The 37th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals has drawn in 360 drivers and teams to the SageNet Center ahead of next week’s weeklong midget racing extravaganza.
While the plethora of entries all begin at square one during Sunday’s practice, Cannon McIntosh may have a slight advantage.
During last week’s Tulsa Shootout, McIntosh competed in the non-wing outlaw and stock non-wing class, where four days of on-track action gave the Bixby, Okla., native a tune-up.
“I think it always helps to be able to run the shootout a couple weeks before, just kind of seeing how the track changes, places the curb develops, and where it starts to slick off first,” McIntosh told SPEED SPORT. “Just being friendly with the berm and learning that again, because it always seems to be a little different every year.”
McIntosh, 20, believes the subtle track characteristics he noticed during the shootout, will carry over to Chili Bowl week.
“I think already it’s helped a little bit this year going into the Chili Bowl,” McIntosh said. “I think it’s definitely going to help.”
While the track may undergo those subtle changes, McIntosh feels it’s close to what it typically tends to be for the Chili Bowl.
As he enters his fifth Chili Bowl, the full-time USAC National Midget racer couldn’t believe how quickly time has flown by since his initial start in 2019.
“It definitely makes me feel old, you saying it’s my fifth one,” McIntosh said. “I definitely feel like I’ve developed a lot as a driver, just running a lot of races up and down the road throughout the year the last four years, you just learned so much.
“Not only about just driving the car, but the mindset part of it and learning how not to waste any energy with frustration and just putting all that into the right place and using it as a positive.
“I think in the past I’ve struggled and just not taking some of that stuff into a positive way and making it negative.”
The maturity of McIntosh behind the wheel has helped the Toyota development driver find a broad perspective amid adversity.
“Just going up and down the road with with the guys and just racing a lot. You just learn so much,” McIntosh said. “This season (2022) has been a good success for us. We didn’t end up in the points where we wanted to be but we definitely, about midway through the season all the way to the end, finished out really strong.
“Definitely learned a lot. I think we have lots of confidence going into the Chili Bowl, especially this year.”
Heading into 2023, it’ll be the fourth season with Toyota support and his second season back behind the wheel of his family-owned Dave Mac Dalby Motorsports No. 08. McIntosh finished fifth in the USAC midget standings last year, but won 15 features across numerous midget racing series.
“I think just how much they put into the drivers and the opportunities they give us with just many things, from a nutritionist, to a trainer, to a gym when you’re in North Carolina. They also have a mentor as well that you can call,” McIntosh said. “There’s a lot of factors that they have.
“They’re always trying to push as much as they can to get you as far as possible. Obviously, you have to do your job as well to make them believe in you. You just got to make the most of every opportunity because it can be gone quick.
“I think it’s definitely tough if you want to make it to the next level,” McIntosh continued. “If you have Toyota backing, you definitely have an opportunity there. It’s just so tough with how many guys that want to go make it to NASCAR. I’m just grateful to be a part of the program and be able to have all these tools behind me to have that success.”
With everything in place, McIntosh and his team have their eyes set on numerous goals this season.
The first goal — pursuing a USAC National Midget championship.
“That would be huge for us, and definitely huge for me and my career for how hard I’ve worked to get there, and just all the trials and tribulations that came along the way,” McIntosh said.
“I think as the year got toward the end, I think we know what it takes to do it. You think you know, but until you actually get out there and run a full season, it’s a whole different deal.”
Despite a busy seven-month USAC schedule, McIntosh is also set to compete in some Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series and POWRi Midget League events.
To cap it all off, the development of a micro sprint team located in North Carolina is in the works for McIntosh to help gain more seat time, along with the open door of competing in a sprint car if the opportunity presents itself.
“Definitely a lot of racing this year,” McIntosh said. “Similar to this season, but probably have more micro stuff and if any sprint car opportunities open up, then I would definitely be taking some of those as well.”
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