GREENBRIER, Ark. — Jordon Mallett is eager to embark upon his Chili Bowl Nationals driving debut next week.
Mallett landed a ride with Sammy Swindell, who owns the most Chili Bowl Nationals victories with five for the marquee midget event at Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, Okla. Mallett’s preliminary night is Jan. 16.
“I got a phone call from Sammy one evening wanting to know if I’d be interested in running his other car,” Mallett said. “We talked for a while and I’m really excited to jump on the opportunity.”
Not only will this mark Mallett’s first time competing in the event, it will be his first time racing a midget.
“I don’t have any expectations because I’ve never even set in a midget before,” he said. “If things go well, that’s great. We want to perform and I’m not going there to not run well, but realistically there aren’t high expectations. One of the best to ever do it is my car owner and in my corner. That should help expedite the learning curve. I want to put myself in a good position and capitalize when I can and just race smart. I want to represent his team and the people who support him well.”
Mallett, who is a winged sprint car driver, has attended the event multiple times.
“Me and my dad normally went,” he said. “We’d go up and walk the pits and watch, making it a day trip on Saturday. It was always in the back of my head that I wanted to run the event, but I didn’t own midgets and wasn’t one who was interested in trying to rent a ride. It’s always been, I will take a ride if a ride presents itself and the right opportunity was going to have to present itself.
“I want to thank Sammy for the opportunity,” Mallett continued. “I’m excited to practice next Sunday and then race on Thursday. It will be a big challenge, but one I’m looking forward to.”
Swindell, whose preliminary night is Wednesday, and Mallett are two of the 380-plus entrants. All drivers are placed into a preliminary night leading up to the finale on Saturday, Jan. 18.
“I’ve run (sprint cars) with him some the last couple of years,” Swindell said. “He does most of his own stuff and knows he can’t tear it up. I’ve been giving some people a chance in the other car and we’ve had some good ones drive.
“I wanted to give someone a chance around here trying to race on their own and someone who is on the lighter side. He fit both of those pretty easy and thought he’d do a decent job. They are good people, too.”
