O'Reilly Chili Bowl Nationals Fire Off Tuesday Night!

TULSA, Okla. (Jan. 8, 2007) – The anticipation has mounted for several weeks. Or rather, several months. The time is here now, as the 21st Annual O'Reilly Chili Bowl Nationals fires off with Tuesday night's Warren CAT Pre-Qualifying Event at Tulsa Expo Raceway.

The current entry count for the prestigious Midget racing event, which runs Tuesday through Saturday, stands at a record 279, with NASCAR stars Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne and J.J. Yeley among the stellar field.

And 79 of those are slated for Tuesday night's card, which may be the only opportunity for many local fans to snare a seat in the grandstands. Tuesday night General Admission tickets are available for just $20. Only pit passes are available for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The top 15 finishers in Tuesday night's Pre-Qualifying feature event will advance on to Qualifying Night action on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Following Tuesday night's Pre-Qualifier, four-time Chili Bowl champion Sammy Swindell, National Sprint Tour champion Danny Lasoski and USAC Midget champion Jerry Coons, Jr., are among a stout Creek Nation Casino Qualifying field on Wednesday night.

Heading up the Bass Pro Shop Thursday night Qualifier are the likes of defending race champion Tim McCreadie, 2005 Chili Bowl winner Tracy Hines and NASCAR rep J.J. Yeley.

Then headlining Friday's Oklahoma Dodge Dealers Qualifying Night are NASCAR stars Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne along with two-time Chili Bowl king Cory Kruseman.

All of the Qualifying Night action, which will feature approximately 70 entries per night battling through a full card of Heat Races, Last Chance Races, Qualifying Races, "B" Mains and "A" Mains, will set the field for Saturday's Oklahoma Dodge Dealers championship feature card.



O’Reilly Chili Bowl Nationals Information:

What: 21st Annual O’Reilly Chili Bowl Midget Nationals

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

When:
January 9-13, 2007
Tuesday – Warren CAT Pre-Qualifying Night
Wednesday - Creek Nation Casino Qualifying Night
Thursday – Bass Pro Shops Qualifying Night
Friday – Oklahoma Dodge Dealers Qualifying Night
Saturday - Oklahoma Dodge Dealers Championship Saturday Feature Events

Past Winners: Tim McCreadie (2006), Sammy Swindell (1998, 1996, 1992 and 1989), Cory Kruseman (2004 and 2000), Dan Boorse (2003 and 1999), Tracy Hines (2005), Tony Stewart (2002), 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).

Current Entries: 279 entries from 28 different states as well as Australia, surpassing the 2006 Chili Bowl record of 260 competitors.

Past winners already entered include Tony Stewart, Sammy Swindell, Cory Kruseman, Dan Boorse, Tracy Hines and defending race champion Tim McCreadie.

Trade Show: Always a popular attraction at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals is the Trade Show, which is open to the public each day (Wednesday 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.

Preferred Parking: A limited number of Preferred Parking spaces are still available for all five nights of the O’Reilly Chili Bowl Midget Nationals by calling the ticket office at 918-838-3777.

Buffet: The cafeteria at the east end of the Tulsa Expo Center will offer an all-you-can-eat buffet each day at just $12 for adults and only $6 for children ten years of age and under. The buffet is available from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday and then 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Tickets: Four-night tickets for Wednesday through Saturday of the 21st Annual O’Reilly Chili Bowl Nationals were depleted at the end of June. General admission for Tuesday night's Pre-Qualifying event will be available at the gate for $20 per person. Pit passes for all five nights are available.

O’Reilly Chili Bowl on the Net: All five nights of racing action will be webcast live at http://www.racinboys.com/. Complete information, including entry lists, updates and official results is available at www.chilibowl.com.

Additional information regarding the O’Reilly Chili Bowl Midget Nationals is available at www.chilibowl.com or by calling 918-838-3777.