TULSA, Okla. — Keith Kunz’s phone hasn’t stopped ringing since the 38th annual Chili Bowl Nationals began with Sunday practice inside the SageNet Center.
The legendary midget team owner has added two late entries to his already-brimming stables over the course of the week.
On Tuesday, two-time event champion Kyle Larson announced his intent to race Thursday night’s preliminary feature with KKM, piloting the backup car for Tanner Carrick. On Wednesday afternoon, last year’s Daytona 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr. decided to join the party as well.
The full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver will be looking to make his ninth career start in Saturday’s A main.
“Ricky (Stenhouse Jr.) texted me earlier today, probably at about noon there. He said, ‘I was talking to Larson and he said you’ve got one more car. I can be there Friday,'” Kunz recalled. “I said, ‘Yeah, let me figure out if we can make it happen.’ And everybody was on board with it, so looks like he’ll run Friday night.”
So far, KKM has dominated the preliminary features this week, with Carrick winning on Monday night and Buddy Kofoid breezing to the checkered flag during Tuesday’s 30-lapper.
Kunz joked, “If we win tonight, maybe I’ll get Christopher Bell to call tomorrow.”
However, the car that Stenhouse Jr. will run is the final backup car that KKM has available. His late admission will mark the 15th entry for KKM at this year’s Chili Bowl.
“We’re running out of cars,” Kunz said, cracking a smile.
It’s been five years since KKM brought home the Golden Driller with Bell in 2019.