Larson has a greater platform than most of his peers and has unquestionably brought increased focus to this topic. It begs the question, will this be a year that some decide to stay home, or will the number of entries continue to soar? More to the point, how much does the purse impact the decision to race at Tulsa?
During his time as a racer, Jay Mounce turned laps at the Chili Bowl and understands how exciting it can be. Now the co-owner of Mounce/Stout Motorsports, he was thrilled this past summer when Jacob Denny scored the first USAC win for his team at Indiana’s Lincoln Park Speedway, while Chase McDermand nailed down an Xtreme Outlaw Series triumph at Davenport (Iowa) Speedway.
As an Oklahoman the Chili Bowl has added significance, and when asked if he would compete in this year’s race, Mounce knew how many days remained before the gates opened. With the intent of taking eight cars to the party, Mounce skipped USAC’s season-ending West Coast swing to prepare for the Chili Bowl.
As an industry insider, he knows all about the raging debate.
“It is just one of those things,” Mounce said. “Beyond the fact that there really isn’t anything going on in January, it is still the marquee event. There has always been the age-old argument about how much money they may or may not make in that building. It probably could pay more to win but it is still one of the biggest events to go to and showcase what you’ve got. When you have a decent run, it sets the tone for the year, especially for a deal like ours.”
Like many pressed on the subject, Mounce tries to be balanced and fair.
“I see both sides of it,” he noted. “I raced in the building for six or eight years. I have heard some rumors about some of these powerhouse teams either bringing one or two cars or not coming at all. It will be interesting to see what the final car count really is.”
Mounce says he’d like to see the purse pay more further back and would welcome an owners’ meeting to discuss changes. Either way, his cars will be there. His reason is simple.
“At the end of the day, everyone wants a Golden Driller,” he said. “Most of the guys, no matter if they are young or old want that Golden Driller sitting on the mantle. They don’t really care what that check says. You never hear about the $10,000, all you ever hear about is the Golden Driller.”
Mounce is clear about his goal.
“We are going there to win,” he said. “A lot of guys go just to enjoy a week in January, which is fine. I understand that. I’m a fan just as much as I am a car owner. I like walking around and talking to people, but this year we are a little more focused. There is no one who will pick us to win, but I think we have a chance to surprise people.”
Chad Boat’s CB Industries team will come loaded with eight cars. Boat expects his team to be a force at the Chili Bowl. Racing is a business for Boat, so everything about this trip is buttoned-down. That doesn’t mean he is solely driven by fiscal considerations. He is also sympathetic to challenges faced by drivers such as Larson and Bell.
“They have a lot going and they race a lot over the year,” he said. “If you look back at Tony Stewart, some years he raced at the Chili Bowl and some years he didn’t. They are also trying to help the racers with the purse, which is something I understand, too. I also think those guys will get an itch come practice day.”
Boat believes it is an easier choice to skip this race when you already have a few trophies on the shelf.
“From a team aspect, it is still a race we are trying to check off,” Boat noted. “We’ve been close a couple of times, but when you look at our résumé, we have won the 4-Crown and bigger races. I would say Turkey Night and Chili Bowl are still two we are trying to check off the list. That’s something we are yearning to accomplish. That is my No. 1 driving factor. Now, if I had won it would it be a different story? Probably not because at the end of the day we are all racers. In the end, it is all about trying to hold that Golden Driller.”