TULSA, Okla. — The Saturday night feature during the 39th annual Chili Bowl Nationals powered by NOS Energy Drink will be 40 laps in length.
The distance was extended to 55 laps to honor Donnie Ray Crawford after his death in 2012.
“Our job is to provide the best surface for these teams to be able to race and put on a show for these fans, and I’ve been talking with Gravel the past few years about Saturday night and what needs to change, and I agree with him, it needs to be 40 laps again,” stated Chili Bowl co-founder and promoter Emmett Hahn.
The Hyper Racing Non-Wing Outlaw feature during the Smiley’s Racing Products Tulsa Shootout will run 55 laps to continue to honor Crawford’s life.
For Matt Ward, who is the director of operations for both events, continuing to pay respect to Donnie Ray Crawford is very close to his heart.
“We still want to make sure we honor Donnie. Being his teammate in 2012 with my cousin, Blake, was such a special moment with the history between our grandpas (Emmett Hahn and Ray Crawford),” Ward said. “Donnie was a hero in so many ways to so many people, and his legacy will live on in that building.”
The 40th edition of the Tulsa Shootout takes place December 30 through January 4 with the 39th Chili Bowl Nationals happening January 13-18 at the SageNet Center at Expo Square.
