Chili Bowl 2019 – night two

Night two of the 2019 33^rd annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire in Tulsa Oklahoma were spiced up with the 20-car 20-lap Vacuworx Invitational Race of Champions. 

Tanner Thorson in Clyde Lamar’s Arai-sponsored #3C midget went wire-to-wire from his outside front row starting position to win over Keith Kunz Motorsports’ (KKM) Kyle Larson and his KKM teammate Christopher Bell who had started fifteenth. Ryan Bernal in Kevin Swindell’s #39 finished fourth and JJ Yeley fifth.

The night’s 25-lap A feature was captured by Kyle Larson in the KKM McDonald’s sponsored machine. Larson powered past early leader Zach Daum on the high side down the back stretch on lap five went to the cushion and motored away as Daum fought off the challenge of Sam Hafertepe Junior. 

Following a caution flag period with  25 laps completed for Larry Wright’s blown engine, Daum held off the charge of Jonathon Beason up from his tenth place starting position in his Hard Eight Racing entry as Larson drove away to a one-second advantage at the drop of the checkered flag.

2018 United States Auto Club (USAC) Light up the World Beverages Western States Midget champion Michael Faccinto used the low groove around the Tulsa Expo Raceway to finish in fourth place with Hafertepe Jr. fifth.

2018 USAC National sprint car champion Tyler “Sunshine” Courtney wound up with a disappointing sixth-place finish after he ran fourth for much of the race. Announcer and racer Dillon Welch placed seventh with NASCAR rising star and former USAC midget rookie of the year Alex Bowman finished ninth.

Author’s note: Kudos to Southwest Airlines and Avis Rent A Car for their excellent customer service provided during the author’s eventful trip from the West Coast to Tulsa.

 

A $50,000 bonus offered for

the 2018 Chili Bowl Nationals

 

 

 

Winning the Golden Driller at the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire is one of the hardest prizes to earn in any form of motorsports. With an entry list that exceeds 300 cars, just to make the 24-car Saturday night A-Feature is an accomplishment in and of itself. It would be even tougher to win the Chill Bowl from the back, but in 2018 drivers will have 50,000 reasons to try.

For the 32nd edition of the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals any driver who wins their preliminary night while using a seat from the Joie of Seating, they are in the running to take the Joie of Seating $50,000 Challenge. Following the “BC Forever” Pole Dash, the race pole sitter will be offered the choice to drop to the tail to start the A main event.

If the pole sitter doesn't take it, then next eligible preliminary night winner with a Joie of Seating seat will be offered the choice, and so forth until the list of eligible preliminary night winners is exhausted, so potentially four drivers could be offered the chance to say yes to the $50,000 Challenge.

Randy LaJoie, a two time NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion, began manufacturing seats in 1996 in order to produce what he felt was a safer, and much more custom fitted seat.  "On this deal, I am promoting my company because I want these drivers to be as safe as possible, but at the same time I want to add something fun, and give a driver a chance to make a little extra money. With the track crew they have, a guy can come through the field so it should be exciting to watch."

More details will be released by LaJoie as the Chili Bowl Nationals scheduled for January 9 through the 13th 2018 draws closer.

Information and graphics provided by the Chili Bowl Nationals