#11 - Jerry Coons, Jr. (Tucson, AZ)

12th Chili Bowl Appearance

Chili Bowl Main Event Starts: 9

Chili Bowl Main Event Finishes:  20th (1994), 7th (1999), 23rd (2001), 24th (2002), 13th (2004), 12th (2005), 9th (2006), 21st (2007), 18th (2008)

2008 Chili Bowl Results:

Wednesday: 2nd in Heat 1; 1st in Qualifier 2; 3rd in A Main

Saturday: 18th in A Main

After a dominant 2007 season in Midget circles, Coondog joined the exclusive ranks of USAC Triple Crown winners by capturing the Silver Crown and Sprint Car championships in 2008.

After posting 20 wins in 2006 and then 21 in 2007, Jerry spread his ten 2008 triumphs around with five Midget victories, four Sprint Car wins and a Silver Crown triumph.  Two of Jerry's three USAC Sprint Car wins came during Sprint Week, with a Midget win in Tri-City Speedway's Gold Crown Nationals and a Silver Crown score in Manzanita Speedway's Copper in the Dirt. 

Extending his career win total to 118, Jerry carries a stretch of five consecutive Chili Bowl championship main event starts (and seven of the last eight) into the 2009 edition as he makes a run for the Golden Driller.

Car Owner:  Wilke-PAK Motorsports

Chassis:  Spike

Engine:  Toyota

Sponsors:  Speedway Motors, Kwik Change, Hoosier Tire, K&N Filters

Photo: Jerry Coons, Jr., drove the familiar Hoffman Sprint Car to the USAC Sprint Car championship in 2008. (TWC Photo)