 TULSA,
OK (January 13-17, 2009) -- Sammy Swindell completed one of the most dominating
performances ever last week in the 23rd Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals.
The 53-year old driver finished the five-day event undefeated while capturing a
record 5th Chili Bowl title. The annual event, considered the Super Bowl of
midget racing, is held on an indoor 1/4-mile clay oval inside the Tulsa Expo
Center. This year's show attracted a record 281 entries. Although the event has
no rules governing what tire(s) can be used, 279 of 281 drivers opted to run on
Hoosier racing tires.
Two years ago, the increasing number of competitors forced Chili Bowl
promoters Emmett Hahn and Lanny Edwards to increase the length of the event to
five days back in 2007.
This year's record field of 281 drivers was divided up so that each was
slated to compete in one of the four days of preliminary racing used in part to
determine Saturday's 25-car field.
During Tuesday's opening day of racing, Brad Kuhn bested a field of 67
drivers in winning the 25-lap qualifier over Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Steve
Buckwalter. Better still, the finish earned the trio a guaranteed starting spot
in Saturday's final.
A special 20-lap Race of Champions was also run on Tuesday with Sammy
Swindell capturing the win driving a uniquely designed midget which sported a
super modified (retro-style) tailtank.
On Wednesday, Swindell continued his powerful performance winning the second
night of competition over a field of 68 drivers. In preliminary racing,
Swindell moved from sixth place to win his 8-lap heat to earn a the pole for
the night's 25-lap feature.
In the feature, Swindell dominated the race winning over J.J. Yeley and Jon
Stanbrough as the three locked in starting spots for Saturday's big race.
On Thursday, 74 drivers took their turn on the track. When the night was
over, Tracy Hines captured the win. Hines was followed by Dave Darland and 2008
ARCA Series champion Justin Allgaier. It would be Allgaier's third trip to a
Chili Bowl finale.
Friday had the remaining 72 drivers in competition with Jerry Coons, Jr.
capturing the win over Levi Jones and Brad Loyet while setting the stage for
Saturday's big race.
While the first four days of racing locked in 12 of 25 cars for Saturday's
feature, the remaining drivers had one last chance to make the field by
battling their way through multiple qualifiers beginning just before noon
Saturday.
In Saturday's 50-lap finale, Sammy Swindell used the high line to move from
fifth to first in the race's middle stages while going on to capture the win
before a cheering, standing-room only crowd.
For Swindell, it was his fifth Chili Bowl National Championship. Amazingly,
no other driver has ever won the event more than twice. Swindell previously won
the event in 1989, 1992, 1996 and 1998.
Swindell was followed to the finish line by a pair of Indiana drivers. 2005
Chili Bowl champion Tracy Hines, from Greenfield, IN, finished in second place
followed by Brad Kuhn. Khun hails from Avon, IN.
After the race, Swindell commented, "To pull this off the way we did,
to be undefeated here in every race, it was fun."
Like a true racer, when asked about his car's fuel tank, the wily veteran
smiled and simply said, "It's a secret."
Swindell, along with most of the cars in the 50-lap feature, used a pair of
Hoosier RD12 tires as his rear drive combination.
Like last year, Hoosier was the only tire manufacturer providing sales and
service at this year's Chili Bowl Nationals.
Trackside sales and service was again provided by Hoosier Tire Southwest.
Once again attending this year's event was Hoosier's Irish Saunders and Neil
Cowman.
For more information about the Chili Bowl Nationals visit their website at www.chilibowl.com.
Note: Our thoughts and prayers go out to Tim McCreadie who was injured in a
violent flip Wednesday. Sadly, the 2006 Chili Bowl champion suffered a
fractured T-3 vertebra and does not have the benefit of health insurance.
If
you are interested in helping Tim with his expenses, donations can be made to:
USAC
c/o Tim McCreadie Support Fund
USAC
4910 West 16th Street
Speedway, Indiana 46224
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