TULSA, Okla. – The initial qualifying night rosters have been set for the 35th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire.
Each night’s lineup is subject to change, but the five nights of racing leading into Saturday’s alphabet soup program will all feature a laundry list of top names looking to secure their places in the 55-lap Super Bowl of Midget Racing.
Monday’s Cummins Qualifying Night is headlined by NASCAR Cup Series rookie Chase Briscoe and past USAC national midget and USAC national sprint car champion Tyler Courtney, as well as 2006 Chili Bowl winner and dirt late model ace Tim McCreadie.
World of Outlaws star Carson Macedo, former USAC sprint car titlist C.J. Leary, reigning Monday preliminary night winner Cannon McIntosh, USAC Triple Crown champion Jerry Coons Jr. and defending USAC midget champion Chris Windom are also scheduled to compete in the opening Chili Bowl preliminary program.
Tuesday’s Warren CAT Qualifying Night will be led by defending Chili Bowl champion Kyle Larson, who will be back in his familiar No. 01 TRD-powered King Chassis.
Past Chili Bowl feature starter Thomas Meseraull, California ace Michael Faccinto, Oklahomans Jonathan Beason and Daison Pursley, All Star Circuit of Champions runner-up Cory Eliason, World of Outlaws sprint car race director Mike Hess and broadcast personality Dillon Welch are other heavy-hitters scheduled to race Tuesday night.
Marquee names are all over the entry list for Wednesday’s Circle City Raceway Qualifying Night, including five-time Chili Bowl champion Sammy Swindell, NASCAR Cup Series star Ryan Newman, two-time World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champion Brad Sweet, reigning POWRi National Midget League titlist Jake Neuman, sprint car ace Parker Price-Miller and reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott.
NTT IndyCar Series driver Santino Ferrucci, former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Brett Moffitt, USAC ace Kevin Thomas Jr., teenage sensation Gio Scelzi and two-time Golden Driller winner Rico Abreu are also on the tentative Wednesday card.
Three-time Chili Bowl winner Christopher Bell will return for another shot at a fourth victory during Thursday’s John Christner Trucking Qualifying Night with CB Industries, the team owned by Chad Boat that won last year’s USAC midget championship with Chris Windom.
Bell will be joined by Spencer Bayston, dirt modified star Nick Hoffman, five-time ASCS sprint car national champion Sam Hafertepe Jr., NHRA Top Fuel driver Austin Prock, three-time USAC sprint car titlist Brady Bacon, past USAC midget champion Logan Seavey and top open-wheel prospects Zeb Wise and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid.
NASCAR Cup Series regular Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and reigning USAC Silver Crown Series champion Justin Grant are among the top runners entered in Friday’s Driven2SaveLives Qualifying Night.
Others also trying their hands at the final Chili Bowl qualifying night include 2016 USAC midget champion Tanner Thorson, NASCAR Xfinity Series regular Justin Allgaier, three-time All Star Circuit of Champions title winner Aaron Reutzel, defending ARCA Menards Series West champion Jesse Love, 2013 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champion Daryn Pittman and champion World of Outlaws car owner Kasey Kahne.
The daily entry lists are subject to change prior to each night of racing and can be viewed by clicking here.
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