 TULSA,
OK (January 11-14) -- The 20th annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals was contested
last week at the Tulsa Expo Center in Oklahoma and produced an unexpected
champion. With a record 265 entrants, this season's Super Bowl of Midget racing
was won by Late Model Dirt driver Tim McCreadie. The Watertown, NY driver, who
finished ninth in last year's race, was making only his second Chili Bowl
start. Starting tenth in 50-lap feature, McCreadie topped the World's best
drivers to claim the prestigious win while riding on Hoosier racing tires.
Hoosier's RD12 compound was used by the majority of drivers competing in the
race. Of the 265 drivers in competition, an astonishing 237 of them opted to
ride on Indiana-made Hoosier tires. The annual Chili Bowl event is unique in
that there are no rules which has brought out the best in race car design
including some rather unusual looking cars--even one that uses a motorcycle
tire on the left front position in an effort to reduce the overall weight of
the car. The unique design was used by 2004's Chili Bowl champion.
The four-day winter extravaganza, organized by Lanny Edwards and Emmett Hahn
in 1987, has continued to attract an ever-growing number of participants and
spectators and this year was no exception.
WEDNESDAY (January 11) --The opening night of action had 87 drivers
competing for a spot in Saturday's 50-lap finale. The Hoosier brand was used by
81 of the teams competing on night one of the Nationals. Among the drivers
competing included 20-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion Steve
Kinser and defending NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart. Stewart missed
testing his Home Depot car in Daytona to again compete in the Chili Bowl
Nationals. Unfortunately, Stewart crashed in hot laps and was rescheduled to
compete on Friday.
After ten heat races (all won by Hoosier-shod drivers) and four qualifying
races (also won by Hoosier-shod cars), the 24-car field for the feature was set
with all participants using Hoosier tires.
Danny Lasoski took the lead from the drop of the green flag and led all 25
laps to capture the win using a pair (LR/RR) of Hoosier RD12's. Lasoski was
followed by long-time adversary Steve Kinser, Jerry Coons Jr., Tim McCreadie
and 15-year old Brady Bacon in second through fifth place.
THURSDAY (January 12) -- The second night had 89 drivers competing
with 76 of them opting to trust the Hoosier brand. Once the dust had settled
after the preliminary races, the 24-car field was set with 21 drivers riding on
Hoosier racing tires.
Jay Drake, the 2001 Chili Bowl champion, took the 25-lap win followed by Jon
Stanbrough, Garrett Hansen, Steve Buckwalter and Justin Allgaier. Like the
first night, the top five finishers also rode atop midgets mounted on Hoosier
tires. They also each used a pair of RD12's as their rear drive (LR/RR)
combination.
FRIDAY (January 13) -- Friday had 89 more drivers taking their turn
at racing for their chance at one of the 24 coveted starting spots in
Saturday's feature race which would determine the 2006 Chili Bowl Midget
Nationals champion. Fully 80 of the 89 drivers in competition used Hoosier
racing tires.
Tony Stewart, after winning one of the ten heat races, once again flipped
wildly in his qualifying race. Stewart was taken to a local hospital treated
and released. Despite his injuries, Stewart was still available to sign
autographs all night.
In the 25-lap feature, 22 of the 24 starters rode on the Hoosier brand. The
race enjoyed six lead changes with Cory Kruseman taking the win driving a
radically designed midget car which utilizes an ultra-lightweight motorcycle
tire and rim as his left front tire. Kruseman was followed to the line by
Hoosier-shod drivers P.J. Jones, NASCAR star Kasey Kahne, Sammy Swindell and
Mike Goodman.
SATURDAY (January 14) -- After three nights of racing, the field of
265 hopefuls was down to just 24 drivers--each looking for their chance at
making history with 22 of the 24 starters riding on Hoosier tires.
In the 50-lap feature, Tim McCreadie stunned over 10,000 spectators by
taking the lead on the 35th lap after starting back in tenth place. The Late
Model Dirt star held on to the lead despite several challenges to claim the
victory. McCreadie's impressive win came while riding on a pair of Hoosier
RD12's: LEFT REAR: 78.0/10.0-13 RD12, RIGHT REAR: 82.0/12.0-13 RD12.
An emotional McCreadie commented after the race, "This is by far and
away the biggest race I've won." A modest McCreadie added, "They say
a blind squirrel can find a nut every once in a while I guess."
Jay Drake finished in second place followed by Cory Kruseman, Brad Kuhn and
Josh Wise in third through fifth place, respectively.
Congratulations go out to Justin Allgaier for battling his way into the
elite 24-car field. Allgaier is the son of Mike and Dorothy Allgaier who own
and operate Hoosier Tire Midwest.
Hoosier Open Wheel Dirt Product Manager Neil Cowman was in Oklahoma attending
the four-day event and provided details used in this report. Cowman was joined
by Hoosier's Irish Saunders.
Cowman commented, "We (Hoosier) would like to thank Emmett Hahn and
Lanny Edwards along with their entire staff for the hospitality they extended
to everyone during the week."
Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. extends its heartfelt thanks to Tim McCreadie for
trusting Hoosier tires to carry him to victory lane. The entire Hoosier
organization congratulates Tim on his incredible win at the 20th annual Chili
Bowl Midget Nationals.
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