TULSA, Okla. – California micro sprint ace T.J. Smith came into the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals knowing that he was in the best position of his career to open some eyes in the midget world.
He did just that during Warren CAT Qualifying Night on Tuesday, putting together a consistent – and fairly flashy – performance that sets him up well to race his way into the 55-lap finale on Saturday.
Smith raced among the usual contenders all night long with his Mitch Elliott-owned No. 11s Spike-Esslinger, winning his heat race from the pole and then adding a qualifier victory to his resume as well before scrapping among the top five for most of the 30-lap preliminary main event.
Though he faded in the final laps to a sixth-place finish, the smile on Elliott’s face after the race was wide enough it was visible from halfway across the building as he soaked in his memorable night.
After all, this wasn’t supposed to happen to him. And yet, on a Tuesday in Tulsa, it did.
“We had one hell of a race car all night long,” Smith noted. “These guys worked their butts off to the max and gave me the best possible piece I could have imagined having. We were up to third in the main event there at one point, and I really cannot complain about that. It’s surreal man. It’s one of the most memorable moments I’ll have for a very, very long time running around this building. I mean, we brought it home sixth, man! I really cannot complain.
“I got a little flustered the last few laps, started getting some bonsai sliders from some of the veterans, but we hung in there and we brought her home where it’ll put us in a really good spot for the B on Saturday.”
Smith, 30, landed a ride with longtime friend and fellow California dirt tracker Cory Elliott for this year’s Chili Bowl, putting him in not only a comfortable position for the week, but one where he felt like he could “have a lot of fun while we figure this deal out.”
The fun portion of that objective was checked off in a hurry during the main event, as Smith worked from fifth to third in the opening laps and then went to war with World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series competition director Mike Hess for a spot on the podium.
Battling side by side for a couple of rotations, Smith actually got past Hess and up into third by lap four before Hess counter-punched with a gritty slider that broke Smith’s momentum ever so slightly.
Though he fell back after that, Smith pointed out that battle as one of his personal favorites from the night.
“Man, we had a really good run going, even better than where we ended up,” Smith noted. “I don’t know the guy (Hess) personally, but he ran me very clean. All these guys run a lot, so for the limited midget schedule that I get, I really can’t be any happier with how it all turned out.
“Tonight was a blast. I’ve got a big old smile on my face that won’t go anywhere for a little while.”
Looking ahead to Saturday night, Smith will line up toward the front half of a B-main as he seeks to run his way into his first championship A-main.
Before racing got underway, Smith might not have given himself a chance to be solidly being in the big show. But after the speed he showed Tuesday night?
Smith has a different perspective, a lot more confidence and a hope that dreams really can happen.
“Man, if we have this car right … and it’s exactly the way it is right now for Saturday in the B, I think we have a really damn good shot to lock her into the main,” Smith said. “This thing is stout and I can’t thank the Elliott team – Cory and his dad and everyone working on this car – enough for giving me a chance to come out here and do this and have a shot like this, man. It’s unreal, really.
“We’ve got a chance; that’s all I could have asked for coming in.”
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