 TULSA,
OK (January 12, 2008) -- After winning Friday's 25-lap qualifier, Damion
Gardner added his name to midget racing immortality by winning Saturday's
50-lap Chili Bowl Midget Nationals. The Concord, CA driver, now residing in
Pittsboro, IN, becomes the 16th different winner of the annual event which,
this year, attracted 274 drivers from 29 different states as well as Canada and
Australia. Of the 274 drivers in Tulsa, all but ten opted to compete on Hoosier
tires. The decision paid off for 24 of those driver with all 24 starters in
Saturday's 50-lap feature running on the Hoosier brand.
Saturday was a marathon of racing with 20 qualifying races before the final
50-lap feature which was televised on HBO's Pay-Per-View to a global
audience.
When qualifying was over, the 274-car field was narrowed to 24 for the
feature race.
The race began with Wednesday's winner Josh Ford taking the lead at the drop
of the green flag with Damion Gardner and Brad Kuhn in tow. By lap ten, the
trio had nearly a straightaway lead over the the rest of the pack which
included two former winners, Tony Stewart (2002, 2007) and Tracy Hines (2005).
On lap 11, Gardner and Kuhn made their way around Ford using the high
groove. On lap 13, Kuhn made contact with a lapped car allowing Ford to regain
second place behind Gardner.
Despite several more cautions throughout the 50-lapper, Gardner would not be
denied his first career "Golden Driller" trophy for winning the 22nd
annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.
Finishing in second place was Dave Darland followed by Shane Cottle, Bryan
Clauson and Jon Stanbrough to round out the top five.
Kevin Swindell finished sixth followed by Brady Bacon, Tony Stewart, Tracy
Hines and Nathan High to round out the list of top ten finishers.
Ironically, Indiana drivers riding on Hoosier tires seemed to be this year's
winner combination as seven of the top ten finishers came from the state of
Indiana including the top five finishers.
The night's top four finishers each used a pair of Hoosier RD12 (rear drive)
tires in the 50-lap feature.
Hoosier's Neil Cowman and Irish Saunders attended the event and provided the
information used in this report.
Cowman commented after the race, "Each year this event just gets bigger
and bigger. The record number of entries, the huge crowd, and the addition of
the HBO's Pay-Per-View should lay the groundwork to make next year's event even
bigger."
Cowman added, "Lanny (Edwards) and Emmett (Hahn) should be proud of how
the event has grown over the years and Hoosier is very proud to have been a
part of it."
Hoosier was the only tire manufacturer providing sales and service at this
year's Chili Bowl Midget Nationals. Trackside sales and service was provided by
Joel Boyd and Chuck Vess from Hoosier Tire Southwest.
For more information about the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals visit their
website at www.chilibowl.com.
|
