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 TULSA,
OK (January 5) -- Just how important is winning the Chili Bowl Midget
Nationals? Josh Ford summed it up quite well after capturing the
25-lap feature Wednesday night, "It's the biggest thing I've ever
won." The Hoosier-shod Ventura, CA driver led flag-to-flag using
a Hoosier RD12 during the opening night of
the 19th annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals contested indoors at
the Tulsa Expo Raceway. The annual event attracts the World's best
racers with more than 250 drivers competing in this year's four-day
event. Past winners include Tony Stewart (2002), Sammy Swindell (1989,
1996, 1998) and the late Rich Vogler who captured the first Chili Bowl
Midget Nationals in 1987.
A total of 84 drivers were slated to compete Wednesday
during the first of three days of qualifying races culminating in
Saturday's 50-lap finale. Of the 84 cars taking to the track, fully 75
of them opted to run the Hoosier brand.
There were 12, 10-lap heat races contested during the
night with 11 being won by Hoosier-shod drivers. Those heat race
winners (and the right rear compound used) included; Tyler Brown
(D10), Jon Stanbrough (D10), Josh Ford (D10), Cole Carter (RD12),
Steve Buckwalter (RD12), Casey Shuman (D10), Joey Montgomery (D10),
Mike Welker (D10), Nick Lundgreen (D10), Brandon Waelti (RD12) and
2002 Chili Bowl winner Dan Boorse (RD12).
Drivers were awarded "passing points" in
their heat races with the top 16 point earners transferring to the A
Main. The remaining drivers were left to compete for a spot in the A
Main via a series of qualifying races until the 24 starting spots had
been determined.
In the A Main, Josh Ford was on the pole as a result
of the passing clinic he conducted during his 10-lap heat race. Ford
started seventh en route to winning the night's third heat race. Ford,
using a Hoosier RD12, led all 25 laps to capture the opening night
win. Four of the top five finishers were on Hoosiers with Danny
Lasoski taking third place using a D10. Casey Shuman finished in
fourth place on an RD12. More importantly, the top four finishers were
locked into Saturday's A feature race.
Jamestown, Indiana's Jon Stanbrough finished in fifth
place for Team Hoosier. He opted to run the 25-lapper using the RD12
compound.
Hoosier Product Manager Irish Saunders is in Tulsa
attending the four days of racing and reported the details used in
this report.
Racing continues Thursday. Among those scheduled to
compete are Tony Stewart, Tony Elliott, Gary Wright, Michael Lewis,
Kraig Kinser, drag racing's Cruz Pedregon and late model dirt driver
Bart Hartman.
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