TULSA, Okla. — Emerson Axsom’s dream came true in Saturday’s 40th Chili Bowl Nationals, but it was the product of an aggressive pass of the arguably the most popular open-wheel racer in history and the support of a pair of Kevins.
Most importantly Axsom drove one of four Chili Bowl entries fielded by four-time race winner Kevin Swindell, but he also benefitted from the wisdom he learned from longtime friend Kevin Thomas Jr., who turned out to be the man Axsom had to beat to put his name in the record books as a winner of the world’s most famous midget race.
“I am super thankful that Kevin Swindell messaged me on Instagram and asked me to drive for him because without him it would not be possible,” Axsom said. “I am thankful that is the best race car I ever drove. I hope he messages me on Instagram to come back next year.”
Axsom said that Swindell, who won the Chili Bowl with Logan Seavey in 2023 and 2024, contacted him during the summer and explained he wanted to run four cars for the Chili Bowl.
“Last year (Chili Bowl) I ran Keith Kunz’s personal car. He’s only won it like 35 times,” Axsom joked. “He told me I had a spot on his team if I wanted to be there, but he wasn’t going to be crew chiefing my car. So, I was going to need a new crew chief no matter what.
“Then Kevin messaged me and basically just asked if I had any commitments, and I said I didn’t. I didn’t tell anybody who I was going to be running for. So, I told him no, and he asked me if I was interested.”
Axsom never spoke with Swindell in person prior to the Saturday before the Chili Bowl, where he joined Seavey, USAC sprint car champion Kyle Cummins and rookie Jett Barnes in the Swindell SpeedLab stable. All four drivers locked into Saturday’s main event with Axsom winning the race and Barnes named rookie of the year.
Axsom, who is a full-time winged sprint car driver, said the No. 39a midget he drove to victory was like no car he’d ever sat in.
“I probably wouldn’t be up here if I was in any other race car,” Axsom said during the post-race press conference. “That car was phenomenal to drive. It was the most forgiving race car I’ve had. I could mess up and get out of position and I could get my car back under control. That’s one of the biggest things. I don’t know how he does it. I wish I did know. He has something that the race car is so forgiving that it almost makes my job easier than it should be.”
While Axsom won the race at age 21, he benefitted not only from the experience of Kevin Swindell, but of Kevin Thomas Jr., who raced from 18th to finish second behind Axsom.
The two were teammates early in Axsom’s career and he’s leaned on Thomas as a mentor ever since as the pair have built a close friendship.
“He’s one of my best friends and I am thankful to have him because he’s taught me more than any other race car driver I know. Apparently, he taught me a little bit too much,” Axsom said with a smirk directed at Thomas, who was seated next to him. “I’m just thankful to be up here and thankful to have him in my corner growing up because he taught me a lot. Hopefully, we have a couple more races together in the future.”
While Axsom had to hold off his friend for the victory, he had to pass three-time Chili Bowl winner and two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson to get the lead.
“I told myself that I’m not going to race him like he’s Kyle Larson,” Axsom said. “I feel like a lot of guys, including the national level guys I race against every week, they see Kyle, and they almost back down. If it was anyone else, they’d be raced harder.
“I told myself I’m going to take the race to him, because that’s the only chance I’ve got. If I don’t throw everything I have at Kyle, then he’s going to win this deal and drive away.”
He passed Larson on lap five and led the rest of the way to achieve his dream.
“Everything played in my favor tonight. It feels like a dream. It’s crazy,” Axsom said. “This is, for sure, the best day of my life.”
