MESA, Ariz. — 14-year-old Corbin Rueschenberg will become one of the youngest competitors in the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals history, competing in the 38th annual event in Tulsa, Okla. next week.
Rueschenberg will drive a new Spike Chassis prepared by 2022 Chili Bowl champion Tanner Thorson.
He will drive the No. 26R in Tuesday night’s qualifying night.
Rueschenberg competed in the Xtreme Outlaw Midget and POWRi National Midget series as a 13-year-old rookie in 2023 with 11 top-ten finishes including a pair of fifth-place runs. He also earned several strong runs throughout a busy micro sprint campaign as well. Rueschenberg is a former champion of the Sooner Speedweek with 10 career NOW600 National wins.
Rueschenberg tuned up for the Chili Bowl by competing in the Tulsa Shootout last weekend in four divisions, including earning an 11th starting position in the Non-Wing Outlaw championship feature on Sunday.
“I’m super grateful to get to race the Chili Bowl! I can’t wait to learn and see how we do. As a midget driver I feel like I’ve grown so much in learning what the setups feel like and learning what I need from the cars,” Rueschenberg said. “Shootout was pretty successful and it was good to get some laps in the building before the Chili Bowl.
“I have a guy in my corner in Tanner Thorson who knows how to win. I just got to do my job. I’d love to make the A-Main on the prelim night and can’t wait to compete against some of the best in the world.”
Thorson approaches his role with Rueschenberg seeing a lot of himself in the young driver.
“I was there at one point so I get the challenges,” Thorson said. “I feel like I have a good sense for what needs to be done now, obviously now that I’m older. He’s a hell of a wheelman. It’s not just a matter of going out there and running good. It’s about having the best prepared race cars and I feel we have all the right pieces of the puzzle for Corbin’s sake. Me and my team are excited to work with him!”
Among the sponsors supporting Rueschenberg’s maiden voyage in the Chili Bowl will be Steffey Excavating. The late Dan Steffey and the Steffey family have supported dirt track racing from their home state of Arizona and beyond.
“To have their support means everything to me,” Rueschenberg said. “Dan and I were great friends. Having him on my car is a great honor.”