TULSA, Okla. — Buddy Kofoid led flag-to-flag during Warren CAT Qualifying Night on Tuesday during the 38th annual Chili Bowl Nationals at the SageNet Center.
Kofoid kept tight control of the field throughout the 30-lapper after starting from pole position in his No. 67k Keith Kunz Motorsports midget. Early on in the feature, he was challenged by the No. 29s Matt Seymour Racing driver Hank Davis, but not even two cautions could interrupt Kofoid’s run to the checkered flag.
“We did a really good job in the heat race and then the qualifier. It was a matter of not making mistakes,” Kofoid said. “We survived going through lapped traffic this time and now we’re in a good position for Saturday.”
Last year, Kofoid was taken out by two lapped cars who wrecked in front of him during his prelim performance. This year, he found his redemption in victory lane by way of earning his second career prelim win at the Chili Bowl.
Davis, who won last year’s Tuesday night prelim, held on to finish second.
“I’m sure half the people here though it was a fluke last year, so just locking it in and not letting Buddy Kofoid just drive away is nice — it just gives you confidence,” Davis said. “Sucked early. Went six to two in the heat, but still sucked. In the qualifier went five to two, still sucked. These guys just went to work. Got it better up against the cushion and that’s all we needed.”
With their finishes, Kofoid and Davis have locked straight into Saturday night’s 24-car A main.
After starting second in the prelim feature, Chase McDermand finished third in his debut race wheeling the No. 7u for Trifecta Motorsports.
“The first three-quarters of the night could not have gone any better,” McDermand said. He won his heat race after starting third and earned a qualifier victory after starting fourth on the grid. “We view everything as a must-win situation whether it is or not.”
McDermand will head to a B main on Saturday to attempt to make the $20,000-to-win A main. He will be joined by fourth-place finisher David Gravel, Kameron Key, Thomas Meseraull, Landon Brooks and Kevin Thomas Jr.
Feature Results (30 Laps)
1. Buddy Kofoid, 2. Hank Davis, 3. Chase McDermand, 4. David Gravel, 5. Kameron Key, 6. Thomas Meseraull, 7. Landon Brooks, 8. Kevin Thomas Jr., 9. Zach Daum, 10. Jake Bubak, 11. Corbin Ruschenberg, 12. Parker Price-Miller, 13. Jake Andreotti, 14. Kyle Strickler, 15. Billy Vaninwgen Jr., 16. Elijah Gile, 17. Justin Zimmerman, 18. K.J. Snow, 19. Nick Drake, 20. Jake Neuman, 21. Kinzer Edwards, 22. C.J. Sarna, 23. Clinton Boyles (DNF), 24. Cap Henry (DNF)