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Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Qualifying Nights Unveiled!
252 Entries Divvied Up Over Four Qualifying Nights
by: Lonnie Wheatley
TULSA, Okla. (December 23, 2009) – You can feel it in the air. No, not
that chill that's settling in over much of the country. Rather, it's the
anticipation; mounting as the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals
draws ever closer with each passing day.
And with 252 entries from 27 different states as well as Australia, New
Zealand and Canada making final preparations for the annual trek to the
Tulsa State Fairgrounds' QuikTrip Center, the qualifying night assignments
for the January 12-16, 2010, event atop the Tulsa Expo Raceway clay oval
have been determined.
The stellar field, including seven past Chili Bowl champions and a multitude
of 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 16, 50-lap Chili Bowl
championship main event with the balance of Saturday's Rockstar Energy Drink
feature lineups determined by qualifying night finishing positions.
Entry Updates:
Dustin Morgan has reportedly been announced as the driver of the Triple
Crown Motorsports No. 1x entry, which opens the seat of the Ark Wrecking No.
93.
Also today, the fifth and final Loyet Motorsports entry was filled with
Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series presented by K&N Filters contender Tim Crawley
of Benton, AR. With a sweep of the Lucas Oil Sprint Car Series' Rock 'N Roll
50 at Riverside Speedway among his 16 feature wins in 2009, Crawley will be
teamed with Brad Loyet, Jesse Hockett, Casey Shuman and Danny Lasoski in the
orange No. 05 Midgets.
A glance at each night's qualifying lineups is as follows:
Tuesday, January 12 – Warren CAT Qualifying Night
Wingless Sprint Car aces Dave Darland and Jon Stanbrough, winger Danny
Lasoski and Midget masters Bobby East and Steve Buckwalter will be among
those moving the dirt on Warren CAT Qualifying Night. Tyler Walker and Kiwi
shoe Michael Pickens make much anticipated returns to the Chili Bowl while
Broken Arrow's Brady Bacon kicks off his bid to keep the Golden Driller
within the Sooner State for just the second time in event history and the
first time since Andy Hillenburg pulled off the win in 1994.
In addition to 65 or so drivers officially christening the Chili Bowl clay
inside the QuikTrip Center, the Vacuworx Race of Champions is also included
on Tuesday night's card.
Past Feature Starters (16): Danny Lasoski (14), Dave Darland (11), Jon
Stanbrough (5), Steve Buckwalter (4), Davey Ray (4), Donnie Lehmann (4),
Bobby East (3), Josh Ford (3), Aaron Fiscus (2), Troy Rutherford (2), Brady
Bacon (1), Ryan Durst (1), Mat Neely (1), Michael Pickens (1), Tyler Walker
(1), Paul White (1).
2009 Chili Bowl Main Event Starters: Steve Buckwalter, Dave Darland, Bobby
East, Josh Ford, Jon Stanbrough.
Pick Six - Trying to Crack Saturday's Feature: Cale Conley, Cody Darrah,
Andrew Felker, Dustin Morgan, Kevin Ramey, Matt Sherrell.
Rookies (11): Harris Brooks, Lex Burritt, Zach Cougill, Sean-Mikael
Dodenhoff, Matt Gilbert, Andy Huston, Eric Johnson, Ray Allen Kulhanek,
Richard McCormick, Evan Pardo, Andy Shouse.
On the Chili Bowl Seniority Charts: Donnie Lehmann 21, Danny Lasoski 18,
David Camfield, Jr. 15, Dave Darland 12.
Tuesday's Entries: http://www.chilibowl.com/2010qualtuesday.asp
Also, Tuesday's Chili Bowl Race of Champions information is available at
http://www.chilibowl.com/2010roc.asp.
Wednesday, January 13 – River Spirit Casino Qualifying Night
A winner of Chili Bowl preliminary features over each of the past two years,
2009 USAC Midget champion Brad Kuhn takes on a full house of River Spirit
Qualifying Night contenders including National Midget Driver of the Year
Bryan Clauson, 2006 Chili Bowl champ Tim McCreadie, Cole Whitt, Brad Sweet,
Kevin Swindell, Terry McCarl, Casey Shuman, Tim Crawley and more.
Second Annual Chili Bowl winner Scott Hatton joins the field, Gary Taylor
drives for 2006 champion car owner Steve Smith, Chad Boat tries to match his
father's win in 1997 and USAC/CRA champ Mike Spencer guides a Bondio
machine.
Past Feature Starters (16): Scott Hatton (8), Matt Westfall (5), Brad Kuhn
(4), Joe Boyles (3), Rick Hendrix (3), Tim McCreadie (3), Casey Shuman (3),
Rich Camfield (2), Cole Whitt (2), Bryan Clauson (1), A.J. Fike (1), Nathan
High (1), Terry McCarl (1), Kevin Swindell (1), Gary Taylor (1), Brandon
Waelti (1).
2009 Chili Bowl Main Event Starters: Brad Kuhn, Casey Shuman, Gary Taylor,
Cole Whitt.
Pick Six - Trying to Crack Saturday's Feature: Jonathan Beason, Chad Boat,
Tim Crawley, Randy Hannagan, Mike Spencer, Brad Sweet.
Rookies (11): Tanner Berryhill, Nick Chivello, Shane Cockrum, Greg Edenholm,
Tyler Edwards, Wes Gutierrez, Andrew Hannula, Pat Schudy, Forrest Slater,
Jeff Stasa, Dusty Zomer.
On the Chili Bowl Seniority Charts: Rich Camfield 19, Steve Newman 18, Scott
Hatton 17, Joe Boyles 11, A.J. Fike 11, Rick Hendrix 11, Nick O'Neal 11,
Matt Westfall 11.
Wednesday's Entries: http://www.chilibowl.com/2010qualwednesday.asp
Thursday, January 14 – Bully Dog Qualifying Night
Perfect on his way to an unprecedented fifth Golden Driller last year, Sammy
Swindell kicks off his bid to become the first repeat winner in event
history on Thursday's Bully Dog Qualifying Night, taking on a field of
contenders that includes 2005 Chili Bowl champ Tracy Hines, NASCAR sensation
Kasey Kahne, NASCAR Nationwide star Jason Leffler, Darren Hagen, Shane
Cottle, Jesse Hockett, Wayne Johnson and more.
Garrett Hansen takes the wheel of three-time car champion car owner Andy
Bondio's familiar No. 47, 2001 Chili Bowl king Jay Drake wheels one of the
Kruseman entries, P.J. Jones tries to put one of three Steve Lewis entries
in the Saturday finale and Thomas Meseraull tries to crack the field for a
second year in a row.
Past Feature Starters (16): Sammy Swindell (16), Tracy Hines (11), Jason
Leffler (10), Steve Knepper (9), Jay Drake (7), Shane Cottle (6), P.J. Jones
(6), Kasey Kahne (5), Garrett Hansen (2), Jesse Hockett (2), Wayne Johnson
(2), David Gough (1), Jonathan Hendrick (1), Shane Hollingsworth (1), Thomas
Meseraull (1), Johnny Rodriguez (1).
2009 Chili Bowl Main Event Starters: Shane Cottle, Tracy Hines, Jesse
Hockett, Thomas Meseraull, Sammy Swindell.
Pick Six - Trying to Crack Saturday's Feature: Caleb Armstrong, Henry
Clarke, Darren Hagen, Kyle Larson, Billy Pauch, Jr., Josh Pelkey.
Rookies (11): Riley Adair, Chris Coker, Ronnie Gardner, Michael Koontz, Toni
Lutar, Brad Mosen, Chad Pitts, Billy Puterbaugh, Jr., Cole Smith, Patrick
Stasa, Tanner Swanson.
On the Chili Bowl Seniority Charts: Steve Knepper 19, Sammy Swindell 19,
Tracy Hines 13, Jason Leffler 13, Jay Drake 12, P.J. Jones 12, Johnny
Murdock 12, Shane Cottle 10.
Thursday's Entries: http://www.chilibowl.com/2010qualthursday.asp
Friday, January 15 – E3 Spark Plugs Qualifying Night
Two-time Chili Bowl champ Cory Kruseman tries to ignite a third Chili Bowl
victory charge aboard one of his own entries on E3 Spark Plugs Qualifying
Night. "The Kruser" will have his hand full with Jerry Coons, Jr., who
rounds out a stellar Wilke Pak contingent, winged Sprint Car aces Joey
Saldana, Jason Meyers and Daryn Pittman, three-time USAC Sprint Car champ
Levi Jones and Brad Loyet, who rounds out a Loyet team that combined for 69
feature wins over the course of 2009.
Past Feature Starters (16): Jerry Coons, Jr. (10), Cory Kruseman (8), Tony
Elliott (4), Johnny Heydenreich (3), Bud Kaeding (3), Bubba Altig (2), Don
Droud, Jr. (2), Mike Hess (2), Levi Jones (2), Daryn Pittman (2), Chris
Windom (2), Josh Wise (2), Brad Loyet (1), Jason Meyers (1), Bobby
Michnowicz (1), Danny Stratton (1).
2009 Chili Bowl Main Event Starters: Jerry Coons, Jr., Levi Jones, Brad
Loyet, Daryn Pittman, Chris Windom.
Pick Six - Trying to Crack Saturday's Feature: Dakoda Armstrong, Nick
Knepper, Matt Mitchell, Joey Saldana, Hunter Schuerenberg, Tim Siner.
Rookies (10): Klint Angelette, J.D. Black, Alex Bowman, Bruce Buckwalter,
Jr., Brad Cox, Rusty Dukes, Trevor Kobylarz, Kyle Neal, Kody Swanson, Clint
Todd.
On the Chili Bowl Seniority Charts: Johnny Heydenreich 18, Jackie Burke 12,
Jerry Coons, Jr. 12, Tony Elliott 12, Cory Kruseman 12, Mike Hess 11, Tim
Siner 11.
Friday's Entries: http://www.chilibowl.com/2010qualfriday.asp
Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Quick Facts:
What: 24th 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 12-16, 2010
Tuesday – Warren CAT Qualifying Night plus Vacuworx Chili Bowl Race of
Champions
Wednesday – River Spirit Casino Qualifying Night
Thursday – Bully Dog Qualifying Night
Friday – E3 Spark Plugs Qualifying Night
Saturday – Rockstar Energy Drink Championship Feature Events
Past Winners: 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: Four-night tickets for Wednesday through Saturday of the 24th
Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals were depleted by the end of May. A
limited number of reserved seats for Tuesday night's Warren CAT Qualifying
Event and the Second Annual Vacuworx International 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 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget
Nationals will be broadcast on SPEED TV on a tape-delayed basis.
Chili Bowl on the Net: All official news pertaining to the 24th 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.
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