2002 Chili Bowl - Saturday, January 12
Results at end of story
G Main: #1, #2
--- F Main: #1, #2 ---
E Main: #1, #2 --- D
Main: #1, #2
C Main: #1, #2 --- B
Main:
#1, #2 --- A Feature
Stewart
outruns Doty for Chili Bowl win
Tulsa, OK (Jan. 12, 2002) -
Tulsa, OK (January 12) -
Tony Stewart said Saturday night he will put his Chili Bowl Winner’s
Trophy, a bronzed replica of the Driller outside the indoor Tulsa Expo
Raceway, on his shelf at home next to his Dale Earnhardt helmet. That is
what winning Saturday night’s 50-lap championship main event at the 16th
Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals meant to one of Winston Cup racing’s
top stars.
Stewart won a race-long battle with Kevin Doty as the two swapped the
lead six times over the race’s final 16 laps with Stewart taking the
lead for good on Lap 49. Stewart pocketed more than $22,000 for his
efforts, which included the $10,000 winner’s share for the purse, more
than $1,000 in lap bonus money and an $11,000 bonus for winning with a
Mopar engine.
Doty finished second, with Cory Kruseman third, Critter Malone fourth
and Dave Darland fifth.
But it was the chance for Stewart to return to his open-wheel roots and
race against guys he raced against prior to his Winston Cup career that
helped make this victory special.
``I miss racing with these guys ‘cause it’s fun,’’ Stewart
said. ``This style of racing is fun because you come here and unload your
car and you race. You go out have dinner together and drag down the road
to the next place and do it all over again next week. There is no
politics. You didn’t once here anybody (Saturday) complaining about his
body style had more downforce and less drag than anybody else. That’s
why it’s fun. You don’t hear anybody complain about anything, you just
go race.’’
And Stewart did, along with the rest of the 24-car field in the main
event in what some were saying was one of the most exciting Chili Bowl
race’s ever. But early in the race it looked Tracy Hines was going to
drive his Wilke Pak entry to a victory by taking the lead from his
teammate, Doty, on the first lap from outside the front row. Hines led the
first 19 laps, until his car finally stopped in Turn 1. Hines did not
restart because he had a fuel pump drive break.
After a restart on Lap 22, Doty took over the point and used the middle
and high side of the race track to stay in front of Critter Malone,
Stewart, Cory Kruseman and Jeremy Sherman.
Malone stayed in second behind Doty until Lap 31 with Stewart passing
him one lap later. Stewart stayed in that position, running the low side
of the race track while Doty stayed in the middle.
Stewart took the lead for the first time on Lap 34, but on Lap 37, Doty
took it back coming out of Turn 4. That was two of the six lead changes by
the two drivers over the next 16 laps.
As the race was winding down, Stewart led until Lap 42 when Doty took
over by passing Stewart exiting Turn 4 where Doty was the strongest.
Stewart took over on Lap 47, but Doty took it back one lap later. And at
the same time,Kruseman was trying to find a place to pass Stewart.
But on Lap 49, Stewart stayed on the inside while the middle part of
the race track where Doty was beginning to wear and Stewart took over the
lead.
``I probably should have took it down low but after I got by (Stewart)
but I figured (the middle) was the place to be,’’ said Doty after his
best Chili Bowl finish. ``Just after that yellow the middle there where I
was running just went away on me and Tony got a little smoother down
there, slowed down a little bit and went faster. The race track really
came to us in the middle and kind of went away in the end.’’
Kruseman, who won Friday night’s preliminary, was right on Stewart’s
back bumper for the last part of the race but never found a chance to pass
Stewart, as well as Critter Malone.
``I didn’t want to leave a lane open,’’ Stewart said. ``I saw
where (Doty) was at and I wasn’t about to take a chance on moving up.
Not only to stay ahead of (Doty) but Cory was going to get by me too. It
was a mental game more than anything and staying patient, really forcing
myself to stay down on the bottom where I’d been all night. That’s the
hardest race I’d ever have to win on the bottom like that.’’
Kasey Kahne finished sixth, with Danny Lasoski coming from 16th to
seventh, Greg Luecker eighth, Tony Elliott ninth and J.J. Yeley drove from
23rd to 10th. Yeley earned the Rich Vogler hard charger award for his run,
while Davey Ray, who finished 11th, was named the Chili Bowl’s Top
Rookie. Ray received a $1,000 from Ark Wrecking in Tulsa.
Saturday Night News and Notes
Awards and presentations: Several special awards and
presentations were part of an emotional opening ceremonies on Saturday
night. Along with the traditional Parade of States, Chastity Crawford sang
God Bless America and Kenny Koelch performed the National Anthem on his
trumpet.
Tracy Hines was presented with the National Midget Driver of the Year
Award, and the more than 20 2001 champions were also recognized. Jay
Drake, the 2001 champion of the Chili Bowl, was awarded the Grand Marshal
trophy and Kevin Greven, who works for sponsor O’Reilly Auto Parts, was
presented an award by promoters Emmett Hahn and Lanny Edwards.
B Main action: When the two B Mains started, the race track was
drying out in the middle with a groove on the top along a short berm and
one on the bottom. In the first B main, Jerry Coons Jr. endured six
caution periods, including three on Lap 19, to lead all 20 laps of the
race. Richard Griffin challenged Coons early in the race, but finished
behind Coons in second as most of the drivers were running on the top part
of the race track. Tony Elliott finished third, with Matt Westfall fourth,
Troy Rutherford ffith and J.J. Yeley passing Wally Pankratz on the last
lap for the sixth and final transfer spot.
In the second B Main, Dan Boorse followed the same plan as Coons by
running the top to lead all the way in the 20-lap race. Danny Lasoski
challenged Boorse for the lead on a Lap 12 restart, but Boorse held off
Lasoski and pulled away for the victory. Lasoski finished second, with A.J.
Fike third, Steve Knepper fourth and Shane Hollingsworth fifth. Davey Ray
made contact with 1S late in the race, but was able to hold on for the
sixth spot.
Ronnie Day, who started the night in the second D Main, finished 10th
earning him an extra $1,000 from W.N. Couch Construction for passing the
most cars on Saturday and not making the 50-lap Championship Main event.
Day won the second D main from the pole and finished fourth in the second
C Main, passing 21 cars on the way to winning the award.
C Main action: Dan Lehmann started on the pole and led all 15
laps of the first C Main, with Bryan Stanfill taking second over Keith
Rauch, as Ricky Logan finished fourth and P.J. Chesson fifth. Chesson was
followed by 1995 Chili Bowl champion Donnie Beechler in sixth, Bud Kaeding
in seventh and 2001 USAC Silver Bullet Champion Paul White eighth.
Another strong field in the second C Main produced probably the best
race of the night. Sammy Swindell led the first 12 laps, but Jack Hewitt
made his way through the field from the 15th spot. Hewitt, running the
cushion, began to challenge Swindell, who was running low, with less than
five laps left. On Lap 13, Hewitt drove around Swindell to take the lead
at the end of Lap 13 and led the rest of way. Joe Boyles finished third,
with Ronnie Day fourth and Matthew Neely taking the fifth and final
transfer spot to the B Main.
D Main action: Tony Rossi took the lead from pole starter Kenny
Brown on Lap four and led the rest of the way in the 12-lap first D Main.
Randy Koch took the third and final transfer spot. Michael Lewis finishsed
fourth after starting Saturday in the first F Main.
Ronnie Day jumped out to the lead from the pole and led all 12 laps in
the second D Main. Matthew Rossi was second and Clay Klepper finished in
the third and final transfer spot.
E Main action: In a race that featured three lead changes, Rex
Norris, III took the lead from Jan Howard on the fifth lap and leads the
rest of the way in the 10-lap first E Main. Howard finishes second, with
Michael Lewis driving from 13th to finish in third and Nick Lundgreen
fourth.
Tommy Spencer drove to an easy victory after starting outside the front
row, leading all 10 laps and winning by almost half a track. Jeremy Farmer
finished second and Chris Wagner was third, with Tyce Carlson fourth. Anne
Coppell, the driver for the Blonde Squad, who was in contention for a
transfer spot midway through the race, jumped the curb on the last lap and
finished 15th.
F Main action: Michael Lewis took the lead from Shain Matthews
on the fifth lap and led the rest of the way in the 10-lap first F Main.
Matthews finished second, pole starter Mike Miller third and Johnny Miller
fourth. John Heydenreich, the 1990, was running in fourth until he spun to
a stop in Turn 2, taking him out of contention.
In the second F Main, Bill Baue took the lead on the first lap from the
pole and led all the way in the 10-lap race. Mike Hess took second, with
Jamie Ferrell third and Ron Kuhn in third. Robert Marfia, starting in a F
Main for the second consecutive year, was in contention for a transfer
spot, but stops in the third turn on Lap 7.
G Main action: Bobby Smith drove from third to first in the
first lap and took the win in the first 10-lap G Main. Fred Schell
finished second, Jeff McCloud third and David Camfield, Sr. in the fourth
and final transfer spot.
In the second G Main, six of the scheduled 11 drivers did not start the
race. Jon Foster won by taking the lead from Jamie Ferrell after Ferrell
spun in Turn 2. Kevin Arnold was third and Toby Alfrey fourth.
Results for Saturday
night finals
2 G Mains - top 4 from each to 2 F mains
1st G Main: (10 laps) top 4 trf to First F: 1.
#63, Bobby Smith, Camby, IN; 2. #75S, Fred Schell, Phoenixville, PA; 3. #91,
Jeff McCloud, Indianapolis, IN; 4. #78C, David Camfield, Sr, Maroa, IL; 5.
#82, Fireball Hartley, Springfield, IL; 6. #7T, John Tosti, Fenton, MO; 7.
#13, Benny Taylor, Inola, OK; 8. #29A, Patrick Jones, Lodi, WI; 9. #0,
Johnny Murdock, Kaufman, TX; Did not start - #11N, Steve Newman, Lakewood,
CO; Did not start - #88M, Dennis Miller, Galveston, IN; Did not start -
#11J, Todd Jackson, Independence, MO
2nd G Main: (10 laps) top 4 trf to
Second F: 1. #27, Jon Foster, Marion, IL; 2. #5F, Jamie Ferrell, Des
Moines, IA; 3. #43, Kevin Arnold, Franklin, IN; 4. #4, Toby Alfrey,
Miamisburg, OH; 5. #33, Wally McDuffey, St. Louis, MO; Did not start - #03,
Bill Allen, Independence, MO; Did not start - #30X, Craig Carey,
Springfield, IL; Did not start - #7X, Cole Carter, Brownsburg, IN; Did not
start - #87, Rich Camfield, Decatur, IL; Did not start - #6A, Justin
Allgaier, Riverton, IL; Did not start - #51T, Don Trent, Honeybrook, PA
2 F Mains - top 4 from each to 2 E mains
1st F Main: (10 laps) top 4 trf to
First E: 1. #85, Michael Lewis, Fishers, IN; 2. #02, Shain Matthews,
Marysville, CA; 3. #99M, Mike Miller, Wapakoneta, OH; 4. #37, Johnny Miller,
Burleson, TX; 5. #75S, Fred Schell, Phoenixville, PA; 6. #45H, John
Heydenreich, Bloomsburg, PA; 7. #63, Bobby Smith, Camby, IN; 8. #19N, Nick
O'Neal, Wagoner, OK; 9. #11X, David Bridges, Speedway, IN; 10. #6K, Bobby
East, Brownsburg, IN; 11. #84S, Phil Shapel, Wichita, KS; 12. #91, Jeff
McCloud, Indianapolis, IN; 13. #78C, David Camfield, Sr, Maroa, IL; 14. #2T,
Todd Houser, Decatur, IL; 15. #0D, Doug Orseske, Frankfort, IL; Did not
start - #6E, Jim Keene, Bakerfield, CA
2nd F Main:
(10 laps) top 4 trf to Second E: 1. #10G, Bill Baue,
Indianapolis, IN; 2. #51H, Mike Hess, Petersburg, IL; 3. #5F, Jamie Ferrell,
Des Moines, IA; 4. #10C, Ron Kuhn, Lee's Summitt, MO; 5. #99, Korey Weyant,
Springfield, IL; 6. #6M, Robert Marfia, Jr., Rio Rancho, NM; 7. #1M, Mike
Strahle, East Moline, IL; 8. #3X, Lee Beckwith, Channahon, Il; 9. #27, Jon
Foster, Marion, IL; 10. #43, Kevin Arnold, Franklin, IN; 11. #59, Jim
Sawyer, Hamilton, OH; 12. #86, Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 13. #42P, Chris
Pearce, Broken Arrow, OK; 14. #4, Toby Alfrey, Miamisburg, OH; Did not start
- #17, Doug McCune, Colleyville, TX; Did not start - #48, Bobby Seals,
Peralta, NM
2 E Main Features - top 4 from each to 2 D mains
1st E Main:
(10 laps) top 4 trf to First D: 1. #63N, Rex Norris III,
Knightstown, IN; 2. #27B, Jan Howard, Byhalia, MS; 3. #85, Michael Lewis,
Fishers, IN; 4. #40, Nick Lundgreen, New Berlin, WI; 5. #37, Johnny Miller,
Burleson, TX; 6. #21K, Kurt Mayhew, Demotte, IN; 7. #3B, Chad Branson,
Sherman, IL; 8. #35, Adam Young, Phoenix, AZ; 9. #12B, Chris Urish, Elkhart,
IL; 10. #6, Jeff Parga, Glenarm, IL; 11. #8K, Randy Koch, Oregon, WI; 12.
#45P, Kelly Pendleton, Marysville, OH; 13. #3Q, Lee Walther, Oklahoma City,
OK; 14. #99M, Mike Miller, Wapakoneta, OH; 15. #02, Shain Matthews,
Marysville, CA; Did not start - #46, John Lucas, Rockville, IN
2nd E Main: (10 laps) top 4 trf to
Second D: 1. #55S, Tommy Spencer, Houston, TX; 2. #25, Jeremy Farmer,
Indianapolis, IN; 3. #19, Chris Wagner, Colorado Springs, CO; 4. #41, Tyce
Carlson, Indianapolis, IN; 5. #25B, Teddy Beach, Donnelsville, OH; 6. #51H,
Mike Hess, Petersburg, IL; 7. #21X, Eric Roberts, Indianapolis, IN; 8. #33A,
Stephen Arnold, Seymour, IN; 9. #10C, Ron Kuhn, Lee's Summitt, MO; 10. #56S,
Shane Scully, Encino, CA; 11. #5F, Jamie Ferrell, Des Moines, IA; 12. #10G,
Bill Baue, Indianapolis, IN; 13. #51N, Mike Nigh, Brownsburg, IN; 14. #87X,
Jeff Heaton, Ventura, CA; 15. #16, Anne Coppel, Galesburg, IL; 16. #1AZ,
Clint Eckenrodt, St Louis, MO
2 D Main Features - top 3 from each to 2 C mains
1st D Main: (12 laps) top 3 trf to
First C: 1. #14, Tony Rossi, Arvada, CO; 2. #17B, Kenny Brown,
Millstadt, IL; 3. #8K, Randy Koch, Oregon, WI; 4. #85, Michael Lewis,
Fishers, IN; 5. #2M, Marc Dailey, Brownsburg, IN; 6. #54W, Travis Welpot,
Pendleton, IN; 7. #16R, Barry Reed, Mooresville, IN; 8. #63N, Rex Norris
III, Knightstown, IN; 9. #71C, Wayne Chinn, Tipp City, OH; 10. #3W, Brandon
Waelti, Sun Prairie, WI; 11. #91AZ, Preston Norbury, Prescott Valley, AZ;
12. #27B, Jan Howard, Byhalia, MS; 13. #40, Nick Lundgreen, New Berlin, WI;
14. #72, Jeff Flesher, Gridley, IL; 15. #36, Brad Paris, Brownsburg, IN; Did
not start. #7M, Tim McVay, Blue Springs, MO
2nd D Main: (12 laps) top 3
trf to Second C: 1. #19S, Ronnie Day, Salinas, CA; 2. #44, Matthew
Rossi, Phoenix, AZ; 3. #17K, Clay Klepper, Brownsburg, IN; 4. #26P, Aaron
Pierce, Muncie, IN; 5. #10W, Stephanie Chappell, Talala, OK; 6. #7, Jimmy
McVay, Lees Summit, MO; 7. #2K, Ryan Durst, Lincoln, NE; 8. #19, Chris
Wagner, Colorado Springs, CO; 9. #51J, R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, AZ; 10. #12W,
Billy Wease, Noblesville, IN; 11. #55S, Tommy Spencer, Houston, TX; 12. #56,
Doug White, Houston, TX; 13. #41, Tyce Carlson, Indianapolis, IN; 14. #25,
Jeremy Farmer, Indianapolis, IN; 15. #29, Scott Sawyer, Broken Arrow, OK;
16. #17X, Greg Nelson, Timber Doodle, CA
2 C Main Features - top 5 from each to 2 B mains
1st C Main:
(15 laps) top 5 trf to First B: 1. #31, Don Lehmann, Springfield, IL;
2. #8B, Bryan Stanfill, Bakerfield, CA; 3. #23, Keith Rauch, Edgewater, CO;
4. #57, Ricky Logan, Little Rock, AR; 5. #5D, P.J. Chesson, Far Hills, NJ;
6. #11B, Donnie Beechler, Sherman, IL; 7. #29K, Bud Kaeding, Campbell, CA;
8. #50TX, Paul White, Temple, TX; 9. #10, Scott Hatton, Rosce, IL; 10. #5,
A.J. Anderson, State Line, IN; 11. #14, Tony Rossi, Arvada, CO; 12. #30,
Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, TN; 13. #Q4, Edwin Wilson, Tuttle, OK; 14.
#26, Glenn Carson, Newark, CA; 15. #17B, Kenny Brown, Millstadt, IL; 16.
#7G, Chuck Gurney, Jr., Livermore, CA; 17. #8K, Randy Koch, Oregon, WI; 18.
#21, Josh Ford, Camarillo, CA
2nd C Main:
(15 laps) top 5 trf to Second B: 1. #63P, Jack Hewitt, Troy, OH; 2.
#1, Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN; 3. #7B, Joe Boyles, Greenwood, MO; 4.
#19S, Ronnie Day, Salinas, CA; 5. #17N, Mathew Neely, Robison, IL; 6. #17K,
Clay Klepper, Brownsburg, IN; 7. #53, J.D. Turner, Cincinnati, OH; 8. #84,
Ted Hines, Indianapolis, IN; 9. #15, Tim Siner, Dupo, IL; 10. #44, Matthew
Rossi, Phoenix, AZ; 11. #49, Bryan Kobylarz, Birdsboro, PA; 12. #70, Zach
Chappell, Talala, OK; 13. #73, Scooter Ellis, Brownsburg, IN; 14. #42, Andy
Eatwell, Littleton, CO; 15. #7R, Ryan Scott, Brownsburg, IN; 16. #15M, Chris
Morway, Glastonbury, CT; 17. #94, Brian Gerster, Noblesville, IN; 18. #24,
Gary Wright, Hooks, TX
2 B Features - top 6 from each to A Feature
1st B Main: (20 laps) top 6 trf to A:
1. #66, Jerry Coons, Jr., Tucson, AZ; 2. #67, Richard Griffin, Silver City,
NM; 3. #66L, Tony Elliot, Kokomo, IN; 4. #54, Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls,
OH; 5. #78, Troy Rutherford, Ojai, CA; 6. #76, J.J. Yeley, Glendale, AZ; 7.
#1P, Wally Pankratz, Orange, CA; 8. #31, Don Lehmann, Springfield, IL; 9.
#10A, Jonathan Allard, Sacramento, CA; 10. #23, Keith Rauch, Edgewater, CO;
11. #8B, Bryan Stanfill, Bakerfield, CA; 12. #5D, P.J. Chesson, Far Hills,
NJ; 13. #3M, John Wolfe, Winchester, IN; 14. #67N, Randy Nigg, Colorado
Springs, CO; 15. #22, Ron Gregory, Noblesville, IN; 16. #86C, David Camfield,
Jr, Decatur, IL; 17. #32, Aaron Fike, Galesburg, IL; 18. #57, Ricky Logan,
Little Rock, AR; 19. #95, Kevin Olson, Rockford, IL; 20. #2, Andy Hillenburg,
Broken Arrow, OK
2nd B Main: (20 laps) top 6 trf to A:
1. #88, Dan Boorse, Milwaukee, WI; 2. #71, Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO; 3. #69,
A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 4. #55, Steve Knepper, Belleville, IL; 5. #85X,
Shane Hollingsworth, Indianapolis, IN; 6. #2R, Davey Ray, Davenport, IA; 7.
#1S, Craig Dollansky, Elk River, MN; 8. #42F, Dean Franklin, Brownsburg, IN;
9. #151, Joe Roe, Pleasant Prairie, WI; 10. #19S, Ronnie Day, Salinas, CA;
11. #7B, Joe Boyles, Greenwood, MO; 12. #14S, Danny Ebberts, Canyon Lake,
CA; 13. #1, Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN; 14. #63P, Jack Hewitt, Troy, OH;
15. #18, Floyd Alvis, San Carlos, CA; 16. #75, Roger Miller, Milan, IL; 17.
#71L, Mike Leslie, Peoria, AZ; 18. #11W, Billy Pauch, Frenchtown, NJ; 19.
#45, Aaron Kirk, Conroe, TX; 20. #17N, Mathew Neely, Robison, IL
A Feature (50 laps)
A Feature:
1. #67S, Tony Stewart, Rushville, IN; 2. #12, Kevin Doty, Burlington, IA; 3.
#47, Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA; 4. #7C, Critter Malone, Speedway, IN; 5. #3,
Dave Darland, Galesburg, IL; 6. #51, Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, WA; 7. #71, Danny
Lasoski, Dover, MO; 8. #01, Greg Lueckert, Kansas City, MO; 9. #66L, Tony
Elliot, Kokomo, IN; 10. #16F, Chad Farmer, Colorado Springs, CO; 11. #76, J.J.
Yeley, Glendale, AZ; 12. #2R, Davey Ray, Davenport, IA; 13. #88, Dan Boorse,
Milwaukee, WI; 14. #29L, Jason Leffler, Long Beach, CA; 15. #67, Richard
Griffin, Silver City, NM; 16. #55, Steve Knepper, Belleville, IL; 17. #71S,
Jeremy Sherman, Phoenix, AZ; 18. #54, Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 19. #78,
Troy Rutherford, Ojai, CA; 20. #69, A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 21. #3P, Andy
Pierce, Plainfield, IN; 22. #11, Tracy Hines, Greenfield, IN; 23. #66, Jerry
Coons, Jr., Tucson, AZ; 24. #85X, Shane Hollingsworth, Indianapolis, IN
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