Chili Bowl Qualifying Nights Unveiled!

281 Entries Divvied Up Over Four Qualifying Nights

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (December 23, 2008) – As winter establishes its grip over much of the nation just in time for the holidays, the tension continues to mount as the kickoff of the 23^rd Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire is just three weeks away.

And with a staggering 281 entries from 29 different states as well as Canada already filed for the event set for January 13-17, 2009, at the QuikTrip Center's Tulsa Expo Raceway, the qualifying night assignments have been determined.

The stellar field, including eight past Chili Bowl champions and numerous track and series champions from throughout the country, 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 17, 50-lap Chili Bowl championship main event with the balance of Saturday's feature lineups determined by qualifying night finishing positions.

A glance at each night's qualifying lineups is as follows:

Tuesday, January 13 – O'Reilly Qualifying Night

The week kicks off in grand style with winged Sprint Car ace Danny Lasoski (three-time Chili Bowl runner-up), wingless Sprint Car shoe Shane Cottle and two-time National Midget Driver of the Year Brad Kuhn among a stellar cast of O'Reilly Qualifying Night competitors.

In addition to 70 or so drivers officially initiating the clay inside the QuikTrip Center, the Chili Bowl Race of Champions is also included on Tuesday night's card.

Past Feature Starters (16):  Danny Lasoski (14), Shane Cottle (5), Shane Carson (4), Donnie Lehmann (4), Davey Ray (4), Steve Buckwalter (3), Rick Hendrix (3), Bud Kaeding (3), Brad Kuhn (3), Chad DeSelle (2), Mike Hess (2), Casey Shuman (2), Paul McMahan (1), Bobby Michnowicz (1), Kevin Swindell (1), Paul White (1).

2008 Chili Bowl Main Event Starters:  S. Cottle, K. Swindell, D. Ray, B. Michnowicz, B. Kuhn, B. Altig.

Pick Six - Trying to Crack Saturday's Feature:  Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Gary Taylor, Brady Short, Chad Kemenah, Hunter Schuerenberg, Dustin Morgan.

Rookies (17):  Jerry Bell, Henry Clarke, Cody Darrah, Eli Deshaies, Jim Donley, Mark Dotson, Andrew Elson, Frank Flud, P.J. Gargiulo, Drew Heistand, Rob Kershaw, Tanner Mullens, Daniel Robinson, Landon Simon, Brandon Spithaler, Nick Wagner, Chris Zrinski.

On the Chili Bowl Seniority Charts:  Donnie Lehmann 19, Danny Lasoski 17, Rick Hendrix 10, Mike Hess 10, Aaron Kirk 10.

Tuesday's Entries:  http://www.chilibowl.com/2009qualtue.asp

Also, Tuesday's Chili Bowl Race of Champions information is available at http://www.chilibowl.com/rocataglance.asp.

Wednesday, January 14 – Creek Nation Casino Qualifying Night

Four-time Chili Bowl king Sammy Swindell, 2006 winner Tim McCreadie and 1990 victor Johnny Heydenreich headline a loaded Wednesday night lineup that includes that likes of J.J. Yeley, Jon Stanbrough and Kemper conqueror Bryan Clauson among others.

Josh Ford cashed in on last year's Creek Nation Casino qualifier for the second time in four years.

Past Feature Starters (16):  Sammy Swindell (15), Kevin Olson (10), J.J. Yeley (5), Jon Stanbrough (4), Gary Wright (4), Joe Boyles (3), Johnny Heydenreich (3), Tim McCreadie (3), Bubba Altig (2), Josh Ford (2), Brady Bacon (1), Bryan Clauson (1), Levi Jones (1), Johnny Rodriguez (1), Brandon Waelti (1), Chris Windom (1). 

2008 Chili Bowl Main Event Starters:  B. Clauson, J. Stanbrough, K. Swindell, B. Bacon, L. Jones, J. Ford.

Pick Six - Trying to Crack Saturday's Feature:  Darren Hagen, Chad Boat, Shane Golobic, Kevin Ramey, Nick Wean, Matt Sherrell.

Rookies (16):  Justin Barger, Cale Conley, Bruce Douglass, Nic Faas, Gavin Galbraith, Justin Grosz, Shane Hmiel, Doug Kammerzell, Brock Lemley, Donovan Peterson, Casey Riggs, Jacob Rosario, Tim Spurgeon, Kevin Studley, Brent Swift, Austin Wheatley. 

On the Chili Bowl Seniority Charts:  Sammy Swindell 18, Johnny Heydenreich 17, Kevin Olson 16, Dave Camfield, Jr. 14, J.J. Yeley 12, Gary Wright 11, Joe Boyles 10.

Wednesday's Entries:  http://www.chilibowl.com/2009qualwed.asp

Thursday, January 15 – Warren CAT Qualifying Night

Damion Gardner begins his quest to become the first back-to-back Chili Bowl champion in Thursday night's Warren CAT Qualifier, with other heavy hitters including past Chili Bowl champs Tracy Hines, Scott Hatton and Jay Drake along with USAC Triple Crown champ Jerry Coons, Jr., and reigning Belleville Midget Nationals king Brad Sweet among others.

Past Feature Starters (16):  Tracy Hines (10), Jerry Coons, Jr. (9), Scott Hatton (8), Jay Drake (7), Justin Allgaier (2), Don Droud, Jr. (2), Damion Gardner (2), Garrett Hansen (2), Critter Malone (2), Donnie Ray Crawford (1), A.J. Fike (1), David Gough (1), Jonathan Hendrick (1),  Nathan High (1), Jesse Hockett (1), Jason Meyers (1).

2008 Chili Bowl Main Event Starters:  D. Gardner, T. Hines, N. High, J. Hockett, J. Coons.

Pick Six - Trying to Crack Saturday's Feature:  Brad Sweet, Tim Crawley, Jeff Bland, Jr., Billy Pauch, Jr., Scott Pierovich, Frank Polimeda.

Rookies (13):  Victor Davis, Ricky Ehrgott, Nick Foster, Jr., Chad Frewaldt, Jennifer Greenberg, Eric Jacobsen, Danny Jennings, Chuck Knight, Chad Olsen, Aaron Ott, Dylan Peterson, Eric Sandage, Viktor Sinzig. 

On the Chili Bowl Seniority Charts:  Scott Hatton 16, Critter Malone 16, Bill Allen 14, Tracy Hines 12, Jerry Coons, Jr. 11, Jay Drake 11, A.J. Fike 10.

Thursday's Entries:  http://www.chilibowl.com/2009qualthu.asp

Friday, January 16 – Bass Pro Shops Qualifying Night

One of just three multiple-time Chili Bowl champions, Cory Kruseman leads a Bass Pro Shops Qualifying Night charge that includes NASCAR Sprint Cup star Kasey Kahne, Nationwide ace Jason Leffler, USAC Triple Crown champion Dave Darland and reigning USAC Midget champion Cole Whitt among others.

Past Feature Starters (15):  Dave Darland (11), Jason Leffler (10), Cory Kruseman (8), Kasey Kahne (5), Matt Westfall (5), Tony Elliott (4), Rich Camfield (2), Bobby East (2), Wayne Johnson (2), Josh Wise (2), Shane Hollingsworth (1), Mat Neely (1), Daryn Pittman (1), Billy Wease (1), Cole Whitt (1).

2008 Chili Bowl Main Event Starters:  D. Darland, C. Whitt, J. Leffler, B. Wease, K. Kahne.

Pick Six - Trying to Crack Saturday's Feature:  Brad Loyet, Joey Saldana, Jonathan Beason, Trey Robb, Jerry Higbie, Jr., and Cody Brewer on the Offy look alone.

Rookies (14):  Brett Burdette, Danny Faria, Jr., Ned Fry, Dusty Heistand, Cap Henry, Julee Jamison, Kevin Kierce, John Lowery, Richard McCormick, Peter Palazzolo, Tim Pyle, J.T. Stapp, Greg Wilson, Jeff Wimmenauer.

On the Chili Bowl Seniority Charts:  Rich Camfield 18, Steve Newman 17, Jason Leffler 12, Tony Elliott 11, Cory Kruseman 11, Johnny Murdock 11, Dave Darland 10, Tim Siner 10, Matt Westfall 10.

Friday's Entries:  http://www.chilibowl.com/2009qualfri.asp

Additional Lucas Oil Chili Bowl presented by General Tire Information:

What:  23^rd Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals presented by General Tire

Where:  Tulsa Expo Raceway – ¼-mile clay oval inside the QuikTrip Center at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds

When: 

January 13-17, 2009

Tuesday – Qualifying Night plus Chili Bowl Race of Champions

Wednesday - Creek Nation Casino Qualifying Night

Thursday – Warren CAT Qualifying Night

Friday – Bass Pro Shops Qualifying Night

Saturday – Championship Feature Events

Past Winners:  Damion Gardner (2008), Tony Stewart (2007 and 2002), Sammy Swindell (1998, 1996, 1992 and 1989), Cory Kruseman (2004 and 2000), Dan Boorse (2003 and 1999), Tim McCreadie (2006), Tracy Hines (2005), 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:  Four-night tickets for Wednesday through Saturday of the 23^rd Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire were depleted by the end of May.  A limited number of reserved seats for Tuesday night's Qualifying Event and Chili Bowl Race of Champions are available for $26 per person and may be obtained by calling 918-838-3777 or at the gate.  Pit passes for all five nights are available at the gate as well.

Chili Bowl on TV:  Portions of the 23^rd Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals presented by General Tire will be broadcast on SPEED TV on a one-week tape-delayed basis on Saturday night, January 24.  Additional details will be available soon.

Chili Bowl on the Net:  All official news pertaining to the 23^rd Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals presented by General Tire, 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 presented by General Tire is available at http://www.chilibowl.com/ or by calling 918-838-3777.