 15. Kyle Hamilton, 33, Hamilton, 8.251; 16. Tim Jedrzejek, 8up, Williams, 8.262; 17. Taylor Ferns, 55, Ferns, 8.273; 18. Chris Neuenschwander, 3, Bradley, 8.292; 19. Brandon Knupp, 78, Chambers, 8.332; 20. Jim Anderson, 99g, Guess, 8.361; 21. Steve Irwin, 0s, Flying Zero, 8.418; 22. Nick Hamilton, 8, Hamilton, 8.418; 23. Dave Darland, 0, Daughery, 8.510; 24. Cooper Clouse, 14, Clouse, 8.541; 25. Bobby Santos III, 98, Burrow, 8.541; 26. Terry Ahern, 6t6, Ahern, 8.778; 27. Tim Neal, 19d, Dunigan, 8.795; 28. David Fuhrman, 32, Fuhrman, 8.803; 29. Isaac Chapple, 52, Chapple, 8.940; 30. Deano Lennon, 61, Lennon, 9.014; 31. Kevin Shirey, 41, Sexton, 9.017; 32. Mike Osite, 20, Fedorcak, 9.144; 33. Eric Shirey, 22, Sexton, 9.229; 34. Joey Burrow, 92, Burrow, 9.451; 35. Zach Fuhrman, 32x, Fuhrman, 9.585; 36. Matt Westfall, 19, Ryder, 9.801; 37. Gary Bradley, 4, Bradley, NT.
First heat (10 laps) – Fedorcak, Stewart, Jedrzejek, Irwin, K. Shirey, Adams, Ahern.
Second heat (10 laps) – Corson, Liguori, Stanbrough, Ferns, N. Hamilton, Neil, Osite.
Third heat (10 laps) – Norris, Bischak, Wease, Neuenschwander, Darland, D. Fuhrman, E. Shirey.
Fourth heat (10 laps) – Wallace, Gough, Knupp, Nuckles, Clouse, Chapple, Burrow.
Fifth heat (10 laps) – K. Hamilton, Anderson, Santos, Lennon, Z. Fuhrman, Wilson, Setser.
First semi-feature (12 laps) – Jedrzejek, Darland, Nuckles, Osite, Clouse, E. Shirey, Santos.
Second semi-feature (12 laps) – Stanbrough, Irwin, Chapple, D. Fuhrman, Z. Fuhrman, Lennon.
Third semi-feature (12 laps) -- Wease, Ferns, Wilson, K. Shirey.
Fouth semi-feature (12 laps) -- Knupp, Setser, Neil, Neuenschwander, N. Hamilton, Ahern.
Feature (50 laps) – 1. Tony Stewart, 2. Jon Stanbrough, 3. Rex Norris III, 4. Billy Wease, 5. Dave Darland, 6. Mike Wallace, 7. Rich Corson, 8. Jim Anderson, 9. Derek Bischak, 10. Brandon Knupp, 11. Mike Fedorcak, 12. Kyle Hamilton, 13. David Gough, 14. Joe Liguori. 15. Tim Jedrzejek. Lap leaders: Gough 1-17, Stewart 18-50.
WINGED OUTLAW MODIFIED MIDGETS
Qualifications – 1. Ben Quinones, 007, Quinones, 8.169; 2. Ryan Smith, 22, VanDoren, 8.171; 3. Cap Henry, 04, Henry, 8.183; 4. Erick Rudolph, 32, Rudolph, 8.223; 5. Tyler Ross, 3t, Holmquist, 8.249; 6. John Ivy, 94, Henry, 8.356; 7. Larry Joe Sroufe, 21s, Sroufe, 8.363; 8. Chris Stockham, 44, Stockham, 8.442; 9. Tim Neil, 19n, Dunigan, 8.535; 10. Chase Ridenour, 11r, Ridenour, 8.599; 11. Matt Janisch, 14j, 8.610; 12. A.J. Lesiecki, 14, Lesiecki, 8.613; 13. Richard Smith, 12, Smith, 8.702; 14. Ben Taylor, 19, Taylor, 8.729; 15. Michael Kettnich, 19k, Kettnich, 8.787; 16. Russ Belt, 28, Fox, 8.847; 17. Nick Landon, 82, Landon, 8.863; 18. Drew Dorsett, 11b, Bickel-Sager, 8.890; 19. Mark Zumbrun, 35, Zumbrun, 8.929; 20. Bill Dunham, 84, Dunham, 8.937; 21. Howard McCormick, 26, Sager, 8.953; 22. Jeremy Glasford, 14g, Glasford, 8.979; 23. Clay Sanders, 21, Sanders, 9.048; 24. Rusty Strausbaugh, 29, Strausbaugh, 9.066; 25. Nick Eastin, 93, Eastin, 9.097; 26. Kyle Henry, 51h, Ormsby, 9.128; 27. Ryan Nawrocki, 5, Reed, 9.215; 28. Steve Shockney Jr., 28s, Shockney, 9.321; 29. Butch Hamilton, 1h, Hamilton, 9.356; 30. Ed Wilberg Sr., 5, Wilberg, 9.710; 31. Gary Klein, 68, Klein, NT; 32. Steve Myers, 88, Myers, NT; 33. Brandon Knupp, 20, Chambers, NT.
First heat (10 laps) – Ross, Neal, Ri. Smith, McCormick, Landon, Eastin, Hamilton, Quinones.
Second heat (10 laps) – Ry. Smith, Taylor, Ridenour, Glasford, K. Henry, Wilberg, Dorsett, Ivy.
Third heat (10 laps) – Janisch, C. Henry, Sroufe, Kettnich, Sanders, Zumbrun, Nawrocki.
Fourth heat (10 laps) – Stockham, Rudolph, Belt, Shockney, Dunham, Strausbaugh, Lesiecki.
First semi-feature (12 laps) – McCormick, Landon, Zumbrun, Sanders, Eastin, Hamilton, Quinones, Kettnich.
Second semi-feature (12 laps) – Ivy, Glasford, Lesiecki, K. Henry, Strausbaugh, Shockney, Dunham, Wilberg.
Feature (30 laps) – 1. Ryan Smith, 2. Cap Henry, 3. John Ivy, 4. Matt Janisch, 5. Larry Joe Sroufe, 6. Tyler Ross, 7. Richard Smith, 8. Chase Ridenour, 9. Howard McCormick, 10. A.J. Lesiecki, 11. Russ Belt, 12. Tim Neil, 13. Ben Taylor, 14. Jeremy Glasford; 15. Nick Landon, 16. Erick Rudolph, 17. Mark Zumbrun, 18. Chris Stockham. Lap leaders: Stockham 1-5, Sroufe 6-11, Rudolph 12-14, Ry. Smith 15-30.
MINI-SPRINTS
Qualifying – 1. Lynsey Tilton, 74, Tilton, 8.885 seconds (breaks track record of 9.041 seconds set on Friday); 2. Collin Ambrose, 36, Ambrose, 9.164 seconds; 3. Lynn Ambrose, 1, Ambrose, 9.174 seconds; 4. Collin Parker, 25, Parker, 9.505; 5. Becca Stiefel, 328, Stiefel, 9.518; 6. Doug Jones, 37, Jones, 9.537; 7. Ron Coleman, 44, Coleman, 9.671; 8. Kyle McIntosh, 17b, Eaglin, 9.759; 9. Gary Bradley, 4, Bradley, 10.524.
Heat (10 laps) – Parker, L. Ambrose, Tilton, Stiefel, McIntosh, C. Ambrose, Coleman, Bradley, Jones.
Feature (12 laps) – 1. Doug Jones, 2. L. Ambrose, 3. C. Ambrose, 4. McIntosh, 5. Stiefel, 6. Parker, 7. Bradley, 8. Tilton, 9. Coleman. Lap leaders: Jones 1-12.
Clock doesn't strike midnight for Stewart on Saturday night
By RON WARE Classic Motorsports
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – With 56 minutes to spare, Tony Stewart squeezed yet another victory into a year that already was reaching mythical proportions.
Taking the checkered flag at 11:04 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, the three-time NASCAR champion completed a weekend sweep of the 14th annual Rumble in Fort Wayne indoor midget races, winning Saturday’s 50-lap feature in dominating fashion.
While he celebrated with a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon, not champagne, Stewart seemed to treasure his latest accomplishment as much as his hard-fought Sprint Cup title.
“This is the first time I’ve ever raced on New Year’s Eve,” the 40-year-old Indiana native said, a smile creasing his face. “It’s been a dream year. I won by first World of Outlaws race and the (NASCAR) championship. Then I won at Conseco (in an all-star kart race in Indianapolis) and won here two times.
“What a great way to finish the year. It’s going to be hard to keep this up, but it’s going to be a lot of fun trying.”
Even Stewart seemed astonished when somebody pointed out that he’s won an amazing eight times in his past 13 races, starting with his 5-for-10 charge to the NASCAR championship. His numbers at the 1/6-mile track at the Memorial Coliseum Expo Center are similar. After sweeping the two-day program for the second time in his career, he’s won nine times in 14 career starts. He’s been the fast qualifier in each of his past 10 appearances.
Stewart’s road to victory lane wasn’t smooth, however. A series of caution periods and constant lapped traffic challenged him all the way, even though he was untested after pole-sitter David Gough dropped out on lap 18 with a broken ignition, handing him the lead.
How tough of a night was it for his rivals? Jon Stanbrough finished second in a car that caught fire early in the race. Rex Norris III, Billy Wease and Dave Darland completed the top five, each taking turns coming from the rear of the field.
During a caution, Stanbrough pulled into the infield as smoke billowed from his car’s engine compartment. Fire crews doused the small fire, which originated when a piece of heat insulation touched the header, and Stanbrough rejoined the fray.
“I was just trying to light a fire under my driver,” team owner Rick Daugherty quipped.
Stewart nudged a sliding Gough in turn three on lap nine, temporarily taking the lead, but the yellow then came out for Rich Corson’s spin, restoring Gough to first place. Nine laps later, though, Gough suddenly slowed with a failed ignition.
“I was trying to protect the bottom (of the track) and make it hard for him to get around me,” said Gough, a veteran whose career includes an indoor win at the old RCA Dome in Indianapolis. “I didn’t think he was going to rough me up.”
Stewart confirmed that he was intent on making a clean pass.
“Gough’s a good race car driver,” he said. “Our car was working so good, it was just a matter of catching him at the right time. I already decided I was going to be nicer tonight.”
Ryan Smith won the accompanying winged outlaw modified midget feature, while Doug Jones topped a short field in mini-sprints. Jason Dunn dominated in karts, winning three features for the second night in a row. Addison and Bennett Lushin made it a family affair in quarter midgets, each winning a feature.
Stewart first raced at Fort Wayne in 1999, after he already had won an IndyCar championship and NASCAR rookie-of-the-year honors. Mike Fedorcak, his indoor teammate and builder of his Volkswagen-powered Munchkin car, figures Fort Wayne hasn’t seen the last of him.
“He’ll still be racing here when he’s as old as I am,” the 57-year-old Fedorcak predicted. “He just loves it.”
Jan 2 2012
14th annual Rumble in Fort Wayne was just about all Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart Won just about everything, But a second place in His heat on sat night spoiled a clean sweep at the two-day Rumble in Fort Wayne, surviving a race of attrition Saturday night to capture the 50-lap midget feature in convincing fashion.
Stewart grabbed the lead when David Gough's ignition gave up on lap 18 and led the rest of the way despite a series of caution periods and heavy lapped traffic. Jon Stanbrough managed a runner-up finish even though his car caught fire early in the event, producing a red flag. The fire crew doused the fire, which started when the car's "heat insulation laid over on the header," according to team owner Rick Daugherty, and Stanbrough charged from the rear of the field. Rex Norris III, Billy Wease and Dave Darland rounded out the top five.
Stewart's weekend gives him nine Rumble in Fort Wayne feature wins in 14 career starts since 1999. Including the final 10 races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase and a kart victory in Indianapolis earlier in the month, he's won eight of his past 13 races.
Dec 31 2011
Tony Stewart made a triumphant return to the Rumble in Fort Wayne
Winning the 50-lap midget feature in the opening night of the 14th annual indoor event. Racing at the 1/6-mile track for the first time in 3 years, Tony passed Dave Darland on lap 17 and rolled on to his eighth victory here in 13 starts before a nearly full house at the Memorial Coliseum Expo Center.
“It’s exciting to be back,” said Stewart. “This isn’t your normal weekly racing. You don’t get many chances to run indoors.
“It’s fun to race (here). It’s still a good time. We have lots of things going on in the (Stewart-Haas Racing) shop, so we didn’t get to race sprint cars in Australia this year. If you can’t race sprint cars in Australia, what could be better than to come back here?”
Dec 28 2011
Tony Stewart Set to Return to Chili Bowl!
Count Climbs to 254
TULSA, Okla. (December 27, 2011) – Three-time and reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart makes his return to Tulsa in January as he is set to vie for a third Golden Driller in the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway.
“Smoke Johnson” in Chili Bowl lore, Stewart ranks as just one of a handful of drivers to post multiple Chili Bowl triumphs after collecting wins in 2002 and 2007. Stewart tries to become just the second driver with more than two wins in the event set for January 10-14 at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway.
Stewart, who has made it to the Chili Bowl championship feature event in ten of 12 previous tries, last competed in the Chili Bowl in 2008 with an eighth-place showing. He returns in a special edition black, carbon-fiber entry that has been dubbed the “Back in Black” car.
Stewart’s TSR Chevrolet Performance Parts No. 14 will be partnered with the CTR-BCI trio that includes NASCAR Nationwide champion Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., USAC Midget champion Bryan Clauson and Chili Bowl rookie contender Jake Blackhurst. Stenhouse, Jr., and Clauson have each started two Chili Bowl championship feature events, including last year’s 50-lap finale.
Returning after a three year absence, Stewart will compete in Tuesday night’s Fourth Annual Vacuworx International Race of Champions (VIROC IV) and then Wednesday night’s River Spirit Casino Qualifying event.
“Having taken a few years off from competing in the Chili Bowl, I’m really looking forward to returning to Tulsa and the event in 2012,” Stewart commented. “It’s one of the biggest Midget races of the year and it’s just a lot of fun to compete in the Chili Bowl. I’m also glad that we’ll be able to give our partners, Chevrolet and Chevrolet Performance Parts, another shot at a Golden Driller.”
Stenhouse, Jr., who climbed the Sprint Car and Midget ranks just as Stewart did, comes off a NASCAR Nationwide championship season with the Roush Fenway Racing team. A Chili Bowl championship main event starter over two of the past three years, Stenhouse, Jr., is slated for Tuesday night’s Warren CAT Qualifier as well as the VIROC IV event.
Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Quick Facts:
What:
26th 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 10-14, 2011
Tuesday – Warren CAT Qualifying Night plus Vacuworx Chili Bowl Race of Champions
Wednesday – River Spirit Casino Qualifying Night
Thursday – Suburban Chevrolet Qualifying Night
Friday – Vacuworx International Qualifying Night
Saturday – Lucas Oil Championship Feature Events
The five nights of racing action will be preceded by a practice session on Monday, January 9.
Past Winners: Kevin Swindell (2010 and 2011), 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: A limited number of reserved seats for Tuesday night's Warren CAT Qualifying Event and the Fourth Annual Vacuworx International Chili Bowl Race of Champions are available for $43 per person and may be obtained by calling 918-838-3777 or at the gate if still available. Pit passes for all five nights are available at the gate as well.
Chili Bowl on the Net: All official news pertaining to the 26th 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
Dec 24 2011
Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Qualifying Nights Unveiled!
247 Entries Divvied Up Over Four Qualifying Nights
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (December 23, 2011) – The qualifying night assignments for the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway have been set, as the January 10-14 mega-event caps off the bowl season.
Currently, a total of 247 drivers representing 30 different states as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Finland have registered for the event, with more likely before race time.
The star-studded field 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 14, 50-lap Chili Bowl championship main event with the balance of Saturday's lineups determined by qualifying night finishing positions.
A glance at each night's qualifying lineups, all tentative and subject to change, is as follows:
Tuesday, January 10 – Warren CAT Qualifying Night
Past Feature Starters (13): Jerry Coons, Jr. 12, Joe Boyles 3, Thomas Meseraull 3, Michael Pickens 3, Casey Shuman 3, Bubba Altig 2, Jac Haudenschild 2, Danny Stratton 2, Brady Bacon 1, Jonathan Beason 1, Darren Hagen 1, Kyle Larson 1, Bobby Michnowicz 1.
2011 Chili Bowl Main Event Starters: Michael Pickens (3rd), Jonathan Beason (4th), Jerry Coons, Jr. (11th), Jac Haudenschild (22nd), Thomas Meseraull (24th).
Rookies (14): Andee Beierle, Jake Blackhurst, Brenden Bright, Patrick Clark, Jimmy Harris, Davey Heskin, Bubba Hunt, Jason Lair, Tim Lynch, Kyle Smith, Jesse Sobbing, Matt Ward, Waylon Weaver, Ryan York.
On the Chili Bowl Seniority Charts: Steve Newman 20, Jerry Coons, Jr. 14, Joe Boyles 13, Floyd Alvis 10, Stephen Arnold 10, R.J. Johnson 10, Thomas Meseraull 10.
Tuesday's Entries: http://www.chilibowl.com/entries/manual.aspx?c=1032
Tuesday’s card will also include the Fourth Annual Vacuworx International Race of Champions. The contenders for VIROC IV honors will be announced soon.
Wednesday, January 11 – River Spirit Casino Qualifying Night
Past Feature Starters (12): Sammy Swindell 18, Jason Leffler 11, Brad Kuhn 6, Jon Stanbrough 6, Cole Whitt 4, Donnie Ray Crawford 3, Josh Ford 3, Zach Daum 1, Tony Roney 1, Gary Taylor 1, Brandon Waelti 1, Paul White 1.
2011 Chili Bowl Main Event Starters: Sammy Swindell (2nd), Brad Kuhn (6th), Cole Whitt (8th), Jon Stanbrough (9th), Donnie Ray Crawford (12th), Jason Leffler (20th).
Rookies (15): Clint Boyles, Taylor Lynn Ferns, Mike Lapp, Bob Lawlor, Wes McIntyre, Tyler Millwood, Tyler Reddick, Bryan Severs, Danny Smith, Kevin Thomas, Jr., Richard VanderWeerd, Dustin Weland, Robbie Whitchurch, Harli White, Ricky Wright.
On the Chili Bowl Seniority Charts: Sammy Swindell 21, David Camfield,Jr. 17, Jason Leffler 15, Nick O’Neal 13, Josh Ford 10, Brandon Waelti 10, Paul White 10.
Wednesday's Entries: http://www.chilibowl.com/entries/manual.aspx?c=1030
Thursday, January 12 – Suburban Chevrolet Qualifying Night
Past Feature Starters (14): Tracy Hines 11, Shane Cottle 8, J.J. Yeley 6, Steve Buckwalter 5, Matt Westfall 5, Damion Gardner 4, Kevin Swindell 3, Chris Windom 3, Don Droud, Jr. 2, Shane Golobic 2, Chad Boat 1, A.J. Fike 1, Mike Goodman 1, Brad Sweet 1.
2011 Chili Bowl Main Event Starters: Kevin Swindell (1st), Damion Gardner (14th), Shane Golobic (13th), Shane Cottle (21st), Steve Buckwalter (23rd).
Rookies (11): Ryan Bernal, Randy Boyer, A.J. Hopkins, Mike Hudson, Kip Hughes, Shawn Jackson, Steve Lewis, Donald McIntosh, Paige Polyak, Clint Schubert, Rick Shuman.
On the Chili Bowl Seniority Charts: Tracy Hines 15, J.J. Yeley 15, A.J. Fike 13, Tim Siner 13, Matt Westfall 13, Shane Cottle 12.
Thursday's Entries: http://www.chilibowl.com/entries/manual.aspx?c=1031
Friday, January 13 – Vacuworx International Qualifying Night
Past Feature Starters (13): Dave Darland 12, Cory Kruseman 10, Bobby East 5, Davey Ray 4, Bud Kaeding 3, Brad Loyet 3, Daryn Pittman 3, Rich Camfield 2, Bryan Clauson 2, Levi Jones 2, Brent Beauchamp 1, Shane Hollingsworth 1, Brad Mosen 1.
2011 Chili Bowl Main Event Starters: Bryan Clauson (5th), Bobby East (7th), Daryn Pittman (10th), Brad Loyet (13th), Cory Kruseman (16th), Dave Darland (18th).
Rookies (13): Chase Barber, Ryan Blakeman, Alex Bright, Kyle Edwards, David Gravel, Brandon Hahn, Markus Niemela, Alex Schutte, Jake Swanson, Jace VanderWeerd, Vinny Villeggiante, Mike Visser, Cole Wood
On the Chili Bowl Seniority Charts: Rich Camfield 21, Ron Kuhn 18, Dave Darland 14, Cory Kruseman 14, Johnny Murdock 14, Bud Kaeding 11, Shane Hollingsworth 10, Davey Ray 10.
Friday's Entries: http://www.chilibowl.com/entries/manual.aspx?c=1036
Dec 20 2011
Doing a google search for Powri midgets at the Battle at the Center, I found this complete main event with the California boys taking it to them,
Not very much spectator seating Crowd looked sparse? It
looked to Me like T-Mez had way to much forward bite or He might have won. Clausen on another tear?
aXe
Dec 19 2011
Bryan Clauson holds off T-Mez in
POWRI "2nd Annual Battle at the Center"
Clauson last summer Midget week at Lincoln spdwy photo by aXe
From the powri web site powri.com
Du Quoin, Ill. — The start of the indoor season of midget racing couldn't have had a more exciting finish as the 2nd Annual Battle at the Center took place on Saturday night in DuQuoin, Ill. The POWRI sanctioned event saw 51 cars unload for a stout purse and the action was intense for an excellent crowd at the Southern Illinois Center.
Bryan Clauson and Thomas Meseraull swapped the lead multiple times over the final 10 laps in a wheel-to-wheel battle to the checkered flag as Clauson was able to narrowly capture the victory as Meseraull gave chase across the finish line. Chett Gehrke, Defending champion Casey Shuman and Brad Kuhn rounded out the top-five finishers.
Afterwards, the Noblesville, Ind. driver and 2011 National USAC Driver of the Year, was excited about the the victory and the battle with Meseraull to the finish.
"We were able to race wheel without an incident and that was phenomenal. We fell back to third, but we were able to find a passing lane over there in one and two. . .I can't say enough about these guys behind me," Clauson said regarding his team members. "They did a phenomenal job with the track, I don't think I've seen this place that racy in a long time."
Meseraull, though disappointed in finishing one spot short of his goal, was equally excited about the battle for the top spot.
"Once it built a cushion and you can start hauling it up top. Me and Bryan slide jobbing like that, you'd have thought we were at Little Belleville with some banging you know. What a show. POWRi does a great job," the San Jose, Ca. pilot remarked on the front stretch following the finish.
The outcome was in doubt until the final lap in the event as Clauson led much of the early stages of the race as the 1/6 mile track began to widen out for the competitors. Meseraull, running second ahead of Austin Brown, Gehrke, Cameron Hagen and Tony Roney, had slipped back a bit as the caution flew for Hagen, who had banged the wall in turn two.
A promising run for Hagen was derailed with a flat right rear tire caused by the contact.
On the re-start, Meseraull made his bid for the lead in the AJ Felker-owned machine. He threw a solid slider at Clauson in turn one that nearly stuck and followed with several more over the next couple of laps looking to take over the point. Meseraull got the final one to stick as Clauson nearly spun off of turn one and dropped back to third briefly.
The NOS Energy Drink, Curb Records No. 39 wasn't going to stay there for long as he ratcheted up the attack and slipped back past Brown and on Meseraull's tail tank for second before Brad Loyet brought out a red flag when his Vacuworx Intl., Loyet Landscaping, Butlerbuilt Seats, Esslinger, Spike No. 05 got on its side off turn four.
With 10 laps remaining, Clauson made his final push as he and Brown fought for second, wheel-to-wheel ahead of Gehrke as Shuman and Kuhn tried to make up ground.
The final few laps was another war as Meseraull and Clauson battled for the top spot before Clauson was able to make a pass stick and hold on for the final few laps to record the $5,000 payday.
"It feels really good to fall behind and then rally back," Clauson said. "This place has kind of had my number. This is a place that I haven't really run well at in the last few years. To come here and run as strong as we did is a really great boost heading into the indoor season with the Chili Bowl and I'm actually going to New Zealand too. Kind of a great kick-off to the second part of my season. Those guys gave me a great NOS Energy Drink, Curb Records No. 39. It was just a matter of figuring it out. We kind of gave it away there earlier, we were fighting a little bit of a miss. We kind of cleared it up there towards the end of the race. I was able to figure out some things in turns one and two that I wanted to be able to make some passes."
"We had a great car. (AJ) Felker builds great cars. This car right here actually for the Chili Bowl. This car could win the Chili Bowl. We showed it tonight," Meseraull said. "Felker builds some of the best race cars in the business and he is one of the best for obvious reasons. I'd like to think I put on a good show out there. I was running second and I didn't have nothing, but I wanted to win so I started throwing sliders and putting on a show for you guys," Meseraull said. "This place can be kind of boring, but that couldn't have been boring!"
Meseraull started on the pole alongside Tyler Courtney followed by Olney, Ill. native Levi Jones and Clauson.
Clauson led early on in the main event before a pileup in turn three sent brought out a caution.
On a lap 14 re-start a pileup would collect Jones, Courtney and Loyet along with Brett Anderson to shuffle the top-five for the re-start.
When the feature went green again the dual between Clauson and T-Mez took shape for the remaining 20 laps of the 40-lap feature.
Ryan Blakeman produced one of the best efforts of the feature, making his way up from the 20th starting position to place 14th after he slipped back late. Shuman started ninth and crossed the line in fourth and Tim Siner came forward from a 19th starting spot to place 10th.
2nd Annual Battle at the Center at the Illinois State Fairgrounds
Qualifier one
(Top-7 advance to feature)
1. Brad Loyet, 2. Tyler Courtney, 3. Brett Anderson, 4. Chett Gehrke, 5. Brad Kuhn, 6. Mike Goodman, 7. Tim Siner, 8. Tyler Thomas, 9. Taylor Ferns, 10. Colten Cottle, 11. Jody Rosenboom, 12. John Campbell, 13. Kara King, 14. Dave Camefield Jr., 15. Ryan Pace, 16. Andrew Felker, 17. Derrek King
Qualifier two
1. Bryan Clauson, 2. Levi Jones, 3. Tony Roney, 4. Shane Cockrum, 5. Zach Daum, 6. Danny Stratton, 7. Ryan Blakeman, 8. Tyler Reddick, 9. Glen Styres, 10. Tyler Millwood, 11. Trevor Kobylarz, 12. Hunter Schurenberg, 13. Darren Kingston, 14. Jesse Sobbing, 15. Andee Beirle, 16. Steve Stroud, 17. Daniel Robinson
Qualifier three
1. Thomas Meseraull, 2. David Gough, 3. Casey Shuman, 4. Austin Brown, 5. Kyle Neal, 6. Cameron Hagen, 7. Donald McIntosh, 8. Michael J. Koontz, 9. Isaac Chapple, 10. Andy Huston, 11. Tim Lynch, 12. Joey Moughan, 13. Rick King, 14. Chris Morgan, 15. Danny Frye, 16. Danny Smith, 17. Rich Camfield
40-lap Feature
1. Bryan Clauson, 2. Thomas Meseraull, 3. Chett Gehrke, 4. Casey Shuman, 5. Brad Kuhn, 6. Danny Stratton, 7. Brett Anderson, 8. Shane Cockrum, 9. Mike Goodman, 10. Tim Siner, 11. Tony Roney, 12. Austin Brown, 13. David Gough, 14. Ryan Blakeman, 15. Zach Daum, 16. Kyle Neal, 17. Donald McIntosh, 18. Brad Loyet, 19. Levi Jones, 20. Tyler Courtney, 21. Cameron Hagen
Dec 15 2011
Chili Bowl Entry Count Soars Beyond 200!
Jerry Coons, Jr., (3nz) has started eight consecutive Chili Bowl main events
Brad Kuhn (17) is close behind at six in a row.
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (December 14, 2011) – With the December 15 pre-entry discount deadline just one day away, the official entry count for the upcoming 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway broke through the 200 barrier on Wednesday.
With the blockbuster event set for January 10-14 less than four weeks from firing off, the current entry count is at 204 with drivers representing 26 states throughout the nation as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Finland.
Twenty-one of last year’s 24 Chili Bowl championship feature starters, including two-time and defending Chili Bowl champion, are among the current entries as are all four of last year’s preliminary “A” Feature winners.
While preliminary feature winners Bryan Clauson, Donnie Ray Crawford and Sammy Swindell each return to the same team they cracked victory lane with last year, Friday night winner Shane Cottle makes the shift to the No. 71xx of Dr. Kenneth Love for the 2012 Chili Bowl.
Sixteen of last year’s feature starters return to the same team they represented last year, with a handful of drivers finding themselves in a new ride for the 2012 edition. In addition to Cottle, others making changes include Cole Whitt, Jon Stanbrough, Jerry Coons, Jr., and Jason Leffler.
Whitt, the 2010 Chili Bowl runner-up, makes his first Midget start since last year’s Chili Bowl aboard a Dooling Machine-owned No. 63 wrenched by Rusty Kunz, a team with ties to Jerry Coons, Jr., Danny Lendich-owned No. 3nz. Coons, Jr., has started eight consecutive Chili Bowl championship feature events, the longest active Bowl streak. Cottle and Brad Kuhn are next on the list at six in row.
Coming off a ranking of sixth in NASCAR Nationwide points, Leffler is ready for his 16th Chili Bowl try. This time around, Leffler teams with the Keith Kunz Motorsports camp that also includes fellow Cali shoes Kyle Larson, Bud Kaeding and Rico Abreu.
After a practice session on Monday, January 9, the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals kicks off one night later with the first of four qualifying nights. Tuesday's Warren CAT Qualifier will also include the Fourth Annual Vacuworx International Chili Bowl Race of Champions, featuring past event winners and other top Chili Bowl contenders squaring off in a special feature race.
Action continues with Wednesday’s River Spirit Casino Qualifier, Thursday’s Suburban Chevrolet Qualifier and then Friday’s Vacuworx International Qualifier.
The top three finishers from each of the Qualifying Night features will automatically lock into the Saturday night, January 14, Lucas Oil Chili Bowl championship feature, with the balance of Saturday's Lucas Oil championship feature events lined up according to Qualifying Night finishes.
A limited number of reserved seats remain for Tuesday night's Warren CAT Qualifying event and Vacuworx International Chili Bowl Race of Champions for just $43 apiece. Tickets may be obtained by calling the ticket office at 918-838-3777.
Additional information regarding the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals is available at http://www.chilibowl.com/.
Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Pre-Entry Stats:
Most Chili Bowls Competed In (Among Pre-Entered Drivers): Rich Camfield 21, Sammy Swindell 21, Steve Newman 20, David Camfield, Jr. 17, Tracy Hines 15, Jason Leffler 15, J.J. Yeley 15, Jerry Coons, Jr. 14, Dave Darland 14, Cory Kruseman 14, Joe Boyles 13, A.J. Fike 13, Nick O’Neal 13, Tim Siner 13, Matt Westfall 13, Shane Cottle 12, Bud Kaeding 11, Floyd Alvis 10, Josh Ford 10, Shane Hollingsworth 10, R.J. Johnson 10, Thomas Meseraull 10, Davey Ray 10, Paul White 10, Don Droud, Jr. 9, Damion Gardner 9, Brad Kuhn 9, Gary Taylor 9, Daryn Pittman 9, Travis Berryhill 8, Cody Brewer 8, Steve Buckwalter 8, Brad Loyet 8, Doug McCune 8, Todd McVay 8, Matt Sherrell 8, Jon Stanbrough 8, Danny Stratton 8.
Chili Bowl Championship Feature Starts (Among Pre-Entered Drivers): Sammy Swindell 18, Jerry Coons, Jr. 12, Dave Darland 12, Tracy Hines 11, Jason Leffler 11, Cory Kruseman 10, Shane Cottle 8, Brad Kuhn 6, Jon Stanbrough 6, J.J. Yeley 6, Steve Buckwalter 5, Matt Westfall 5, Damion Gardner 4, Davey Ray 4, Cole Whitt 4, Joe Boyles 3, Donnie Ray Crawford 3, Josh Ford 3, Bud Kaeding 3, Brad Loyet 3, Thomas Meseraull 3, Michael Pickens 3, Daryn Pittman 3, Casey Shuman 3, Kevin Swindell 3, Chris Windom 3, Rich Camfield 2, Bryan Clauson 2, Don Droud, Jr. 2, Shane Golobic 2, Jac Haudenschild 2, Levi Jones 2, Danny Stratton 2, Brady Bacon 1, Jonathan Beason 1, Brent Beauchamp 1, Chad Boat 1, Zach Daum 1, A.J. Fike 1, Mike Goodman 1, Darren Hagen 1, Shane Hollingsworth 1, Kyle Larson 1, Bobby Michnowicz 1, Brad Mosen 1, Tony Roney 1, Gary Taylor 1, Paul White 1.
Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Quick Facts:
What: 26th 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 10-14, 2011
Tuesday – Warren CAT Qualifying Night plus Vacuworx Chili Bowl Race of Champions
Wednesday – River Spirit Casino Qualifying Night
Thursday – Suburban Chevrolet Qualifying Night
Friday – Vacuworx International Qualifying Night
Saturday – Lucas Oil Championship Feature Events
The five nights of racing action will be preceded by a practice session on Monday, January 9.
Past Winners: Kevin Swindell (2010 and 2011), 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: A limited number of reserved seats for Tuesday night's Warren CAT Qualifying Event and the Fourth Annual Vacuworx International Chili Bowl Race of Champions are available for $43 per person and may be obtained by calling 918-838-3777 or at the gate if still available. Pit passes for all five nights are available at the gate as well.
Chili Bowl on the Net: All official news pertaining to the 26th 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
It’s Beginning to Feel a Lot Like… The Chili Bowl!
East, Kruser & Golobic going at it!
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (December 2011) – The first dose of winter has settled upon the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The initial round of sub-freezing temperatures has arrived with a few random flurries here and there to serve as further evidence just in case those blustery north winds hadn’t given enough cause to take notice.
And, that can mean just one thing; the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals can’t be far off.
The 26th edition of the prestigious event at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds’ QuikTrip Center is but just a few short weeks away, with top drivers from throughout the world kicking up the clay on the ¼-mile Tulsa Expo Raceway clay oval before a packed house each night from January 10-14 after a Monday practice session on January 9.
True, Chili Bowlers are occasionally greeted to the Sooner State with weather conditions ideal for getting in a round of golf during the day before taking in the most thrilling race action of the year at night. And, there have been enough at the other end of the weather spectrum, that can’t be denied either.
Warm or frigid cold, rain, ice or shine, it matters not. The Midget racing action is always red-hot atop the ¼-mile clay oval at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.
After overcoming the odds to become the first back-to-back winner in event history last January, 22-year-old Kevin Swindell will gun for an unprecedented three-peat this time around. Even if the Memphis-area native can prevail over a field of 250-ish entries for a third consecutive time, he’ll still be two Golden Drillers shy of his father Sammy Swindell, who has topped the Chili Bowl an unmatched five times.
Back-to-back had seemed unlikely. His father hadn’t been able to on five previous tries. Nor had Tony Stewart, newly-crowned NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, after Chili Bowl triumphs in 2002 and 2007. Nor had the likes of 14 other past Chili Bowl champions including Damion Gardner, Tim McCreadie, Tracy Hines, Cory Kruseman, Dan Boorse, Jay Drake, Billy Boat, Donnie Beechler, Andy Hillenburg, Dave Blaney, Lealand McSpadden, Johnny Heydenreich, Scott Hatton and Vich Vogler.
Going for three in a row and getting the job done would be borderline Herculean.
After all, the approximately 250 entries for the event are filled with champion upon champion from all varieties of racing. With so much talent packed into one place, teams prepping the best of the best equipment for a run at the coveted Golden Driller and the surplus of tight racing action on the well-manicured track, the slightest of miscues over the course of the week can essentially turn a contender into a pretender in the mere blink of an eye.
But, make no mistake; Kevin Swindell will be there to try for the three-peat. The question is, can anybody stop him in the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals 50-lap championship finale on Saturday night, January 14? And, if so, who will it be?
West Coast Has Strong Chili Bowl Ties
With Over 50 Entries Already Entered as Chili Bowl pre-Entry Deadline Nears
By Robert Haugh
With up to over 250 entries, it’s no wonder that the 26th Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals is the Super Bowl of Midget racing.
Attracting the best Midget racers from throughout the U.S. and beyond, as well as a myriad of racing stars from an array of series including NASCAR, NHRA, WOO, it’s no surprise that with the pre-entry deadline looming on December 15, there are already over 50 drivers and teams from the West Coast gunning at winning the 26th Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals and capturing the coveted Golden Driller trophy awarded on Saturday, January 14th.
An array of West Coast Midget champions, feature winners, veterans, young guns and car owners, many representing the Bay Cities Racing Association, USAC-Western States, Washington Midget racing Association, Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association and the Northwest Wingless Tour and NOMA Midgets are already entered in the 26th Annual Chili Bowl.
With so many championships, feature wins and accolades amidst the field, we will start with recent West Coast Midget champions: 2011 USAC-Western States and VRA Midget champion Cory Kruseman (two-time Chili Bowl champion, 2004, 2000) aboard the Kruseman Motorsports #21k Lucas Oil Spike/Esslinger, 2009 BCRA champion and 2011 USAC-Western States Car owner champion David Prickett of Fresno, CA piloting the Neverlift Motorsports #15p Manitowoc-Prickett’s Distributing-Crysalli-Fruitful Juice Spike/Van Dyne Chevy, 2011 BCRA Dirt Midget champion Shannon McQueen of Tehachapi, CA in the McQueen Racing #7 Murf Dogg Racing-R.C. 4 Less-American Waste Control-Simpson Race Products-K&N Filters Spike/Esslinger, 2007 BCRA champion Justin Grant of Ione, CA chauffeuring Larry Gardner’s #35 Stealth/Frampton Gaerte, 7-time BCRA champion “Ageless Wonder” Floyd Alvis manning his Champion Automotive #18 Stealth/Wesmar, 2004 BCRA champion and multi-time feature winner Thomas Meseraull wheeling Mark Bush’s #2T EF-65 Hand Cleaner Spike/Esslinger, former Chili Bowl winner and former USAC/CRA champion Damion Gardner of Concord, CA in the Loyet Motorsports #05g Spike/Esslinger, 1999 BCRA champion Matt Streeter of Galt, CA in his #14jr S&S Automotive-T&T Trucking-ART Enterprises Spike/S&S, multiple-time Silver Crown and Sprint Car champion Bud Kaeding of Campbell, CA aboard the #2 Keith Kunz Motorsports entry and former NWWT and NOMA Midget champion Time Pyle of Gresham, Oregon in his #71p Spike/Brayton.
Joining the all-female McQueen Racing stable will be Guthrie, Oklahoma’s Michelle Decker aboard Shannon McQueen’s #7d Waurika Truck & Tire-Carter Custom Finishes-Starship Trucking-Simpson Race Products-Quantum Consulting Spike/Esslinger and Lindsay, Oklahoma’s Harli White (16-year-old Chili Bowl rookie) aboard McQueen’s #7w American Waste Control-Waurika Truck & Tire-Quantum Consulting-K&N Filters-Eibach Springs Spike/Esslinger.
Joining the Neverlift Motorsports team will be Lake Havasu City, Arizona’s Connor Kassik, the 2011 USAC-Western States Rookie-of-the-Year piloting the Neverlift Motorsports #15k Crysalli-Manitowoc-Fruitful Juice-Prickett’s Distributing TCR/Chevy and Fresno’s T.J. Smith aboard the #15s Neverlift Motorsports Crysalli-Manitowoc-Fruitful Juice-Prickett’s Distributing Spike/Van Dyne Chevy. Smith is coming off of a stellar Chili Bowl run in a McQueen racing mount in 2011, in which he advanced to B-Main 2.
Alvis’ 2012 Chili Bowl foray will see him team with San Carlos’ Bob Lawlor in Alvis’ #83x B.L. Transport-Champion Automotive-Lindsey Enterprises-F&D Welding Stealth/Gaerte. It will be Lawlor’s first Chili Bowl appearance.
Joining the potent Kruseman stable are Las Vegas’ Patrick Clark in the #17k Kruseman Motorsports Spike/Esslinger, Omaha, Nebraska’s Brian Deegan in the #38k Kruseman Motorsports Spike/Esslinger and the #12k Kruseman Motorsports Spike/Esslinger entry with a driver TBA.
Other top West Coast entrants include two-time A-main qualifier Shane Golobic of Fremont, CA aboard Doug Bock’s #26 Get Som Sports-Bicycles Inc. (Ft. Worth, TX)-Country Builders-Piners Welding Supply & Driveline Service Spike/Esslinger, American Canyon’s Travis Berryhill aboard the Manic Racing #11b Vallejo Coin Exchange-Red Line Oil-Racing 2 Cure-Fairfield Inn & Suites-Advance Racing Stealth/Fontana, current NASCAR Truck series driver Cole Whitt (2011 A-Main eighth place finisher) of Alpine, CA aboard the Dooling Machine Inc. #63 Spike/Esslinger, two-time (2008, 2009) A-Main qualifier Josh Ford of Oxnard, CA in the Keith Ford #73 Spike/Bob Wirth, 2010 A-Main qualifier Kyle Larson of Elk Grove, CA aboard the Keith Kunz Motorsports #67, NASCAR veteran Jason Leffler aboard the Keith Kunz Motorsports #71, Stockton’s Johnathon Henry aboard the Graundstadt Enterprises #88 Ellis/Fontana, Angwin’s Britton Bock in his #67x McNamara Electric-Mike Bock-Driveline Service of Santa Rosa-Pete’s Tractor Service Spike/Esslinger, Washington native Gary Taylor aboard the Loyet Motorsports #05g Spike/Esslinger, Arizona’s Chad Boat aboard Robbie & Gaye Allen’s #12b Spike/Esslinger, Bakersfield’s Sean Dodenhoff aboard his #9d Spike/Fontana, Texas’ Harris Brooks in Dodenhoff’s #9b EMC/Fontana, Rutherford, CA’s Rico Abreu in the Keith Kunz Motorsports #67k, Cole Peard of Quincy, CA in Gordon & Alisa Peard’s #58 F5 Twister, Riverside’s Darren Hagen in the #3 RFMS Racing Spike/Esslinger, Corning, CA’s Tyler Reddick in the 2B Racing #2b Spike/Fontana, Arizona’s Josh Pelkey aboard Robbie & Gaye Allen’s #12jr Spike/Esslinger, Brent Camarillo in Brian Camarillo’s #51 Spike/Ed Pink Chevy, Brian Camarillo in the Bill Camarillo #22 Spike/Fontana, Moorpark, CA’s Kyle Smith in his own #55 Spike/Chevy, Ronnie Gardner in the #71s Keith Ford Spike/Essl
inger, Danny Stratton, Arizona’s Terry Goodwin in Misty Goodwin’s #2g Spike/Fontana, Lomita’s Kevin Michonowicz in the #21jr Ron Bach Spike/Gaerte Bobby Michonowicz in the #49jr Ron Bach Spike/Esslinger and Oklahoma’s Ricky Wright aboard the #35w Douglas & Britton Bock Get Som Sports TCR/Esslinger.
It’s Beginning to Feel a Lot Like… The Chili Bowl !
G.T. Miller photo
Bobby East, Cory the "Kruser" and John Golobic going hard at it!
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (December 2011) – The first dose of winter has settled upon the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The initial round of sub-freezing temperatures has arrived with a few random flurries here and there to serve as further evidence just in case those blustery north winds hadn’t given enough cause to take notice.
And, that can mean just one thing; the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals can’t be far off.
The 26th edition of the prestigious event at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds’ QuikTrip Center is but just a few short weeks away, with top drivers from throughout the world kicking up the clay on the ¼-mile Tulsa Expo Raceway clay oval before a packed house each night from January 10-14 after a Monday practice session on January 9.
True, Chili Bowlers are occasionally greeted to the Sooner State with weather conditions ideal for getting in a round of golf during the day before taking in the most thrilling race action of the year at night. And, there have been enough at the other end of the weather spectrum, that can’t be denied either.
Warm or frigid cold, rain, ice or shine, it matters not. The Midget racing action is always red-hot atop the ¼-mile clay oval at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.
After overcoming the odds to become the first back-to-back winner in event history last January, 22-year-old Kevin Swindell will gun for an unprecedented three-peat this time around. Even if the Memphis-area native can prevail over a field of 250-ish entries for a third consecutive time, he’ll still be two Golden Drillers shy of his father Sammy Swindell, who has topped the Chili Bowl an unmatched five times.
Back-to-back had seemed unlikely. His father hadn’t been able to on five previous tries. Nor had Tony Stewart, newly-crowned NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, after Chili Bowl triumphs in 2002 and 2007. Nor had the likes of 14 other past Chili Bowl champions including Damion Gardner, Tim McCreadie, Tracy Hines, Cory Kruseman, Dan Boorse, Jay Drake, Billy Boat, Donnie Beechler, Andy Hillenburg, Dave Blaney, Lealand McSpadden, Johnny Heydenreich, Scott Hatton and Vich Vogler.
Going for three in a row and getting the job done would be borderline Herculean.
After all, the approximately 250 entries for the event are filled with champion upon champion from all varieties of racing. With so much talent packed into one place, teams prepping the best of the best equipment for a run at the coveted Golden Driller and the surplus of tight racing action on the well-manicured track, the slightest of miscues over the course of the week can essentially turn a contender into a pretender in the mere blink of an eye.
But, make no mistake; Kevin Swindell will be there to try for the three-peat. The question is, can anybody stop him in the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals 50-lap championship finale on Saturday night, January 14? And, if so, who will it be?
Entry
Driver entry is just $150 if filed by today December 15.
Entries filed after the pre-entry deadline are $200.
Nov 29 2011
BANQUET CONCLUDES ARDC's 72ND SEASON
by Steve Williams
The American Racing Drivers Club held their annual banquet celebrating their 72nd season Saturday November 26th at The Lobitz Cater Hall in Hazleton, PA.
Drew Heistand of Wrightsville was officially crowned the club champion. Heistand who had wins at Susquehanna, Port Royal and Williams Grove in his DonCin Transport number 12 Midget also had 5 top 5 and 11 top 10 finishes to score 2202 points.
Heistand, whose name is now listed with the likes of “Wild Bill” Schindler, Ed “Dutch” Schaefer and Len Duncan as well as more recent champions like Steve Buckwalter, Frank Polimeda and Andy Martin, remarked, “When I came to my first banquet I had to sit all the way in the back on the dance floor and watch Andy Martin receive his award as champion and I thought to myself, I want to be up there.” “Earlier this week I was looking at the list of past champions and realized that I didn’t know even half of the guys on the list but I knew who they were and to have my name on that list is an incredible honor.”
To complete the sweep of top awards, Heistand’s Crew Chief / Owner / Father, Don Heistand was named as the Ken Hickey Mechanic of the Year. Heistand, who also fields a car for son Dusty Heistand said, ”This award should be cut up in pieces and given to all the guys on the crew and to my wife.” Don Heistand was also given the owners championship plaque.
In all, the top 15 in both driver and owners points where awarded plaques, honoring their accomplishments.
Winning the Rookie of the Year Award was Brenden Bright of Collegeville, PA. Bright, one of five rookies scoring points this season had 7 top 10 finishes, 4 top 5’s including a win at Dixieland Speedway in Elizabeth City, NC. Bright also finished in 10th position in the point standings.
Steve Drevicki of Reading PA was given the Most Improved Driver Award. Drevicki, in his second season of Wingless Midget racing scored 7 top 10’s and 5 top 5’s that included wins at Penn Can and Big Diamond Speedways. Drevicki finished seventh in points.
The Best Appearing Car Award was given to Shawn Jackson of Bear DE. Jackson’s number 2 was lettered by Bruce Bowen and was a combination of vinyl and “Old School Paint”.
The Galen Halteman Memorial Presidents Award was given to Tammy and Tim Sassaman of Milford, NJ. The Sassaman’s joined ARDC this season after formerly traveling with the Focus Midget Series. Tim is one of the infield officials while Tammy serves as a scorer. In addition, the Sassaman’s have provided a trailer that serves as the traveling ARDC office.
Other awards were given to ARDC’s speedway partners including, Susquehanna Speedway Park, Williams Grove Speedway, Port Royal Speedway, Bridgeport Speedway, Penn Can Speedway, Big Diamond Speedway, Pittsburgh PA Motor Speedway, Mercer Raceway Park, Dixieland Speedway, County Line Raceway, Winchester Speedway and New Egypt Speedway.
Contingency sponsors recognized were, Racebumpers.com, Saldana Racing Products, SBI Fuel Systems, DMI, S&S Speedways, Mason Racing Ignitions, Jereco Racing Engines, DeFebo Graphics, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Petcock Powder Coating, Fastener Specialties and BDB Graphics.
A 50/50 raffle was held with the proceeds going to Jack Culbertson a nine year old Quarter Midget racer with the Montgomery County Quarter Midget Club who is suffering from cancer. The winning ticket belonged to Randy Smith of S&S Speedways who donated his portion of the winnings to the young driver.
ARDC President Bruce Buckwalter Sr. said that the final touches are being put on the 2012 season including the schedule and firming up the rules and that information will be released soon.
Drew Heistand concluded his champion’s speech with a statement that best sums up not only the 2011 season but also ARDC when he said, “Great Teams, Great Racing, Great People”.
FINAL POINT STANDINGS
Pos Car# Driver Name Points
1 12 Drew Heistand 2202
2 78 Nick Wean 2033
3 33 Ryan Smith 2022
4 83 Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. 1892
5 46 Brett Arndt 1851
6 6 Dusty Heistand 1841
7 19 Steven Drevicki 1831
8 7 Alex Bright 1814
9 52 Tim Buckwalter 1715
10 88 Brenden Bright 1677
11 01 Steven Bull 1558
12 8 Keith McIntyre, Jr. 1264
13 51 PJ Gargiulo 1203
14 0 Steve Buckwalter 1187
15 55 Steve Craig 1126
16 89 Andrew Hannula 1114
17 2 Shawn Jackson 936
18 16 Dave Shirk 936
19 61 Parker Evans 933
20 4 Shane Penny 820
21 17 Ryan Watt 814
22 81 Mark Gilmore 758
23 57 Jason Rice 683
24 28 Greg Fitzpatrick 608
25 3 Joe Butera 502
26 49 Trevor Kobylarz 471
27 11 Eric Heydenreich 464
28 41 Mike Miller 288
29 20 Carey Becker 261
30 9 Steve Lenig 219
31 75 Scott Zipp 216
32 53 Randy Reid 187
33 07 Jimmy Glenn 172
34 25 Chris Zrinski 129
35 99 Justin Grosz 102
36 39 John Heydenreich 58
FINAL OWNER STANDINGS
Car # Owner Name Points
12 DonCin Transport 2202
78 Rick Wean 2033
33 Jerry Steward 2022
83 Bruce Buckwalter, Sr. 1892
46 Essay Racing 1851
6 DonCin Transport 1841
19 Greg Fitzpatrick 1831
77 Alex Bright 1814
88 Ted Bright 1677
52 Rick Buckwalter 1658
1 Steven Bull 1558
8 Keith McIntyre, Sr. 1264
0 Brian Buckwalter 1244
5 Steve Craig 1126
89 Zrinski Racing 1114
51 Gargiulo Racing 1101
2 Shawn Jackson 936
61 Parker Evans 933
4 Shane Penny 820
17 Donnie Hoffman 814
16 Glenn Good 801
81 Dale Gilmore 758
57 Wayne Rice 683
28 Greg Fitzpatrick 608
3 Joe Butera 502
20 Dyke Becker 491
11 Rich Heydenreich 464
75 Fred Schell 351
41 Mike Miller 288
9 Steve Lenig 219
53 Randy Reid 187
7 James Glenn 172
25 Lou Zrinski 129
7 Rich Heydenreich 58
Nov 8 2011
ALEX BRIGHT WINS THE CANDY BOWL AT SUSQUEHANNA SPEEDWAY PARK DREW HEISTAND IS CROWNED CHAMPION IN ARDC’s 72nd SEASON
by Steve Williams
Coming into the Candy Bowl at Susquehanna Speedway Park, Drew Heistand had not wrapped up the ARDC Midget point championship but all he had to do was start his heat race and he would amass enough point to outdistance Nick Wean. Mission accomplished as Heistand won the first heat race.
After a foot of snow delayed the race by a week and a day Heistand came to the track looking to not only qualify but to win but by the time all the candy wrappers were empty it was Alex Bright picking up his second win of the season.
At the drop off the green flag, Dave Shirk jumped from his pole position into the lead and immediately started a dual with Dusty Heistand and Alex Bright. Going into the third turn, Jimmy Glenn spun and collected Nick Wean who did a slow roleover.
Both cars were restarted but Wean was forced to retire when it was discovered that his battery had come out of the car.
On the restart it was Shirk driving back into the lead with Heistand in tow. Behind the front two was a war on wheels for the third spot between Bright, Steve Drevicki and Steve Bull.
On the following circuit, Heistand and Bright got by Shirk and started to open a lead. On lap 4 Bright was able to get a bite and swept around the outside of Heistand coming off the second turn.
Two laps later, Drevicki was able to get by Shirk and brought Bruce Buckawalter Jr. along as the two moved into third and fourth.
The yellow flag was unfurled on the eighth lap for Jimmy Glenn. Glenn’s racer had a broken axle and had to be towed from the track.
On the restart, Drew Heistand got by Shirk for fifth and immediately started pressuring Buckwalter Jr. for fourth while his brother Dusty was trying to get back around Bright into the lead.
With the final 12 laps of the race running non-stop it allowed Bright to slowly pull away to over a straight away lead over Heistand and Drevicki who were entertaining the crowd with some great side by side action.
At the checkered flag it was Bright with Dusty Heistand holding off Steve Drevicki for second while Drew Heistand made a late race pass of Buckwalter Jr. for fourth.
Finishing sixth through tenth were, Tim Buckwalter, PJ Gargiulo, Brenden Bright, Ryan Smith and Andrew Hannula.
Heat races went to Drew Heistand, Steve Bull and Tim Buckwalter
CANDY BOWL NOTES: When Drew Heistand left Susquehanna after the first race of the season he was in next to last place in points. At intermission the drivers pushed their cars onto the front stretch and kids were invited to come out and Trick or Treat. Bruce Buckwalter Jr’s. car was pushed onto the race track by an ATV driven by a big fluffy dog. Alex Bright will compete at the Chili Bowl in January, Dusty Heistand’s second place car has a for sale sign on it. Steve Drevicki made the two hour drive from State College, PA where he is attending classes at Penn State University. PJ Gargiulo had the number 5 on his car instead of his familiar 51. He also had a pumpkin and a scary mouth designed by his daughter on the front. Andrew Hannula recently bought a car and will spend the winter rebuilding it for action next season. Trevor was behind the wheel of teammate Carey Becker’s 20 as hi number 49 has been sold. Bridgeport Modified champion, Ryan Watt was back in action for his second consecutive race. Steve Buckwalter was not on hand as he was on his way to Austrailia to race.
SUSQUEHANNA SPEEDWAY PARK November 6, 2011 ARDC Wingless Midgets (21 Entries)
1) 77 Alex Bright, 2) 6 Dusty Heistand, 3) 19 Steve Drevicki, 4) 12 Drew Heistand, 5) 83 Bruce Buckwalter Jr. 6) 52 Tim Buckwalter, 7) 5 PJ Gargiulo, 8) 88 Brenden Bright, 9) 33 Ryan Smith, 10) 89 Andrew Hannula, 11) 46 Brett Arndt, 12) 20 Trevor Kobylarz, 13) 17 Ryan Watt, 14) 16 Dave Shirk, 15) 01 Steve Bull, 16) 57 Jason Rice, 17) 11 Eric Heydenreich, 18) 53 Randy Reid, 19) 75 Scott Zipp, 20) 07 Jimmy Glenn 21) 78 Nick Wean
Oct 31 2011
PIEROVICH WINS IN BCRA MIDGET FINALE AT CHOWCHILLA SPEEDWAY
Results Courtesy of BCRA
Scott Pierovich of Alamo, Ca picks up his 4th Bay Cities Racing Association win of 2011 at the BCRA season finale at the 3/8 mile clay Chowchilla Speedway. Shane Golobic finished second, followed by Shannon McQueen, Harli White and Rob Lindsey.
Heat 1 (8 laps): 1. David Prickett, 15, NLMS/DPR; 2. Shane Golobic, 26, D. Bock; 3. Michael Faccinto, 51, Evans; 4. Rob Lindsey, 23, Lindsey; 5. Dan Parker, 28, Roza; 6. Pete Davis, 00, Davis; 7. Floyd Alvis, 83, Alvis
Heat 2 (8 laps): 1. Harli White, 7s, McQueen; 2. Nick Foster Jr., 1, Fowler; 3. Chris Ennis, 97x, Martens; 4. Kevin Morris, 17k, Morris; 5. Tom Doherty, 66, Walker; 6. Bill Lindsey, 18a, Alvis; 7. J.R. Williams, 74, Williams;
Heat 3 (8 laps): 1. Shannon McQueen, 7, McQueen; 2. Connor Kassik, 15n, NLMS/DPR; 3. Scott Pierovich, 35, Pierovich; 4. Nick Chivello, 27b, Blackwell; 5. Rick Holbrook, 6, Holbrook; 6. Britton Bock, 67, B. Bock
Feature (15 laps): 1. Pierovich; 2. Golobic; 3. McQueen; 4. White; 5. R. Lindsey; 6. Alvis; 7. Holbrook; 8. Davis; 9. Ennis; 10. B. Lindsey; 11. Williams; 12. Chivello; 13. Kassik; 14. Prickett; 15. Parker; 16. Foster Jr.; 17. Doherty; 18. Morris; 19. Bock; 20. Faccinto
Follow along at www.bcraracing.com for news and results.
Oct 19 2011
BERRYHILL SWEEPS RACING EVENTS
DURING BCRA PAVEMENT FINALE AT LAKEPORT SPEEDWAY
from BCRA
Travis Berryhill of American Canyon, driving the Bob Rosen #4 Beast, won all the racing events at the Bay Cities Racing Association Pavement Midget finale on the ¼ mile paved Lakeport Speedway last Saturday. Shannon McQueen finished 2nd, followed by Scott Pierovich, David Goodwill and Dan Parker. Chad Nichols becomes 2011 BCRA Pavement series Champion.
Qualifying (2 laps): 1. Shannon McQueen, 10c, Eskesen, 11.857; 2. Chad Nichols, 17n, Nichols, 11.939; 3. Darin Snider, 2k, Snider, 12.032; 4. Travis Berryhill, 4, Rosen, 12.034; 5. Michael Snider, 6k, Snider, 12.081; 6. Scott Pierovich, 35, Pierovich, 12.083; 7. Kevin Morris, 17k, Morris, 12.116; 8. Nick Foster Jr., 1, Fowler, 12.224; 9. David Goodwill, 88, Arata, 12.440; 10. Dan Parker, 20, Roza, 12.459; 11. Rick Holbrook, 6, Holbrook, 12.473; 12. Devin LaHorgue, 2, Faeth, 12.532; 13. Floyd Alvis, 83, Alvis, 12.608; 14. Rob Jensen, 2x, Snider, 13.361
Dash (4 laps): 1. Berryhill; 2. D. Snider; 3. McQueen; 4. Nichols
Heat 1 (8 laps): 1. D.Snider; 2. Morris; 3. Goodwill; 4. McQueen; 5. M. Snider; 6. Holbrook; 7. Alvis
Heat 2 (8 laps): 1. Berryhill; 2. Pierovich; 3. Foster Jr.; 4. Nichols; 5. Parker; 6. LaHorgue DNS 7. Jensen DNS
Feature (30 laps): 1. Berryhill; 2. McQueen; 3. Pierovich; 4. Goodwill; 5. Parker; 6. Nichols; 7. Morris; 8. Holbrook; 9. Alvis; 10. Foster Jr.
Oct 17 2011
NICK WEANS VISIT TO THE BEACH GIVES HIM THE WINNING FORMULA
by Steve Williams
On his weekend off Nick Wean went to the beach and found something. No the Phillipsburg, NJ resident didn’t head to Asbury Park to listen to “The Boss’, he went to Pontoon Beach, Illinois home of Tri-City Speedway and the Gold Crown Midget Nationals. He didn’t find any seashells. What he found was a setup that gave him a dominating victory at Grandview Speedway in the Thunder on the Hill, Halloween Party 5-25’s.
Rick Wean, Nick’s dad / crew chief said, “That place was just like here [Grandview]so I set the car up the same way” The same way worked as “Slick Nick” drove his ARDC Wingless Midget to almost a straight away win.
After a second complete restart was needed Alex Bright charged into the lead from his outside pole starting position after battling down the backstretch three wide with Steve Bull and Dusty Heistand. Bright was able to get into the third turn first before Bull and Heistand got together leaving Heistand sitting backward in the turn.
On the restart, Bright continued to lead but a battle behind him was heating up as the high point men who started in the rear were making their moves to the front. On the fourth lap, Steve Buckwalter moved into fourth while Wean slipped into fifth by riding up on the cushion.
Heading into turn three on the fifth lap, Buckwalter tried to duck low but a malfunctioning throttle spring caused the 0 to take a wild series of end over end flips. The crowd came to its feet and roared as Buckwalter, almost immediately, popped out of the cockpit and waved to the crowd that he was alright.
When the field restarted, second place runner, Steve Drevicki stopped on the backstretch to check with a tech official. Buckwalter’s flipping car had gotten into the rear of Drevicki’s racer setting up a vibration. With no visible damage Drevicki restarted on the back of the field and continued despite what was determined later as a badly bent rear axle.
With Drevicki dropping to the rear, Brett Arndt was moved to second with Wean and Ryan Smith now on his rear nerf bar. At the drop of the green flag, Wean immediately went to the cushion but with little success over the next few laps as Arndt was able to ward off the attack.
On lap eight, Wean got a bite off the cushion and got by Arndt for second. One lap later the same cushion gave Wean the lead as he got by Bright for the lead with a slick pass on the high side coming off turn two. “I went up top and at first we were going nowhere, then it came in and we took off” said Wean later.
Wean immediately started to open up a lead that at some points during the race was by the length of a straight. The battle on the track for second between Bright, Arndt and Smith was soon joined by Andrew Hannula, who like Wean was riding the cushion.
On the 10th lap Bright drifted high which allowed both Arndt and Smith to get past him. Four laps later Smith got under Arndt for second but was only able to draw in on the rear of Wean in lapped traffic.
Wean took the checkered flag 1.8 seconds ahead of Smith. Third place was Arndt as Hannula nipped Bright at the line for fourth.
Sixth through tenth spots went to Mike Miller, Drew Heistand, Jason Rice, Steve Drevicki and Eric Heydenreich.
GRANDVIEW NOTES: Nick Wean’s grandfather Dick was on hand Saturday night. After seeing many Micro race wins the elder Wean was on hand to witness Nick’s first ARDC Midget win. Other ARDCer’s besides Nick Wean who competed at the Gold Crown Midget Nationals were, Steve Buckwalter with a sixth in the A-Main, Alex Bright a 10th, Ryan Smith a 16th. Trevor Kobylarz had a 11th place finish in the B Main while Tim Buckwalter finished 13th in the B. After bringing out the initial yellow of the evening, Andrew Hannula and Jason Rice recovered nicely to finish fourth and eighth respectively. Hannula said his driving technique came from watching Sammy Swindell at the Chili Bowl. The bent rear in Steve Drevicki’s car was from his car owner, Greg Fitzpatrick’s Midget. It was installed when a pre race check of his showed a leak. After the season ending race at Susquehanna Speedway Park, Steve Buckwalter will head to Australia to race. Going into the final race of the season at Susquehanna, unofficially only Drew Heistand and Nick Wean have a mathematical chance to win the championship. Heistand has 2077 with Wean 97 points behind with 1980. The maximum points awarded for a race are 25 show points, 15 points for a heat race win and 100 points for a feature win for a total of 140 points. For the official point standings please visit www.ardcmidgets.com
GRANDVIEW SPEEDWAY October 15, 2011
ARDC Midgets (23 Entries)
1) 78 Nick Wean, 2) 33 Ryan Smith, 3) 46 Brett Arndt, 4) 89 Andrew Hannula, 5) 77 Alex Bright, 6) 41 Mike Miller, 7) 12 Drew Heistand, 8) 57 Jason Rice, 9) 19 Steve Drevicki, 10) 11 Eric Heydenreich, 11) 2 Shawn Jackson, 12) 3 Joe Butera, 13) 16 Dave Shirk, DNF 14) 01 Steve Bull, 15) 52 Tim Buckwalter, 16) 83 Bruce Buckwalter Jr., 17) 0 Steve Buckwalter, 18) 53 Randy Reid, 19) 20 Carey Becker, 20) 6 Dusty Heistand, 21) 51 PJ Gargiulo, 22) 07 Jimmy Glenn, 23) 17 Ryan Watt
UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, October 29 Susquehanna Speedway Park
Sunday, October 30 Susquehanna Speedway Park (rain date)
For complete point standings, more news and information visit:
www.ardcmidgets.com
Oct 12 2011
ARDC MIDGETS TO BE PART OF THE THUNDER ON THE HILL
5-25’s HALLOWEEN PARTY
by Steve Williams
The Wingless Midgets of the ARDC will be back in action this Saturday Night October 15th at Grandview Speedway in Bechtelsville, PA as part of the Thunder on the Hill 5-25’s Halloween Party. Joining ARDC will be the URC Sprint Cars, 358 Modifieds, Sportsman and Legends in the unique features only program. Also part of the program are the Garden State Vintage Stock Cars and Vince’s Towing Legend Owners Race. The evening will conclude with the Monster Smash Demo Derby.
Leading the Midget charge will be Wrightsville, PA’s red hot Drew Heistand. In the last three events, Heistand sandwiched a third place run at New Egypt Speedway between two wins at Port Royal Speedway and Williams Grove Speedway to solidify his points lead. Another win at Susquehanna Speedway was registered earlier in the season. Heistand has amassed 1,982 tallies and leads second place “Slick” Nick Wean out of Phillipsburg, NJ by 127 points with two races remaining on the schedule. Wean grabbed a checkered flag at Mercer Raceway Park.
Creating a log jam at the top of the point standings is Ryan Smith from Kunkletown, PA. Smith is tied with Steve Buckwalter for the most wins with four. Smith was victo