TULSA, Okla. — Ryan Timms’ debut at the Chili Bowl Nationals in 2022 didn’t quite go according to plan.
The then-15-year-old struggled and ended his inaugural Chili Bowl journey buried deep in Saturday’s E main.
For that reason, Timms considers his true “first year” at the esteemed indoor midget race to be his 2023 performance, which was also his debut in the No. 67 Keith Kunz Motorsports car.
“I just wasn’t feeling too great about it two years ago,” Timms said. “Last year was very nerve-racking the day of my race. But also with it being so nerve-racking, it kind of makes you focus up a lot more than you would at a normal race.”
However, the Oklahoma native is considerably more confident regarding his return to the SageNet Center this year.
Not only does he have a full year of midget racing experience with KKM to lean on, but with an A main appearance at the Chili Bowl under his belt, Timms has had some time to learn the ins-and-out of the temporary quarter-mile track.
“Specifically, when it comes to running around the bottom, it’s definitely a skill here,” Timms said. “The guys that are good at it, it’s really impressive to watch them do it. I think it’s just getting the bottom figured out. It seems to be the trickiest part of Chili Bowl.”
Also, with the Chili Bowl requiring drivers to run a harder right-rear tire — the Hoosier SP3 — this year, Timms believes it will be a better fit for his driving style.
“On a harder tire, at least in the sprint car deal, you definitely notice a difference when it comes to running the curb,” Timms said. “Having a harder tire, a harder sidewall, it stabilizes you a lot more on the cushion, which is what I feel like I needed the last time I was here.”
The layers of confidence that are building for the Toyota development driver will no doubt help when he lines up for his preliminary night on Friday, but he’ll also be facing one of the toughest fields of the week.
His competitors will include defending Chili Bowl champion Logan Seavey, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Justin Grant, Tim McCreadie, Emerson Axsom, Kaylee Bryson and more than 70 others.
But like any good driver, Timms is focused on running his own race.
“I’d say my expectations for myself going into Friday night are top five at least. I really want to win the prelim or put it in the show at least,” Timms said. “But I mean, when you’ve got guys like (Justin) Grant and (Logan) Seavey running with you, it makes it a lot more tough. But if you can get in front of them and win or beat ’em, it makes it that much better.”
Timms finished seventh in his prelim last year and 19th in Saturday’s A main. With a little luck, the 17-year-old hopes to up the ante this weekend.
“It was OK, but I definitely know I could have done better,” Timms said. “I have a lot higher expectations this year than last year for sure.”