Chili Bowl Tuesday Converted to Full Qualifying Night

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (March 28, 2008) – Tuesday night at the 23rd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Nationals won't just be for "newbies" and relative newcomers any more.  In 2009, the Tuesday night card will become a full-blown qualifying night event, making for four nights of qualifying action to set the stage for Saturday's championship main events.

The 23rd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Nationals is slated to unfold over the course of five nights, from January 13-17, 2009, atop the ¼-mile Tulsa Expo Raceway inside the Tulsa State Fairgrounds' QuikTrip Center.

With burgeoning car counts, the event expanded to five nights prior to the 2007 edition.  The Tuesday night event has been reserved for Chili Bowl rookies and relative newcomers to the event and auto racing in general over each of the past two years.

That will change in 2009, as the Tuesday event will carry the same weight as the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday qualifying events.  And the Tuesday card will also carry the same abundance of talent, experience and quality as the other qualifying nights, with the rookie crop divvied up over the four qualifying nights just as the sport's top guns and stars will be split over four nights.

With the additional qualifying night, the top three finishers from each qualifying night "A" Main event will be locked into Saturday night's 50-lap championship finale rather than the top four, which has been the case since the Chili Bowl Nationals expanded to three qualifying nights in 2002.

Tickets may still be ordered either in increments of four-nights (which includes the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday qualifying events along with Saturday's championship feature events) or all five nights (which includes all four qualifying nights along with Saturday's championship finale).

Four-night tickets are available for $185, with five-night tickets available for $211.  A $1 per ticket handling charge is applied if paying by credit card.

Ticket holders from the 2008 edition of the Chili Bowl Nationals have until May 21 to renew ticket orders or make adjustments to existing ticket orders.  After the May 21 renewal deadline, any available seats will be allotted to new ticket orders on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tickets may be ordered by calling the Chili Bowl ticket office at 918-838-3777 or online at http://www.chilibowl.com/.

Earlier this year, California native Damion Gardner became the 16th different winner in Chili Bowl history when he drove Jason Leffler's car to victory lane, capturing the coveted Golden Driller trophy over a record field of 274 competitors. 

Gardner joined a prestigious list of past Chili Bowl champions that includes four-time winner Sammy Swindell, two-time winners Tony Stewart, Cory Kruseman and Dan Boorse, and one-time winners Tim McCreadie, Tracy Hines, Jay Drake, Billy Boat, Donnie Beechler, Andy Hillenburg, Dave Blaney, Lealand McSpadden, Jon Heydenreich, Scott Hatton and Rich Vogler.

Additional information regarding the Dodge Chili Bowl Nationals is available by calling 918-838-3777 or at http://www.chilibowl.com/.

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Chili Bowl Ticket Renewal Deadline Moved Up!

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (February 26, 2008) – Due to the continually increasing demand for tickets for the 23rd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, which is set to take place at the QuikTrip Center's Tulsa Expo Raceway on January 13-17, 2009, the deadline to renew tickets has been moved up to Wednesday, May 21.  The date was originally set for June 1.

Fans that held tickets for the 2008 edition of the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals must place their renewal order by May 21 to retain the same seats.

Any tickets not renewed by the May 21 deadline will be filled by new orders on a first-come, first-served basis, with new orders accepted at any time.  New orders will only be filled based upon availability, increasing the impetus upon placing new orders as early as possible.

Tickets for the 23rd Annual Chili Bowl Nationals went on sale Friday, February 1, and since that time have been requested at yet another record pace for the popular event.

Tickets may be ordered in increments of four-nights (which includes the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday qualifying events along with Saturday's championship feature events) or five nights (which also includes Tuesday night's Pre-Qualifying event).

Four-night tickets are available for $185, with five-night tickets available for $211.  A $1 per ticket handling charge is applied if paying by credit card.

Tickets are available by calling the Chili Bowl ticket office at 918-838-3777 or online at http://www.chilibowl.com/.

Just a few short weeks ago, California native Damion Gardner became the 16th different winner in Chili Bowl history when he drove Jason Leffler's car to victory lane, capturing the coveted Golden Driller trophy over a record field of 274 competitors.

Gardner joined a prestigious list of past Chili Bowl champions that includes four-time winner Sammy Swindell, two-time winners Tony Stewart, Cory Kruseman and Dan Boorse, and one-time winners Tim McCreadie, Tracy Hines, Jay Drake, Billy Boat, Donnie Beechler, Andy Hillenburg, Dave Blaney, Lealand McSpadden, Jon Heydenreich, Scott Hatton and Rich Vogler.

Additional information regarding the Dodge Chili Bowl Nationals is available by calling 918-838-3777 or at http://www.chilibowl.com./

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Demon Possesses Golden Driller with Chili Bowl Triumph!
 
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 12, 2008) – Damion Gardner picked perhaps the largest dirt track stage in history to shine upon by racing to victory lane in Saturday night's 50-lap championship main event at Tulsa Expo Raceway's 22nd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.

After winning Friday night's Qualifying feature, "The Demon" raced into the lead on the eleventh lap and led the rest of the way to become the 16th different winner in event history in front of a packed house at Tulsa's QuikTrip Center and before a worldwide television audience on HBO Pay-Per-View courtesy of Lucas Oil.

Piloting Jason Leffler's Pace Electronics/Team ASE No. 71g entry, the winningest driver in USAC/CRA history and the series' 2005 champion bested a record Chili Bowl Nationals field of 274 competitors from 29 different states as well as Canada and Australia as he made his first Chili Bowl main event since finishing tenth in 2003.

"I was just trying to keep the nerves down the whole time, and even during the race at the end it was tough to keep the nerves down and to put in the good laps," Gardner commented afterward.

Dave Darland, who finished a close second, responded that, "I was trying to keep his nerves up there a few times, it didn't work."

Gardner went on to say, "The car was really good when it was pretty tacky all the way across, but it was getting really slick to a curb.  And it was right after a yellow, I got in a little too hot and caught the edge of it and spiked it up.  I just tried to keep it straight, and when we landed Dave (Darland) was alongside me but he was on the slick and probably gonna get no traction.  From then on, I just entered a little lower and tried to put in good smooth laps rather than fast ones."

It was an approach that paid huge dividends in the end for the California native that now resides in Pittsboro, IN.   

Saturday's Bass Pro Shops slate of 21 feature events culminated with the 50-lap finale, with Wednesday night's Creek Nation Casino Qualifying Showdown winner Josh Ford on the pole with Friday night's O'Reilly Auto Parts Qualifying event winner Gardner alongside.

After Brady Bacon, the lone Oklahoma representative in the main event, was shuffled atop the inside berm in turn one to negate the original start, Ford got the edge on Gardner as the pack raced through the opening pair of corners.

Ford, Gardner and Thursday's Warren CAT Qualifier winner Brad Kuhn led the way in the early stages and began to separate themselves from the rest of the 24-car feature field after a handful of laps.

Working his preferred top groove, Gardner began working on Ford for the lead after six laps, only to jump the cushion on the eighth round and lose several car-lengths.  Gardner wasted little time reeling Ford back in though, closing to his tail tank by the time they reached lapped traffic on lap ten with the lead trio of Ford, Gardner and Kuhn nearly a straightaway ahead of fourth-running Dave Darland.

A lap later, Gardner charged past Ford for the lead with Kuhn following suit by taking second upon the completion of the eleventh round.

Lap thirteen proved to be unlucky for Kuhn when the lapped car of Terry McCarl got loose in turns one and two and collected the two-time National Midget Driver of the Year.  Ford made contact in the melee as well, but somehow managed to squeeze by to reclaim second as the caution flew.

Gardner quickly opened up a half straightaway lead over Ford on the restart, with Darland another half straightaway back in third, only to have the pace interrupted after 16 laps when Kasey Kahne come to a stop in turn three.  With smoke billowing from the NASCAR Sprint Cup star's machine over the previous two laps, Kahne retired to the infield.

At the same time, Kuhn reported to the work area and was unable to rejoin the chase, settling for a 22nd place finish in his third career Chili Bowl championship main event.

Ensuing cautions included one after 19 laps for Cole Whitt, who spun in turn four, and then one after 22 laps for a four-car tangle in turn four that included McCarl, Bobby Michnowicz, Nathan High and Billy Wease.  Michnowicz and Wease, both making their first career Chili Bowl main event start, were done for the night.

Two laps later, McCarl spun to a stop on the backstretch to bring out another caution.  At the same time, Ford jumped the turn two cushion and bicycled before coming to a stop and surrendering the second position.

Darland and fellow Indiana shoe Shane Cottle closed in on Gardner's rear nerf bar on the restart, but Gardner was once again able to open up an advantage of a half dozen car-lengths.

Gardner survived two more cautions over the duration of the race, including the final one after 42 laps when 2007 USAC Midget champion and National Midget Driver of the Year Jerry Coons, Jr., got upside down in a turn four tangle that also involved Whitt and Levi Jones, who had come to an earlier stop on lap 34.

Darland and Cottle gave chase over the final eight-lap charge to Roger Slack's checkered flag, but despite one Gardner bobble in turn four with the white flag in sight, no one was up to the task of overtaking "The Demon" on this night.

Gardner flashed across the finish line to lay claim to the Golden Driller trophy.  "Jason (Leffler) is really excited, three weeks ago we weren't even going to do this and hopefully we can take this momentum and continue on through the year.  He got his first car owner trophy, so not too bad."

Darland settled for second in Steve Lewis' Ed Pink Toyota-powered Team ASE/Performance Racing Industry No. 9x Spike.

Cottle claimed the show position in Daryl Saucier's Chevy-powered DSR Fuel Systems No. 1st Beast, giving Saucier two cars among the top three finishers as Saucier also wrenched Gardner's winning mount.

After starting twelfth, Bryan Clauson outdueled Jon Stanbrough over the final rounds to claim fourth in the Keith Kunz Motorsports Esslinger-powered No. 67 Bullet.

Stanbrough rounded out the top five in the Loyet Motorsports Esslinger Ford-powered Loyet Landscape Maintenance No. 05s Spike.

After starting 14th, Kevin Swindell climbed to seventh by the midway point and diced with Clauson and Stanbrough over the last half of the race before settling for sixth.

Relegated to the tail after originally starting 21st, the 17-year-old Bacon climbed to eighth by the midway point before falling back several positions after jumping the turn four cushion before the lap 33 caution.  Bacon remounted his forward charge and got back up to seventh by the time the checkered flag flew, posting the top passing performance in the feature event by officially gaining 14 positions.

Two-time and defending race winner Tony Stewart crossed the stripe eighth after starting 13th, with TSR teammate and 2005 race winner Tracy Hines advancing from 16th to ninth.  Nathan High, the 2007 AMRA champion, charged from 24th to tenth in his first career Chili Bowl championship main event.

Bubba Altig's feature ended before it started.  After advancing to the main event by virtue of a fourth-place finish in the second "B" Main, last year's Cinderella Story of the Chili Bowl Nationals smacked the turn one wall as the field warmed up and was unable to take the green flag.

Eight drivers among Saturday night's finale were making their initial championship feature event start, including Swindell, Bacon, High, Levi Jones (eleventh), Jesse Hockett (12th), McCarl (19th), Michnowicz (20th) and Wease (21st).

Saturday's Bass Pro Shops feature action started off with twin "K" Mains, with Steve Davis wiring the first one and then Larry Campbell overtaking Dan Mecum on the fourth round en route to topping the second one.

Joey Fabozzi wired the field in the First "J" Main, with opening lap leader Samantha Taylor regaining the lead for keeps on the seventh round of the Second "J" Main when leader Derrick Myers exited with mechanical problems.

Jonathan Hendrick took over on lap two to top the First "I" Main, with Wayne Johnson and Garry Lee Maier checked out on the field in the non-stop Second "I" Main,

Andy Martin wrestled the lead from David Cardey on the sixth lap of the First "H" Main, with Justin Henderson leading all the way in the Second "H" Main.

Thomas Meseraull blasted past Glenn Carson on the fourth circuit on the way to winning the First "G" Main, while 14-year-old Coleman Gulick battled past tee shirt clad veteran Kevin Olson on the eighth lap to win the Second "G" Main.

Casey Shuman wired the field in "F" Main one, with Dustin Morgan sweeping past Justin Melton on the seventh lap to top the Second "F" Main.

J.J. Yeley raced from 12th to overtake Josh Richards on the seventh round for the win in the First "E" Main, with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., checking out on the field to win the Second "E" Main.

Scott Pierovich led wire-to-wire in the First "D" Main, as Yeley's past alphabet heroics couldn't be repeated after hitting the cone and then later spinning out of contention.  P.J. Jones led all the way in the Second "D" Main, fending off several challenges from Brad Sweet.

Don Droud, Jr., won the First "C" Main after escaping a twelve-car melee opening lap melee.  Donnie Ray Crawford paced the opening five circuits of the second "C" Main before Levi Jones took command.  But Jones was relegated to second when Terry McCarl raced by and waved "good-bye" on the 13th of 15 laps.

Davey Ray and Tony Stewart battled for the lead in the early laps of the First "B" Main before Stewart took command, while Kevin Swindell dominated the Second "B" Main.

Saturday's 22nd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Nationals Bass Pro Shops Championship Feature Results

K Mains (10 Lap - Top 4 advance to back of corresponding J Main)
1: 1. #2D Steve Davis, Norco, CA; 2. #76 Kellen Conover, Sumner, IL; 3. #99J Randy Josett, Santa Clarita, CA; 4. #78C David Burdes, Beloit, WI; 5. #9B Cameron Beard, Atwater, CA; 6. #83H Jonathon Halford, Tulsa, OK; 7. #1B Scott Crystal, Overland Park, KS; 8. #15B Danny Burke, Houston, TX; 9. #11H Garrett Hood, Concordia, KS; 10. #10T T.J. Smith, Fresno, CA; 11. #6P Trish Dover, Springfield, NE; 12. #15K Brandon Knupp, Troutman, NC; 13. #51W Scott Walton, Inola, OK DNS - #33X Scott Fennell, Littleton, CO; #14H Chris Burns, Bethany, OK; #45 Don Hammer, Clinton, IL; #1F Mike Fulper, Cumberland, OH
2: 1. #31C Larry Campbell, Van Buren, AR; 2. #5W Kurt Davis, Milwaukee, WI; 3. #12J Jay Mounce, Downs, IL; 4. #22WA Eric Young, Covington, WA; 5. #11D Doug DeWitt, Sunnyvale, CA; 6. #8M Dan Mecum, Marengo, IL; 7. #27C Doug Nunes, Kingsburg, CA; 8. #21S Lee Beckwith, Channahon, IL; 9. #93H Brian Harvey, Sherman, TX; 10. #4M James Sweeney, Placerville, CA; 11. #98D Dave Scroggs, Arvada, CO; 12. #48 Lee Little, Mustang, OK; 13. #6 Brian Carter, Frisco, TX; 14. #32K Kirk Kubik, Long Beach, CA; 15. #35T Tyler Robbins, Collinsville, IL DNS - #6E Rafe Essary, Fayetteville, AR; #0K Don O’Keefe Jr., Pittsboro, IN

J Mains (10 Laps - Top 4 advance to back of corresponding I Main)
1: 1. #84 Joey Fabozzi, Norco, CA; 2. #89JR Todd McVay, Lee’s Summit, MO; 3. #6M Justin Mallo, Cheyenne, WY; 4. #37C Colby Copeland, Rossville, CA; 5. #17X Billy Mentgen, Golden, CO; 6. #75D Andrew Deal, Caney, KS; 7. #50J Jeff Griffin, St. Helena, CA; 8. #4R Bobby Ross, St. Joseph, MO; 9. #2D Steve Davis, Norco, CA; 10. #76 Kellen Conover, Sumner, IL; 11. #78C David Budres, Beloit, WI; 12. #51C Brent Camarillo, Ventura, CA; 13. #7C Doug Frye, Wheatland, MO; 14. #4C Dalton Cole, Pryor, OK; 15. #10F Kelly Ferrell, Chaplin, CT; 16. #99J Robby Josett, Santa Clarita, CA
2: 1. #17S Samantha Taylor, Bonney Lake, WA; 2. #58 Cole Peard, Quincy, CA; 3. #83 Kurt Blackaby, Bentonville, AR; 4. #31X Joe Duvall, Chelsea, OK; 5. #6J Justin Hendricks, Stillwater, OK; 6. #28 Nathan Smith, Valencia, CA; 7. #5W Kurt Davis, Milwaukee, WI; 8. #11X Ricky Williams, Clinton, OH; 9. #92 Brandon Wagner, Lafayette, IN; 10. #22WA Eric Young, Covington, WA; 11. #12J Jay Mounce, Downs, IL; 12. #33S Austin Smith, Chino Hills, CA; 13. #175 Brian Camarillo, Ventura, CA; 14. #25X Derrick Myers, Stonington, IL; 15. #10P Will Pierce, Lee’s Summit, MO; DNS - #31C Larry Campbell, Van Buren, AR

I Mains (10 Laps - Top 4 advance to back of corresponding H Main)
1: 1. #68 Jonathan Hendrick, Fortville, IN; 2. #11Z Travis Berryhill, American Canyon, CA; 3. #37C Colby Copeland, Rossville, CA; 4. #33A Chris Coers, Columbus, IN; 5. #5T Randy Timms, Wheatland, OK; 6. #81 Shane Carson,  Yukon, OK; 7. #F1 French Grimes, Madison, VA; 8. #2 Mark Bush, Cumming, GA; 9. #73E Brian Portschy, Plymouth, WI; 10. #0 Johnny Murdock, Kaufman, TX; 11. #6X Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids, IA; 12. #99K Kyle Rayburn, Pueblo, CO; 13. #84 Joey Fabozzi, Norco, CA; 14. #89JR Todd McVay, Lee’s Summit, MO; 15. #6M Justin Mallo, Cheyenne, WY; DNS - #2M Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL
2: 1. #F5 Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK; 2. #73S Garry Lee Maier, Cimarron, KS; 3. #87 Johnny Rodriguez, Elk Grove, CA; 4. #64 Brett Miller, Chico, CA; 5. #71N Tim Noble, Madison, WI; 6. #18 Floyd Alvis, San Carlos, CA; 7. #23 Tadd Holliman, Beaver Lake, NE; 8. #17S Samantha Taylor, Bonney Lake, WI; 9. #87D Brent Rees, Arvada, CO; 10. #85J Matt Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK; 11. #63 Paul Perkins, Bristol, WI; 12. #31X Joe Duvall, Chelsea, OK; 13. #83 Kurt Blackaby, Bentonville, AR; 14. #7T Eric Todd, Falcon, MO; 15. #63R Kyle Robbins, New Castle, IN; 16. #58 Cole Peard, Quincy, CA

H Mains (10 Laps - Top 4 advance to back of corresponding G Main)
1: 1. #21M Andy Martin, New Holland, PA; 2. #68 Jonathan Hendrick, Fortville, IN; 3. #3 Tracy Miller, Birdsboro, PA; 4. #97B David Cardey, Perris, CA; 5. #1H Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO; 6. #97A Alan Ballard, Bakersfield, CA; 7. #37C Colby Copeland, Rossville, CA; 8. #1C Chad McDaniel, Concordia, KS; 9. #33A Chris Coers, Columbus, IN; 10. #11Z Travis Berryhill, American Canyon, CA; 11. #57K Nick Lundgreen, Brownsburg, IN; 12. #41 Gary Scelzi, Fresno, CA; 13. #19N Nick O’Neal, Wagoner, OK; 14. #68C Matt Covington, Glenpool, OK; 15. #71C Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg, IN; 16. #2B Brady Short, Bedford, IN
2: 1. #D1 Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls, SD; 2. #14S Chris Sheil, Lakewood, CO; 3. #87 Johnny Rodriguez, Elk Grove, CA; 4. #75H Bart Hartman, Zanesville, OH; 5. #2G Terry Goodwin, Phoenix, AZ; 6. #21K Ryan Kaplan, Chico, CA; 7. #12C Rick England, Wichita, KS; 8. #53 Jack Dover, Springfield, NE; 9. #31L Lee Grosz, Harwood, ND; 10. #F5 Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK; 11. #73S Garry Lee Maier, Cimarron, KS; 12. #112 Brent Beauchamp, Fairland, IN; 13. #1T Tony Roney, Herculaneum, MO; 14. #64 Brett Miller, Chico, CA; DNS - #5S Shon Deskins, Waddell, AZ; #6C Josh Most, Red Oak, IA

G Mains (10 Laps - Top 4 advance to back of corresponding F Main)
1: 1. #132 Thomas Meseraull, Fresno, CA; 2. #7W Brandon Waelti, Sun Prairie, WI; 3. #26 Glenn Carson, Concord, CA; 4. #8X Bud Kaeding, Campbell, CA; 5. #11R Ryan Cole, Porter, OK; 6. #0B Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, ONT; 7. #4 Michele Miller, Birdsboro, PA; 8. #54 Ryan Smith, Kunkletown, PA; 9. #68 Jonathan Hendrick, Fortville, IN; 10. #9M Doug McCune, Fort Worth, TX; 11. #97B David Cardey, Perris, CA; 12. #31 Donnie Lehmann, Springfield, IL; 13. #13AU Stewart, Friesen, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ONT; 14. #73I Blake Fitzpatrick, West Terre Haute, IN; 15. #3 Tracy Miller, Birdsboro, PA; 16. #21M Andy Martin, New Holland, PA
2: 1. #00 Coleman Gulick, Binghamton, NY; 2. #4KO Kevin Olson, Machesney Park, IL; 3. #57B Johnny Heydenreich, Indianapolis, IN; 4. #75H Bart Hartman, Zanesville, OH; 5. #14S Chris Sheil, Lakewood, CO; 6. #19W Mike Spencer, Temecula, CA; 7. #1W Paul White, Temple, TX; 8. #D1 Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls, SD; 9. #23W Scott Winters, Butterfield, MN; 10. #87 Johnny Rodriguez, Elk Grove, CA; 11. #2A Tommy Bryant, Montgomery, TX; 12. #5A Bill Allen, Independence, MO; 13. #6Z Jessica Zemken, Sprakers, NY; 14. #13 Jason Dull, Mattoon, IL; 15. #78J Nick Wean, Phillipsburg, NJ; 16. #52D Derek Hagar, Marion, AR

F Mains (10 Laps - Top 4 advance to back of corresponding E Main)
1: 1. #37X Casey Shuman, Tempe, AZ; 2. #7M Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 3. #37J Joe Walker, Harrisonville, MO; 4. #85 Shane Hollingsworth, Indianapolis, IN; 5. #14T Tony Rossi, Brighton, CO; 6. #8X Bud Kaeding, Campbell, CA; 7. #07 Gary Wright, Hooks, TX; 8. #73F Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, MO; 9. #27D Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA; 10. #26 Glenn Carson, Concord, CA; 11. #86 Justin Allgaier, Springfield, IL; 12. #7W Brandon Waelti, Sun Prairie, WI; 13. #17K Kenny Morris, Ripon, CA; 14. #20C C.J. Sarna, Palm Desert, CA; 15. #132 Thomas Meseraull, Fresno, CA; DNS - #21AZ Stevie Sussex, Laveen, AZ
2: 1. #93 Dustin Morgan, Collinsville, OK: 2. #36J Justin Melton, Flower Mound, TX; 3. #50 Daniel Adler, East Carondolet, IL; 4. #7P Anthony Peterman, Crawfordsville, IN; 5. #7X Darren Stewart, Bixby, OK; 6. #93C Chett Gehrke, Broken Arrow, OK: 7. #00 Coleman Gulick, Binghamton, NY; 8. #11C Joe Cleveland, Delphos, KS; 9. #57B Johnny Heydenreich, Indianapolis, IN; 10. #22J Jasiel Randolph, Tulsa, OK; 11. #75H Bart Hartman, Zanesville, OH; 12. #4KO Kevin Olson, Machesney Park, IL; 13. #11S Steve Newman, Steamboat Springs, CO; DNS - #17B Kenny Brown, Millstadt, IL; #5C Joey Montgomery, Fredericktown, MO; #23J Jimmy Light, Indianapolis, IN

E Mains (10 Laps - Top 4 advance to back of corresponding D Main)
1: 1. #47X J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 2. #37X Casey Shuman, Tempe, AZ; 3. #20R Josh Richards, Shinnston, WV; 4. #8 Randi Pankratz, Atascadero, CA; 5. #85 Shane Hollingsworth, Indianapolis, IN; 6. #7S Shannon McQueen, Tehachapi, CA; 7. #7J Jerrod Wilson, Tulsa, OK; 8. #37J Joe Walker, Harrisonville, MO; 9. #51 Mike Hess, Riverton, IL; 10. #7R Blake Miller, Anaheim, CA; 11. #88 Johnathon Henry, Linden, CA; 12. #10H Eric Heydenreich, Bloomsburg, PA; 13. #09 Russ Harper, Indianapolis, IN; 14. #7M Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 15. #34 Bob Ream Jr., Glendale, AZ; DNS - #91K Kevin Bayer, Broken Arrow, OK
2: 1. #97 Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Olive Branch, MS; 2. #8J Jason Holt, Brownsburg, IN; 3. #1X Eddie Martin, Ada, OK; 4. #15N David Prickett, Fresno, CA; 5. #10W Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA; 6. #25M Austin Mero, Kingsburg, CA; 7. #39T Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA; 8. #5D Zach Daum, Pocahontas, IL; 9. #50 Daniel Adler, East Carondolet, IL; 10. #93 Dustin Morgan, Collinsville, OK; 11. #7P Anthony Peterman, Crawfordsville, IN; 12. #36J Justin Melton, Flower Mound, TX; 13. #7MX Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 14. #3T Tony Beaber, Gibsonburg, OH; 15. #19S Troy Rutherford, Ojai, CA; 16. #42 Mike Leslie, Litchfield Park, AZ

D Mains (15 Laps - Top 5 advance to back of corresponding C Main)
1: 1. #35P Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 2. #43 Jeff Bland Jr., Springville, IN; 3. #10M Mason Moore, Princeton, CA; 4. #44F Frank Polimeda, Fort Lee, NJ; 5. #51J R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, AZ; 6. #51S Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria, CA; 7. #59 Dex Eaton, Owasso, OK; 8. #8 Randi Pankratz, Atascadero, CA; 9. #22 Ray Bull, Bloomsburg, PA; 10. #87C Rich Camfield, Decatur, IL; 11. #49 Billy Pauch Jr., Frenchtown, NJ; 12. #37X Casey Shuman, Tempe, AZ; 13. #8K Chad Kemenah, Alvada, OH; 14. #20R Josh Richards, Shinnston, WV; 15. #47X J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 16. #14JR Matt Streeter, Galt, CA
2: 1. #05J P.J. Jones, Torrance, CA; 2. #49E Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 3. #27 Randy Monroe Jr., Hampton, VA; 4. #97 Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Olive Branch, MS; 5. #17T Justin Grant, Ione, CA; 6. #8J Jason Holt, Brownsburg, IN; 7. #37B Tyler Brown, Norco, CA; 8. #30 Chad Boat, Phoenix, AZ; 9. #39J Jerry Higbie Jr., Slate Hill, NY; 10. #15X Sam Hafertepe, Sunnyvale, CA; 11. #15N Randy Prickett, Fresno, CA; 12. #XX Darrin Bolton, El Dorado Hills, CA; 13. #1X Eddie Martin, Ada, OK; 14. #D33 Jeff Davis, Pittsburg, IL; 15. #7 Critter Malone, Speedway, IN; 16. #12H Rick Hendrix, Canoga Park, CA

C Mains (15 Laps - Top 5 advance to back of corresponding B Main)
1: 1. #71D Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 2. #75 Josh Wise, Riverside, CA; 3. #67X Travis Rilat, Forney, TX; 4. #67K Matt Sherrell, Tulsa, OK; 5. #22S Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK; 6. #36 Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, OK; 7. #43 Jeff Bland Jr., Springville, IN; 8. #3C Chris Rahe, Placentia, CA; 9. #35P Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 10. #51J R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, AZ; 11. #14 Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 12. #44F Frank Polimeda, Fort Lee, NJ; 13. #96 Cody Brewer, Choctaw, OK; 14. #39R Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro, IN; 15. #5E Danny Ebberts, Canyon Lake, CA; 16. #32 Darren Hagen, Manhattan Beach, CA; 17. #47 Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA; 18. #75X David Gough, Machesney Park, IL: 19. #10M Mason Moore, Princeton, Ca; 20. #05B Greg Bragg, Visalia, CA
2: 1. #11W Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA; 2. #20J Levi Jones, Olney, IL; 3. #71B Mark Brown, Glendenning, NSW; 4. #191 Ryan Durst, Lincoln, NE; 5. #49E Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 6. #97K Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 7. #1D Dennis Rodriguez, Camarillo, CA; 8. #11T Stan Yockey, Fresno, CA; 9. #27 Randy Monroe Jr., Hampton, VA; 10. #55 Donnie Ray Crawford, Broken Arrow, OK; 11. #05J P.J. Jones, Torrance, CA; 12. #9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN; 13. #63N Rex Norris III, Knightstown, IN; 14. #17T Justin Grant, Ione, CA; 15. #37 Matt Mitchell, Yorba Linda, CA; 16. #7D Dakoda Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 17. #94 Chad DeSelle, Sun Prairie, WI; 18. #7B Joe Boyles, Greenwood, MO; 19. #97 Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Olive Branch, MS DNS - #10 George White, Fort Worth

B Mains (20 Laps - Top 6 in B Main 1 make up final inside 6 rows of A Main, Top 6 in B Main 2 make up final outside 6 rows of A Main)
1: 1. #20 Tony Stewart, Columbus, IN; 2. #49JR Bobby Michnowicz, Torrance, CA; 3. #29L Jesse Hockett, Warsaw, MO; 4. #33 Davey Ray, Loves Park, IL; 5. #99 Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK; 6. #12W Billy Wease, Noblesville, IN: 7. #37T Ron Shuman, Tempe, AZ; 8. 5* Gary Taylor, Sapulpa, OK; 9. #05 Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO; 10. #71D Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 11. #75 Josh Wise, Riverside, CA; 12. #22S Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK; 13. #67X Travis Rilat, Forney, TX; 14. #69 A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 15. #67K Matt Sherrell, Tulsa, OK; 16. #1AU Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY; 17. #27B Tony Elliott, Warsaw, IN; 18. #25 Steve Buckwalter, Royersford, PA; 19. #21A Danny Stratton, Indianapolis, IN; 20. #55K Nick Knepper, Belleville, IL
2: 1. #39 Kevin Swindell, Germantown, TN; 2. #21 Tracy Hines, Newcastle, IN; 3. #11W Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA; 4. #67A Gary “Bubba” Altig, Mechanicsburg, IL; 5. #20J Levi Jones, Olney, IL: 6. #12JR Nathan High, Goodyear, AZ; 7. #05L Danny Lasoski, Higginsville, MO; 8. #71B Mark Brown, Glendenning, NSW; 9. #86C David Camfield Jr., Decatur, IL: 10. #15 Tim Siner, Waterloo, IL; 11. #49E Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 12. #17 Chris Windom, Canton, IL; 13. #35 Mat Neely, Robinson, IL; 14. #12 Trey Robb, Newcastle, OK; 15. #7A Austin Brown, Millstadt, IL: 16. #5F Mike Goodman, Tulsa, OK; 17. #70 Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA; 18. #4E Bobby East, Brownsburg, IN; 19. #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN; 20. #191 Ryan Durst, Lincoln, NE

A Main (50 Laps)
1. #71G Damion Gardner, Pittsboro, IN; 2. #9X Dave Darland, Walton, IN; 3. #1ST Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 4. #67 Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN; 5. #05S Jon Stanbrough, Avon, IN; 6. #39 Kevin Swindell, Germantown, TN; 7. #99 Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK; 8. #20 Tony Stewart, Columbus, IN; 9. #21 Tracy Hines, Newcastle, IN; 10. #12JR Nathan High, Goodyear, AZ; 11. #20J Levi Jones, Olney, IL; 12. #29L Jesse Hockett, Warsaw, MO; 13. #71 Cole Whitt, Alpine, CA; 14. #73 Josh Ford, Oxnard, CA; 15. #33 Davey Ray, Loves Park, IL; 16. #7F Aaron Fiscus, Sun Prairie, WI; 17. #71K Jason Leffler, Long Beach, CA; 18. #11 Jerry Coons Jr., Tucson, AZ; 19. #11W Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA; 20. #12W Billy Wease, Noblesville, IN; 21. #49JR Bobby Michnowicz, Torrance, CA; 22. #91 Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, WA; 23. #71X Brad Kuhn, Avon, IN; 24. #67A Gary Altig, Mechanicsburg, IL

-end- 

22nd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Saturday Lineups

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 12, 2008) – Four nights of wild racing action atop Tulsa Expo Raceway's ¼-mile clay oval inside the QuikTrip Center have set the stage for Saturday's Bass Pro Shops Championship feature events at the 22nd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Nationals.

A record total of 274 competitors have duked it out over the course of 76 races entailing 776 laps of spine tingling action since Tuesday night to set the lineups for Saturday's 21 feature events.

A pair of California shoes at are the top of the heap, with Wednesday's Creek Nation Casino Qualifying Showdown winner Josh Ford drawing the pole position and Friday's O'Reilly Auto Parts Qualifying winner Damion Gardner drawing the front row outside.  Thursday's Warren CAT Qualifying winner Brad Kuhn grids Saturday night's "A" Main event inside the second row.

Those unable to take in all the action first hand can still get their fix by listening to the day's early action on http://www.racinboys.com/ and then catching the twin "C" and "B" Mains along with the championship "A" Main event live on HBO Pay-Per-View.

A dozen drivers have already locked themselves into the grand finale, with the remaining dozen to be determined through the day's action.

Defending race winner Tony Stewart starts on the front row of the first "B" Main and J.J. Yeley, author of spectacular alphabet runs in the past, starts the day out deep in the field of the first "E" Main.

Those locked in to the main event, and their Chili Bowl backgrounds, include:

Josh Ford (Ventura, CA) – Makes his second main event start in seven tries after adding a Wednesday night win to his 2005 preliminary triumph.

Damion Gardner (Pittsboro, IN) – The California native makes his second start in six attempts and first since 2003.

Brad Kuhn (Avon, IN) – Enjoying his sixth Chili Bowl, Kuhn makes a third consecutive main event start after beginning his streak with a 15th to fourth run in 2006.

Dave Darland (Walton, IN) – Makes his tenth overall Chili Bowl main event start and ninth in a row, not missing the big show since 1999, the same year that current car owner Steve Lewis last appeared at the Chili Bowl (then with Jason Leffler).

Aaron Fiscus (Sun Prairie, WI) – Made the cut for his second Chili Bowl finale in nine tries and the first since 1995.

Jon Stanbrough (Avon, IN) – In his fifth Chili Bowl appearance, makes the grade for Saturday night for the fourth consecutive year and starts out in a better position than ever.

Jason Leffler (Long Beach, CA) – Ready for his tenth Chili Bowl main event in 13 tries and third in a row, a runner-up finish ten years ago is the best of three top-tens.

Jerry Coons, Jr. (Tucson, AZ) – Making his ninth championship main event start in a dozen tries, Coons has now made seven of the last eight and will try to crack the top-five, if not take the win, for the first time.

Shane Cottle (Kokomo, IN) – Made it as a rookie in 2000 with a runner-up finish and makes his fifth main event start in nine tries after a fourth-place finish last year.

Cole Whitt (Alpine, CA) – Already competing in his third Chili Bowl, the 16-year-old makes his first start in the Big Dance.

Kasey Kahne (Enumclaw, WA) – Making his fifth main event start in nine tries, Kahne has vowed to keep trying until he wins one.  Will this be the year?

Bryan Clauson (Noblesville, IN) – Sitting out last year to recover from injuries, the 18-year-old that is already on NASCAR's fast track makes his first Chili Bowl championship main event start in four attempts.

The Bass Pro Shops Championship Saturday slate of events for the 22nd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Midget Nationals is as follows:

A Feature (50 Laps)                                                               

73 Josh Ford (Oxnard, CA) - 71g Damion Gardner (Pittsboro, IN)

71x Brad Kuhn (Avon, IN - 9x Dave Darland (Walton, IN)

7F Aaron Fiscus (Sun Prairie, WI - 05s Jon Stanbrough            (Avon, IN)

71k Jason Leffler (Long Beach, CA) – 11 Jerry Coons, Jr. (Tucson, AZ)

1st Shane Cottle (Kokomo, IN) – 71 Cole Whitt (Alpine, CA)

91 Kasey Kahne (Enumclaw, WA) – 67 Bryan Clauson (Noblesville, IN)

B Feature 1 Transfer 1 – B Feature 2 Transfer 1

B Feature 1 Transfer 2 – B Feature 2 Transfer 2

B Feature 1 Transfer 3 – B Feature 2 Transfer 3

B Feature 1 Transfer 4 – B Feature 2 Transfer 4

B Feature 1 Transfer 5 – B Feature 2 Transfer 5

B Feature 1 Transfer 6 – B Feature 2 Transfer 6

Gardner Digs Friday's O'Reilly Qualifier at the Chili Bowl

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 11, 2008) – Just when it looked as though Jason Leffler was going to win Friday night's O'Reilly Auto Parts Qualifying event at Tulsa Expo Raceway's Dodge Chili Bowl Nationals, his hired gun foiled the NASCAR Nationwide Series' victory plans.

California native Damion Gardner, piloting Leffler's Pace Electronics/Team ASE No. 71g, made the top side of the ¼-mile clay oval inside the QuikTrip Center work over the latter stages of the 25-lap feature and swept into the lead on the 22nd lap to snare the win.

"I thought if something was there up top I was gonna go up there late," Gardner commented afterward.  "I was pretty sure in one and two but I wasn't sure about three and four, I could get around there pretty good and I just decided I was going to give it a whirl."

Leffler explained how Gardner landed in his Midget, "That car was just sitting in my garage, sitting up on jack stands and I felt bad it's such a nice car.  So I called Damion and said, 'Hey, why don't you come get this thing and either bring it back with a trophy or in a bucket'.  He got a trophy, so it's good."

Working his way from deep in the field, USAC ace Dave Darland slipped around Leffler on the final round to take second, with Leffler settling for the show position.

NASCAR Sprint Cup sensation Kasey Kahne batted past Ron Shuman on the 24th circuit to take the fourth and final lock-in position to Saturday night's 50-lap Chili Bowl championship main event.

Gardner, Darland, Leffler and Kahne join Wednesday night's top four (Josh Ford, Aaron Fiscus, Jerry Coons, Jr., and Bryan Clauson) and Thursday's top four (Brad Kuhn, Jon Stanbrough, Shane Cottle and Cole Whitt) as the dozen drivers locked into Saturday night's main event, which will be televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View.  The balance of the record 274 competitors will battle it out for the remaining dozen starting positions through Saturday's Bass Pro Shops slate of Chili Bowl championship feature events, which get under way at 1:00 p.m.

Starting from the pole position, Leffler outgunned Gardner for the lead at the drop of the green flag, with third-starter Cory Kruseman quickly taking over second.  Kruseman, a two-time Chili Bowl champion, slipped underneath Leffler in turns one and two on the third lap and paced the field much of the way.

With most of the field working the low portion of the track, 14th-starter Darland was the first to try out the top side.  And Darland's experimentation began to pay dividends following a lap 14 caution for Australia's Mark Brown, who slid to a stop in turn two while running fifth.

With Kruseman leading Leffler, Don Droud, Jr., and Gardner, Darland needed just two laps to climb from eighth to fifth and into the lead mix.  Darland briefly surged ahead of Gardner upon the completion of the 18th lap, but Gardner quickly changed his line and used the top to reclaim fourth.

Meanwhile, Kruseman's bid for a sixth career Chili Bowl preliminary feature win began to unravel.  Leffler raced back into the lead exiting turn two on the 19th lap, then Kruseman spun a half lap later after brushing wheels with the charging Gardner, collecting Droud in the melee.

Set for a six-lap charge to the checkered flag, Leffler fought off Gardner for several rounds before "The Demon's" top side tenacity paid off with the winning move on the 23rd lap.

Up to third on the final restart, Darland made his way past Leffler on the last lap to take runner-up honors in Steve Lewis' Ed Pink Team ASCS/Performance Racing Industry No. 9x Spike, qualifying for his ninth consecutive Chili Bowl main event.

About taking to the top of the track, Darland explained that, "We had the car set up to run up top if we had to, I just had to go up there and see what was up there.  Just running around there in eighth or ninth I wasn't going to lose much by going up there and trying it, so I decided to take a chance and it worked pretty good."

Leffler was third in the Toyota-powered Keith Kunz Motorsports No. 71k Bullet, becoming the third Kunz entry to lock into Saturday night's main event.

"I could here him out there, I knew he (Gardner) was running second on that last yellow," Leffler explained.  "Where I was at, it'll take you a lap-and-a-half or two laps to figure the top out and by then you'd get slid three or four times so I knew if I hit my marks there I'd probably lose the race but I'd at least get into the "A" Feature.  I hate getting beat and I hate really getting beat on the top, but you do what you have to do."

The battle for the fourth and final lock-in position was a wild one over the final rounds, with Ron Shuman coming off a ten-year retirement holding the spot until Kahne soared by with the white flag in sight.  Kahne held on to claim fourth in the Mopar-powered Kasey Kahne Racing Budweiser No. 91 Spike.

"I was sliding around so much, I wasn't going anywhere on the bottom so once Darland got by me I tried it (the high groove) for a little bit then I missed it and got passed again," Kahne explained.  "Just at the end it worked out and we got a few cars there to get into the race."

Charging from 15th, Kevin Swindell rounded out the top five, with Billy Wease and Bubba Altig next across the line as Shuman slipped back to eighth.  After winning his "B" Main, 15-year-old Trey Robb raced from 18th to ninth, with Steve Buckwalter completing the top ten.

Tracy Hines, the 2005 Chili Bowl champion, finished just outside the top ten in eleventh.

After advancing from Tuesday night's Pre-Qualifying event, 15-year-old Caleb Armstrong was the only rookie to make the cut for Friday night's feature field and finished 19th.

Battling among the top five in the early stages, Darren Hagen flipped in turn two on lap six to become the race's first casualty.

Austin Mero, Mark Brown, Buckwalter, Darland, Dex Eaton, Kruseman, Leffler, Greg Bragg and Jeff Bland, Jr., topped heat race action for Friday night's 66-car field.

Kevin Morris, Darren Stewart, Kevin Swindell and Jason Holt each won Last Chance Races, with Droud, Gardner, Shuman and Hagen victorious in the Qualifying Races.

Hines and Robb topped the twin "B" Mains.

Late Model ace Josh Richards went for a wild ride turn four on the opening lap of the second heat race, but was able to return for later action.  Other heat race flippers included Anthony Peterman, Kyle Rayburn, Andy Martin and Holt, with Hunter Schuerenberg taking a wild tumble down the frontstretch on the opening lap of the first Last Chance Race.  Wayne Johnson got upside down in that melee as well.

Rich Camfield and Caleb Armstrong flipped in Qualifying Race action, with Johnathon Henry getting upside down in a "B" Main.

There were no injuries.

Saturday's slate of Bass Pro Shops championship feature events consists of 21 events, with the first of two "K" Mains set to go green at 1:00 p.m.

Friday Night's O'Reilly Auto Parts Qualifying Event Results from the 22nd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Midget Nationals

Heat Races (Top 40 in passing points to four A Qualifiers; Balance to four Last Chance races)
1: 1. #25M Austin Mero, Kingsburg, CA; 2. #7B Joe Boyles, Greenwood, MO; 3. #15X Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 4. #34 Bob Ream Jr., Glendale, AZ; 5. #11S Steve Newman, Steamboat, CO; 6. #13 Jason Dull; 7. #11Z Travis Berryhill, American Canyon, CA; 8. #54 Ryan Smith, Kunkletown, PA
2: 1. #71B Mark Brown, Glendenning, NSW; 2. #67A Gary Altig, Mechanicsburg, IL; 3. #12W Billy Wease, Noblesville, IN; 4. #7P Anthony Peterman, Crawfordsville, IN; 5. #05J P.J. Jones, Torrance, CA; 6. #64 Brett Miller, Chico, CA; 7. #39 Kevin Swindell, Germantown, TN; 8. #20R Josh Richards, Shinnston, WV
3: 1. #25 Steve Buckwalter, Royersford, PA; 2. #37T Ron Shuman, Tempe, AZ; 3. #21A Danny Stratton, Indianapolis, IN; 4. #D33 Jeff Davis, Pittsburg, IL; 5. #21 Tracy Hines, Newcastle, IN; 6. #3 Tracy Miller, Birdsboro, PA; 7. #112 Brent Beauchamp, Fairland, IN; 8. #87C Rich Camfield, Decatur, IL
4: 1. #9X Dave Darland, Walton, IN; 2. #97K Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 3. #15 Tim Siner, Waterloo, IL; 4. #88 Johnathon Henry, Linden, CA; 5. 399K Kyle Rayburn, Pueblo, CO; 6. #23W Scott Winters, Butterfield, MN; 7. #2G Terry Goodwin, Phoenix, AZ
5: 1. #59 Dex Eaton, Owasso, OK; 2. #55K Nick Knepper, Belleville, IL; 3. #91 Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, WA; 4. #39T Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA; 5. #7X Darren Stewart, Bixby, OK; 6. #9M Doug McCune, Fort Worth, TX; 7. #21M Andy Martin, New Holland, PA
6: 1. #47 Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA; 2. #71G Damion Gardner, Pittsboro, IN; 3. #71D Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 4. #15N David Prickett, Fresno, CA; 5. #10M Mason Moore, Princeton, CA; 6. #5A Bill Allen, Independence, MO; 7. #14T Tony Rossi, Brighton, CO
7: 1. #71K Jason Leffler, Long Beach, CA; 2. #7D Dakoda Armstrong, Newcastle, IN; 3. #12 Trey Robb, Newcastle, OK; 4. #50 Daniel Adler, East Carondolet, IL; 5. #8J Jason Holt, Brownsburg, IN; 6. #1H Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO; 7. #19W Mike Spencer, Temecula, CA
8: 1. #05B Gregg Bragg, Visalia, CA; 2. #8 Randi Pankratz, Atascadero, CA; 3. #27 Randy Monroe Jr., Hampton, VA; 4. #11W Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA; 5. #17K Kenny Morris, Ripon, CA; 6. #0B Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, ONT; 7. #F5 Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK
9: 1. #43 Jeff Bland Jr., Springville, IN; 2. #67K Travis Rilat, Forney, TX; 3. #32 Darren Hagan, Riverside, CA; 4. #27D Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA; 5. #85 Shane Hollingsworth, Indianapolis, IN; 6. #73I Blake Fitzpatrick, West Terre haute, IN; 7. #6C Josh Most, Red Oak, IA

Last Chance Races (Top 2 in each transfer to back of corresponding A Qualifier)
1:  1. #17K Kevin Morris, Ripon, CA; 2. #20R Josh Richards, Shinnston, WV; 3. #0B Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, ONT; 4. #19W Mike Spencer, Temecula, CA; 5. #3 Tracy Miller, Birdsboro, PA; 6. #112 Brent Beauchamp, Fairland, IN. DNS: #99k Kyle Rayburn, Pueblo, CO
2:  1. #7X Darren Stewart, Bixby, OK; 2. #87C Rich Camfield, Decatur, IL; 3. #23W Scott Winters, Butterfield, MN; 4. #73I Blake Fitzpatrick, West Terre Haute, IN; 5. #2G Terry Goodwin, Phoenix, AZ; 6. #1H Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO; 7. #F5 Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK
3: 1. #39 Kevin Swindell, Germantown, TN; 2. #10M Mason Moore, Princeton, CA; 3. #9M Doug McCune, Fort Worth, TX; 4. #13 Jason Dull, Mattoon, IL; 5. #21M Andy Martin, New Holland, PA; 6. #6C Josh Most, Red Oak, IA
4: 1. #8J Jason Holt, Brownsburg, IN; 2. #14T Tony Rossi, Brighton, CO; 3. #5A Bill Allen, Independence, MO; 4. #54 Ryan Smith, Kunkletown, PA DNS - #11Z Travis Berryhill, American Canyon, CA; 64 Brett Miller, Chico, CA

A Qualifiers (Top 16 in combined passing points to A Main; Balance to twin B Mains)
1: 1. #71D Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 2. #71K Jason Leffler, Long Beach, CA; 3. #7B Joe Boyles, Greenwood, MO; 4. #25 Steve Buckwalter, Royersford, PA; 5. #25M Austin Mero, Kingsburg, CA; 6. #11W Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA; 7. #27 Randy Monroe Jr., Hampton, VA; 8. #7P Anthony Peterman, Crawfordsville, IN; 9. #55K Nick Knepper, Belleville, IL; 10. #27D Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA; 11. #17K Kevin Morris, Ripon, CA; 12. #20R Josh Richards, Shinnston, WV
2: 1. #71G Damion Gardner, Pittsboro, IN; 2. #67A Gary Altig, Mechanicsburg, IL; 3. #12W Billy Wease, Noblesville, IN; 4. #67X Travis Rilat, Forney, TX; 5. #21 Tracy Hines, New Castle, IN; 6. #34 Bob Ream Jr., Glendale, AZ; 7. #85 Shane Hollingsworth, Indianapolis, IN; 8. #7X Darren Stewart, Bixby, OK; 9. #7D Dakoda Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 10. #59 Dex Eaton, Owasso, OK; 11. #97K Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 12. #87C Rich Camfield, Decatur, IL
3: 1. #37T Ron Shuman, Tempe, AZ; 2. #47 Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA; 3. #39 Kevin Swindell, Germantown, TN; 4. #9X Dave Darland, Walton, IN; 5. #8 Randi Pankratz, Atascadero, CA; 6. #21A Danny Stratton, Indianapolis, IN; 7. #15X Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 8. #43 Jeff Bland Jr., Springville, IN; 9. #88 Johnathon Henry, Linden, CA; 10. #10M Mason Moore, Princeton, CA; 11. #11X Steve Newman, Steamboat Springs, CO; 12. #39T Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA
4: 1. #32 Darren Hagen, Riverside, CA; 2. #91 Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, WA; 3. #71B Mark Brown, Glendenning, NSW; 4. #12 Trey Robb, Newcastle, OK; 5. #05B Greg Bragg, Visalia, CA; 6. #15 Tim Siner, Waterloo, IL; 7. #05J P.J. Jones, Torrance, CA; 8. #D33 Jeff Davis, Pittsburg, IL; 9. #50 Daniel Adler, East Carondolet, IL; 10. #14T Tony Rossi, Brighton, CO; 11. #8J Jason Holt, Brownsburg, IN; 12. #15N David Prickett, Fresno, CA

B Mains (Top 4 advance to A Main)
1: 1. #21 Tracy Hines, New Castle, IN; 2. #21A Danny Stratton, Indianapolis, IN; 3. #15 Tim Siner, Waterloo, IL; 4. #55K Nick Knepper, Belleville, IL; 5. #43 Jeff Bland Jr., Springville, IN; 6. #15X Sam Hafertepe Jr., Sunnyvale, TX; 7. #59 Dex Eaton, Owasso, OK; 8. #D33 Jeff Davis, Pittsburg, IL; 9. #20R Josh Richards, Shinnston, WV; 10. #25M Austin Mero, Kingsburg, CA; 11. #88 Johnathon Henry, Linden, CA; 12. #39T Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA; 13. #14T Tony Rossi, Brighton, CO; 14. #7P Anthony Peterman, Crawfordsville, IN; 15. #27D Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA; 16. #17K Kevin Morris, Ripon, CA
2: 1. #12 Trey Robb, Newcastle, OK; 2. #7D Dakoda Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 3. #11W Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA; 4. #97K Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 5. #05J P.J. Jones, Torrance, CA; 6. #10M Mason Moore, Princeton, CA; 7. #27 Randy Monroe Jr., Hampton, VA; 8. #87C Rich Camfield, Decatur, IL; 9. #8J Jason Holt, Brownsburg, IN; 10. #34 Bob Ream Jr., Glendale, AZ; 11. #15N David Prickett, Fresno, CA; 12. #8 Randi Pankratz, Atascadero, CA; 13. #11X Steve Newman, Steamboat Springs, CO; 14. #85 Shane Hollingsworth, Indianapolis, IN; 15. #50 Daniel Adler, East Carondolet, IL; 16. #7X Darren Stewart, Bixby, OK

A Main (25 laps - Top 4 advance to Saturday Night’s Main Event)
1. #71G Damion Gardner, Pittsboro, IN; 2. #9X Dave Darland, Walton, IN; 3. #71k Jason Leffler, Long Beach, CA; 4. #91 Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, WA; 5. #39 Kevin Swindell, Germantown, TN; 6. #12W Billy Wease, Noblesville, IN; 7. #67A Gary Altig, Mechanicsburg, IL; 8. #37T Ron Shuman, Tempe, AZ; 9. #12 Trey Robb, Newcastle, OK; 10. #25 Steve Buckwalter, Royersford, PA; 11. #21 Tracy Hines, New Castle, IN; 12. #21A Danny Stratton, Indianapolis, IN; 13. #15 Tim Siner, Waterloo, IL; 14. #55K Nick Knepper, Belleville, IL; 15. #7D Dakoda Armstrong, Newcastle, IN; 16. #71D Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 17. #11W Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA; 18. #05B Greg Bragg, Visalia, CA; 19. #97K Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 20. #67X Travis Rilat, Forney, TX; 21. #71B Mark Brown, Glendenning, NSW; 22. #47 Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA; 23. #7B Joe Boyles, Greenwood, MO; 24. #32 Darren Hagen, Manhattan Beach, CA

-end-

Kuhn Dogs Chili Bowl Foes in Thursday's Warren CAT Qualifier

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 10, 2008) – A two-time National Midget Driver of the Year, Brad Kuhn perhaps ranks amongst the most underrated Midget chauffeurs in the country.

But the Avon, IN, racer wasted little time making his presence known at Tulsa Expo Raceway's 22nd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Nationals in the QuikTrip Center, solidly establishing himself as one of the favorites to win this year's event by wiring the field in Thursday night's 25-lap Warren CAT Qualifying feature event.

Starting from the pole position, Kuhn outgunned Shane Cottle for the lead at the outset and paced the field throughout in a race that featured just one quick caution period to score his first Chili Bowl preliminary feature win aboard Dr. Kenneth Love's Stanton Mopar-powered Hoosier/Simpson/Barnes Oil Systems No. 71x Spike chassis.

"I know the right people are here tonight, it's the right time to shine," Kuhn commented at the post-race press conference.

Jon Stanbrough made a late move to snare runner-up honors, with Cottle giving Hoosier State racers a sweep of the podium by finishing third.  Sixteen-year-old California native Cole Whitt made a lap 20 pass of defending Chili Bowl champion Tony Stewart to snare the fourth and final lock-in position to Saturday night's 50-lap Chili Bowl championship main event.

Stewart rounded out the top five and will start from the front row of one of Saturday night's "B" Main events as he tries to become the first back-to-back winner in Chili Bowl history.

Kuhn dazzled the capacity crowd early on, treading about the top side of the track to climb from fourth in the final laps to win the night's ninth and final heat race.  A quick charge from sixth to second in his qualifier assured him the pole position for the feature event.

Kuhn took off at the outset of the main event, with fellow front row starter Cottle giving chase as fourth-starter Stewart battled past Stanbrough for third on the second lap.  With Cottle staying within several car-lengths of the leader, Stanbrough reclaimed third from Stewart by the time lapped traffic came into play on the tenth round.

Kuhn made just one bobble along the way when he got loose in turn two on the 16th lap, allowing Cottle to close to his tail tank.  But when the race's only caution appeared one lap later for a turn three tangle involving Chad DeSelle and Matt Sherrell, Kuhn once again had open track.

"I was trying to run 25 laps with no mistakes," Kuhn explained after one mistake cost him a win in last year's preliminary action.  "I did mess up one time in the middle of the race and I thought Shane was gonna get me, it was one mistake but it didn't cost me."

Kuhn once again opened up a several car-length advantage on the restart, as Cottle was left to fend off Stanbrough for second with the lapped car of Shane Stewart in the mix as well.  Finding the top side to his liking, Stewart made his way past Cottle and tried to reel in the leader in an effort to unlap himself.

Meanwhile, Stanbrough battled past Cottle for second on the 23rd lap and tried to mount a charge on Kuhn.  That charged was derailed by the lapped car and Stanbrough settled for second aboard the Loyet Motorsports Esslinger Ford-powered Loyet Landscape Maintenance No. 05s Spike.

"He should have got out of the way, his race was over," Stanbrough commented.  "I love coming here and I'm really excited to be in the show, but I'm gonna have to go back to the pits and control myself because I really want to go punch him in the mouth."

"I don't know if I could have had anything for Brad," the winner of 30 Sprint Car features in 2008 continued.  "I don’t know how many times I've finished second in a Midget and I'm dying to get a win and I think we might have had an opportunity tonight."

Cottle, a preliminary feature winner at last year's Chili Bowl, settled for third aboard Daryl Saucier's Chevy-powered DSR Fuel Systems No. 1st Beast.

A runner-up finisher in his Chili Bowl debut in 2000, Cottle explained that, "I guess it (Tulsa Expo Raceway) kinda suits my driving style, back in 2000 it was kinda neat to be a rookie here and finish second and ever since then I've liked it here."

Running eighth at the lap 17 caution, Whitt took to the top side and needed just one lap to dispose of Garrett Hansen, Nathan High and Sammy Swindell to climb to fifth.  Whitt reeled in Stewart two laps later and took the fourth position for keeps aboard the Keith Kunz Motorsports Esslinger-powered Red Bull No. 71 Bullet.

With the lapped car in play, Whitt didn't even realize he had reached the fourth position.  "I was so far back on that yellow, and coming through the field I didn't know that we had lapped traffic.  I thought they were pointing me to the infield just for running top five then Keith (Kunz) came over and said, 'Hey, we're locked in!'  He points up at the leader board and we're in fourth, so this is the first Chili Bowl that we've been locked in on Saturday so I'm excited."

Tony Stewart rounded out the top five, with Hansen in sixth.  Bobby Michnowicz claimed seventh, with four-time Chili Bowl winner Sammy Swindell, SMRS Midget champion Gary Taylor and AMRA Midget champion Nathan High completing the top ten.

Teamed with Stanbrough, Brad Loyet turned in the feature's top passing performance by climbing from 18th to eleventh.

A pair of Chili Bowl rookies made the feature cut, with Dennis Rodriguez in 18th and George White the race's first of two casualties, credited with 24th.

Transferring from Tuesday night's Pre-Qualifying event, Austin Brown raced his way into Thursday night's feature and posted a 14th-place finish.

Chris Rahe, Tony Stewart, Cottle, Michnowicz, Brady Bacon, Scott Pierovich, Billy Pauch, Jr., Jerry Higbie, Jr., and Kuhn topped heat race action for Thursday night's 72-car field.

Loyet, Michelle Decker, Frank Polimeda and Jonathan Beason claimed Last Chance Race wins, with Stanbrough, Cottle, High and Hansen winning the Qualifying Races.

Rahe and Loyet took "B" Main honors.

Garry Lee Maier tipped over in heat race action, with Cruz Pedregon and Tadd Holliman getting upside down in the Last Chance races.

Qualifying race action featured seven flips, with Pierovich, Pauch, Decker, Justin Allgaier, Sherrell, Joe Cleveland and Kenny Brown all turning over.

There were no injures.

Friday night's O'Reilly Auto Parts Qualifying event, the third and final qualifying night at the 22nd Chili Bowl Nationals, fires off with the first heat race set to go green at 5:45 p.m.

Thursday Night's Warren CAT Qualifying Event Results from the 22nd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Midget Nationals 

Heat Races (Top 40 in passing points to four A Qualifiers; Balance to four Last Chance races)
1. #3C Chris Rahe, Placentia, CA; 2. #191 Ryan Durst, Lincoln, NE; 3. #22S Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK; 4. #47X J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 5. #91K Kevin Bayer, Broken Arrow, OK; 6. #42 Mike Leslie, Litchfield Park, AZ; 7. #19N Nick O’Neal, Wagoner, OK; 8. #7W Brandon Waelti, Sun Prairie, WI
2: 1. #20 Tony Stewart, Columbus, IN; 2. #7 Critter Malone, Speedway, IN; 3. #05S Jon Stanbrough, Avon, IN; 4. #51 Mike Hess, Riverton, IL; 5. #09 Russ Harper, Indianapolis, IN; 6. #23J Jimmy Light, Indianapolis, IN; 7. #D1 Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls, SD; 8. #132 Thomas Meseraull, Fresno, CA
3: 1. #1ST Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 2. #5* Gary Taylor, Sapulpa, OK; 3. #10W Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA; 4. #17T Justin Grant, Ione, CA; 5. #3T Tony Beaber, Gibsonburg, OH; 6. #2A Tommy Bryant, Montgomery, TX; 7. #1T Tony Roney, Herculaneum, MO; 8. #18 Floyd Alvis, San Carlos, CA
4: 1. #49JR Bobby Michnowicz, Torrance, CA; 2. #12JR Nathan High, Goodyear, AZ; 3. #86 Justin Allgaier, Springfield, IL; 4. #37J Joe Walker, Harrisonville, MO; 5. #57K Nick Lundgreen, Brownsburg, IN; 6. #6Z Jessica Zemken, Sprakers, NY; 7. #97A Alan Ballard, Bakersfield, CA; 8. #6X Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids, IA
5: 1. #99 Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK; 2. #95 Chad DeSelle, Sun Prairie, WI; 3. #7A Austin Brown, Millstadt, IL; 4. #07 Gary Wright, Hooks, TX; 5. #78J Nick Wean, Phillipsburg, NJ; 6. #44F Frank Polimeda, Fort Lee, NJ; 7. #13AU Stewart Friesen, Niagara on the Lake, ONT; 8. #57B Johnny Heydenreich, Indianapolis, IN
6: 1. #35P Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 2. #17B Kenny Brown, Millstadt, IL; 3. #1D Dennis Rodriguez, Camarillo, CA; 4. #51S Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria, CA; 5. #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN; 6. #31L Lee Grosz, Harwood, ND; 7. #23 Tadd Holliman, Beaver Lake, NE; 8. #0 Johnny Murdock, Kaufman, TX
7: 1. #49 Billy Pauch, Jr., Frenchtown, NJ; 2. #67K Matt Sherrell, Tulsa, OK; 3. #37 Matt Mitchell, Yorba Linda, CA; 4. #37B Tyler Brown, Norco, CA; 5. #5C Joey Montgomery, Fredericktown, MO; 6. #8K Bud Kaeding, Campbell, CA; 7. #7T Eric Todd, Falcon, MO; 8. #73S Garry Lee Maier, Cimarron, KS
8: 1. #39J Jerry Higbie Jr., Slate Hill, NY; 2. #75X David Gough, Machesney Park, IL; 3. #70 Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA; 4. #93C Chett Gehrke, Broken Arrow, OK; 5. #71 Cole Whitt, Alpine, CA; 6. #36 Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, OK; 7. #71C Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg, IN; 8. #68 Jonathan Hendrick, Fortville, IN
9: 1. #71X Brad Kuhn, Avon, IN; 2. #10 George White, Fort Worth, TX; 3. #17 Chris Windom, Canton, IL; 4. #11C Joe Cleveland, Delphos, KS; 5. #05 Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO; 6. #7MX Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 7. #75H Bart Hartman, Zanesville, OH; 8. #87D Brent Rees, Arvada, CO 

Last Chance Races (Top 2 in each transfer to back of corresponding A Qualifier)
1:  1. #05 Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO; 2. #91K Kevin Bayer, Broken Arrow, OK; 3. #132 Thomas Meseraull, Fresno, CA; 4. #6Z Jessica Zemken, Sprakers, NY; 5. #31L Lee Grosz, Harwood, ND; 6. #1T Tony Roney, Herculaneum, MO; 7. #0 Johnny Murdock, Kaufman, TX; DNS - #7T Eric Todd, Falcon, MO
2:  1. #7MX Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 2. #42 Mike Leslie, Litchefield Park, AZ; 3. #78J Nick Wean, Phillipsburg, NJ; 4. #8X Bud Kaeding, Campbell, CA; 5. #71C Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg, IN; 6. #97A Alan Ballard, Bakersfield, CA; 7. #73S Garry Lee Maier, Cimarron, KS; 8. #18 Floyd Alvis, San Carlos, CA
3: 1. #44F Frank Polimeda, Fort Lee, NJ; 2. #09 Russ Harper, Indianapolis, IN; 3. #13AU Stewart Friesen, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ONT; 4. #2A Tommy Bryant, Montgomery, TX; 5. #D1 Justin Henderson, Sioux Falls, SD; 6. #75H Bart Hartman, Zanesville, OH; 7. #68 Jonathan Hendrick, Fortville, IN; 8. #6X Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids, IA
4: 1. #36 Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, OK; 2. #23J Jimmy Light, Indianapolis, IN; 3. #57B Johnny Heydenreich, Indianapolis, IN; 4. #7W Brandon Waelti, Sun Prairie, WI; 5. #57K Nick Lundgreen, Brownsburg, IN; 6. #19N Nick O’Neal, Wagoner, OK; 7. #87D Brent Rees, Arvada, CO; 8. #23 Tadd Holliman, Beaver Lake, NE 

A Qualifiers (Top 16 in combined passing points to A Main; Balance to twin B Mains)
1: 1. #05S Jon Stanbrough, Avon, IN; 2. #71X Brad Kuhn, Avon, IN; 3. #37 Matt Mitchell, Yorba Linda, CA; 4. #7A Austin Brown, Millstadt, IL; 5. #05 Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO; 6. #22S Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK; 7. #37J Joe Walker, Harrisonville, MO; 8. #191 Ryan Durst, Lincoln, NE; 9. #17T Justin Grant, Ione, CA; 10. #5C Joey Montgomery, Fredericktown, MO; 11. #91K Kevin Bayer, Broken Arrow, OK; 12. #35P Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA
2: 1. #1ST Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 2. #49JR Bobby Michnowicz, Torrance, CA; 3. #5* Gary Taylor, Sapulpa, OK; 4. #10 George White, Fort Worth, TX; 5. #7 Critter Malone, Speedway, IN; 6. #07 Gary Wright, Hooks, TX; 7. #93 Chett Gehrke, Broken Arrow, OK; 8. #10W Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA; 9. #7MX Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 10. #42 Mike Leslie, Litchfield Park, AZ; 11. #3T Tony Beaber, Gibsonburg, OH; 12. #49 Billy Pauch Jr., Frenchtown, NJ
3: 1. #12JR Nathan High, Goodyear, AZ; 2. #71 Cole Whitt, Alpine, CA; 3. #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, IN; 4. #1D Dennis Rodriguez, Camarillo, CA; 5. #3C Chris Rahe, Placentia, CA; 6. #99 Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK; 7. #47X J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 8. #09 Russ Harper, Indianapolis, IN; 9. #51S Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria, CA; 10. #44F Frank Polimeda, Fort Lee, NJ; 11. #67K Matt Sherrell, Tulsa, OK; 12. #86 Justin Allgaier, Springfield, IL
4: 1. #70 Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA; 2. #20 Tony Stewart, Columbus, IN; 3. #94 Chad DeSelle, Sun Prairie, WI; 4. #17 Chris Windom, Canton, IL; 5. #39J Jerry Higbie Jr., Slate Hill, NY; 6. #36 Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, OK; 7. #75X David Gough, Machesney Park, IL; 8. #51 Mike Hess, Riverton, IL; 9. #37B Tyler Brown, Norco, CA; 10. #23J Jimmy Light, Indianapolis, IN; 11. #17B Kenny Brown, Millstadt, IL; 12. #11C Joe Cleveland, Delphos, KS 

B Mains (Top 4 advance to A Main)
1: 1. #3C Chris Rahe, Placentia, CA; 2. #99 Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK; 3. #22S Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK; 4. #36 Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, OK; 5. #35P Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 6. #7 Critter Malone, Speedway, IN; 7. #44F Frank Polimeda, Fort Lee, NJ; 8. #37B Tyler Brown, Norco, CA; 9. #09 Russ Harper, Indianapolis, IN; 10. #7MX Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 11. #51 Mike Hess, Riverton, IL; 12. #42 Mike Leslie, Litchfield Park, AZ; 13. #37J Joe Walker, Harrisonville, MO; 14. #93C Chett Gehrke, Broken Arrow, OK; 15. #86 Justin Allgaier, Springfield, IL; 16. #23J Jimmy Light, Indianapolis, IN
2: 1. #05 Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO; 2. #75X David Gough, Machesney Park, IL; 3. #191 Ryan Durst, Lincoln, NE; 4. #67K Matt Sherrell, Tulsa, OK; 5. #17T Justin Grant, Ione, CA; 6. #51S Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria, CA; 7. #39J Jerry Higbie Jr., Slate Hill, NY; 8. #49 Billy Pauch Jr., Frenchtown, NJ; 9. #3T Tony Beaber, Gibsonburg, OH; 10. #91K Kevin Bayer, Broken Arrow, OK; 11. #10W Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA; 12. #47X J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 13. #17B Kenny Brown, Millstadt, IL; 14. #07 Gary Wright, Hooks, TX; 15. #5C Joey Montgomery, Fredericktown, MO DNS - #11C Joe Cleveland, Delphos, KS 

A Main (25 laps - Top 4 advance to Saturday Night’s Main Event) 1. #71K Brad Kuhn, Avon, IN; 2. #05S Jon Stanbrough, Avon, IN; 3. #1ST Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 4. #71 Cole Whitt, Alpine, CA; 5. #20 Tony Stewart, Columbus, IN; 6. #70 Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA; 7. #49JR Bobby Michnowicz, Torrance, CA; 8. #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN; 9. #5* Gary Taylor, Sapulpa, OK; 10. #12JR Nathan High, Goodyear, AZ; 11. #05 Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO; 12. #17 Chris Windom, Canton, IL; 13. #99 Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK; 14. #7A Austin Brown, Millstadt, IL; 15. #3C Chris Rahe, Placentia, CA; 16. #37 Matt Mitchell, Yorba Linda, CA; 17. #67K Matt Sherrell, Tulsa, OK; 18. #1D Dennis Rodriguez, Camarillo, CA; 19. #36 Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, OK; 20. Chad DeSelle, Sun Prairie, WI; 21. #22S Shane Stewart, Bixby, OK; 22. #191 Ryan Durst, Lincoln, NE; 23. #75X David Gough, Macheseney Park, IL; 24. #10 George White, Fort Worth, TX .

-end-

Ford Cashes in On Creek Nation Casino Qualifying Showdown at the Chili Bowl

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 9, 2008) – California's Josh Ford outdueled Davey Ray over the early rounds before slipping away from the field over the last half of the race to win Wednesday night's 25-lap Creek Nation Casino Qualifying Showdown feature event at the 22nd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Nationals atop the Tulsa Expo Raceway clay oval.

Working the top side of the track masterfully, Ford surged into the lead upon the completion of the eighth lap and led the rest of the way aboard Keith Ford's Bob Wirth-powered Berry Pack/VMAR/BR Motorsports No. 73 JFM-chassis for his second career Chili Bowl preliminary feature win.

"Just winning that first heat race got the crew real pumped up and once you get that going sometimes it works in your advantage," Ford commented.  "It's gonna be real nice not having to worry about getting in that "A" Main Saturday and just being able to focus on racing that."

Aaron Fiscus scrambled back from Last Chance Race action to snare runner-up honors in front of National Midget Driver of the Year Jerry Coons, Jr., with Bryan Clauson making a last-lap move around Ray to take the fourth and final lock-in position to Saturday night's 50-lap Chili Bowl championship main event.

Ray earned the pole position for the main event by accumulating the most points through heat and qualifying race action, with Ford gridding the field on his outside shoulder.  Ray gunned into the early lead, leading the pack of off turn two.

But Ford turned up the heat in short order, racing by on the high side exiting turn two on the third lap for the lead only to have the move negated when two-time USAC Sprint Car champion Levi Jones slid to a stop in turn four.

Following the race's second and final caution one lap later for Joey Saldana, Ray and Ford battled in side-by-side fashion over the next five laps with Coons nipping on their heels all the while.

With Ray hugging the low line and Ford riding the cushion around the ¼-mile oval, Ford finally got a strong run off of turn four to take command on the eighth lap.  Coons followed suit, racing past Ray the next time around and set his sights on Ford, only to bicycle in turn four on the tenth lap and fell to fourth behind Ford, Ray and Clauson.

"The track kinda changed as the race went on and just got a little tight I guess," Coons commented.  "Once you lose track position you're fighting to pass cars, you're not just out there cruising by yourself so the car drives a little different and a little different attitude."

Out front, Ford gradually slipped away from the field and, despite encountering lapped traffic by the midway point, streaked to the checkered flag with nearly a straightaway advantage.

The action behind him was intense throughout, with Ray holding off Clauson, Fiscus and Coons for second until the 19th circuit, when Fiscus flew by to take the position.  Coons took third from Ray a lap later, putting the Badger Midget shoe on the hot seat in front of Clauson, who had lost a pair of positions several laps earlier when he also tripped over the turn four cushion.

Fiscus held off Coons over the final laps to take second in James Fiscus' Esslinger-powered AFS/Fitchburg Plumbing/Ferguson Enterprises No. 7F Spike, with Coons taking the show position in the Wilke-PAK Motorsports Mopar-powered Speedway Motors/Kwik Change No. 11 Spike.

"I'm tickled to be here on this night knowing that on Saturday we can sit back and relax and do the best we can on the main race," Fiscus explained.  "It's a dogfight here, I did it to myself in the earlier race when I jumped the berm trying to win the thing and went from second to fifth and ended up fighting back through from that Last Chance race.  To be here is just awesome." 

Making his first dirt track start since September of 2006, 18-year-old Clauson made a critical last lap move to snare fourth in the Keith Kunz Motorsports Esslinger-powered No. 67 Bullet.

"After being off the dirt for so long, it took me a hot lap session or two to really get comfortable hustling the car," Clauson commented after locking himself into his first career Chili Bowl championship main event.  "We weren't real bad when we started, just not quite where we needed to be.  We just kept getting better all night and I think if we can keep it going we'll keep getting better and better with more laps."

Ray settled for fifth, one spot shy of a guaranteed starting berth in Saturday night's championship main event, with Bobby East next across the line in sixth. 

After winning the first "B" Main, Jesse Hockett charged from 17th to seventh, with Mike Goodman, 2006 Chili Bowl champion Tim McCreadie and 22nd starter Mat Neely completing the top ten.

After landing a ride on Monday night aboard one of the Clifton Blackwell entries that enabled him to compete in his eleventh Chili Bowl Nationals, Tony Elliott finished just outside the top ten in eleventh.

Donnie Ray Crawford, last year's top finishing rookie at the Chili Bowl Nationals, claimed 16th in the feature. No 2008 rookies made Wednesday night's feature.

Heat race wins for Wednesday night's 75-car field were claimed by Chad Kemenah, Ray, Neely, Stan Yockey, Ford, Kevin Ramey, Danny Ebberts, McCreadie, Goodman and Dustin Morgan.

Matt Streeter, Jerrod Wilson, Fiscus and C.J. Sarna each scored Last Chance race wins, with Levi Jones, Coons, Ray and East winning the Qualifying Races.

Hockett won an eventful first "B" Main in which several potential transfers encountered late trouble, with A.J. Fike topping the second "B" Main.

The night got off to a rough start for Derek Hagar, who took a hard tumble in hot laps.  Hagar returned for the night's action.

Chad McDaniel got upside down in the fifth heat and returned for later action as well.  After his heat race win, Morgan flipped in his Qualifier while Stevie Sussex and Kemenah flipped simultaneously in the next Qualifying Race.  Sarna flipped in the final Qualifier, with Andrew Felker turning over in turn one in the first "B" Main.  There were no injuries.

Wednesday Night's Creek Nation Casino Qualifying Showdown Results from the 22nd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Midget Nationals

Heat Races (Top 40 in passing points to four A Qualifiers; Balance to four Last Chance races)
1: 1. #8K Chad Kemenah, Alvada, OH; 2. #11 Jerry Coons Jr., Tucson, AR; 3. #19S Troy Rutherford, Ojai, CA; 4. #36J Justin Melton, Flower Mound, TX; 5. #81 Shane Carson, Yukon, OK; 6. #11R Ryan Cole, Porter, OK; 7. #5S Shon Deskins, Waddell, AZ; 8. #12C Rick England, Wichita, KS
2: 1. #33 Davey Ray, Loves Park, IL; 2. #20J Levi Jones, Olney, IL; 3. #51J R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, AZ; 4. #73F Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, MO; 5. #XX Darrin Bolton, El Dorado Hills, CA; 6. #5T Randy Timms, Wheatland, OK DNS - #71N Tim Noble, Madison, WI; #2M Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL
3. 1. #35 Mat Neely, Robinson, IL; 2. #4E Bobby East, Brownsburg, IN; 3. #67 Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN; 4. #49E Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 5. #7R Blake Miller, Anaheim, CA; 6. #14JR Matt Streeter, Galt, CA; 7. #1W Paul White, Temple, TX; 8. #73E Brian Portschy, Plymouth, WI
4: 1. #11T Stan Yockey, Fresno, CA; 2. #12H Rick Hendrix, Canoga Park, CA; 3. #14 Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 4. #55 Donnie Ray Crawford, Broken Arrow, OK; 5. #7J Jerrod Wilson, Tulsa, OK; 6. #20C C.J. Sarna, Palm Desert, CA; 7. #21K Ryan Kaplan, Chico, CA; 8. #4 Michele Miller, Birdsboro, PA
5: 1. #73 Josh Ford, Oxnard, CA; 2. #39R Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro, IN; 3. #29L Jesse Hockett, Warsaw, MO; 4. #75 Josh Wise, Riverside, CA; 5. #7F Aaron Fiscus, Sun Prairie, WI; 6. #26 Glenn Carson, Concord, CA; 7. #F1 French Grimes, Madison, VA; 8. #1C Chad McDaniel, Concordia, KS
6: 1. #7M Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 2. #9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN; 3. #86C David Camfield Jr., Decatur, IL; 4. #63N Rex Norris III, Knightstown, IN; 5. #10H Eric Heydenreich, Bloomsburg, PA; 6. #97B David Cardey, Perris, CA; 7. #85J Matt Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK
7: 1. #5E Danny Ebberts, Canyon Lake, CA; 2. #27B Tony Elliott, Warsaw, IN; 3. #21AZ Stevie Sussex, Laveen, AZ; 4. #97 Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Olive Branch, MS; 5. #22J Jasiel Randolph, Tulsa, OK; 6. #00 Coleman Gulick, Binghamton, AZ; 7. #53 Jack Dover, Springfield, NE
8: 1. #1AU Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY; 2. #7S Shannon McQueen, Tehachapi, CA; 3. #22 Ray Bulls, Bloomsburg, PA; 4. #5D Zach Daum, Pocahontas, IL; 5. #41 Gary Scelzi, Fresno, CA; 6. #4KO Kevin Olson, Machesney Park, IL; 7. #2B Brady Short, Bedford, IN
9: 1. #5F Mike Goodman, Tulsa, OK; 2. #69 A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 3. #37X Casey Shuman, Tempe, AZ; 4. #1X Eddie Martin, Ada, OK; 5. #87 Johnny Rodriguez, Elk Grove, CA; 6. #31 Donnie Lehmann, Springfield, IL; 7. #14S Chris Sheil, Lakewood, CO
10: 1. #93 Dustin Morgan, Collinsville, OK; 2. #30 Chad Boat, Phoenix, AZ; 3. #96 Cody Brewer, Choctaw, OK; 4. #05L Danny Lasoski, Higginsville, MO; 5. #68C Matt Covington, Glenpool, OK; 6. #52D Derek Hagar, Marion, AR; . #2 Mark Bush, Cumming, GA

Last Chance Races (Top 2 in each transfer to back of corresponding A Qualifier)
1: 1. #14JR Matt Streeter, Galt, CA; 2. #XX Darrin Bolton, El Dorado Hills, CA; 3. #26 Glenn Carson, Concord, CA; 4. #00 Coleman Gulick, Binghamton, NY; 5. #97B David Cardey, Perris, CA; 6. #41 Gary Scelzi, Fresno, CA; 7. #1C Chad McDaniel, Concordia, KS; 8. #F1 French Grimes, Madison, VA; #9. #2 Mark Bush, Cumming, GA
2: 1. #7J Jerrod Wilson, Tulsa, OK; 2. #7R Blake Miller, Anaheim, CA; 3. #4KO Kevin Olson, Machesney Park, IL; 4. #11R Ryan Cole, Pryor, OK; 5. #5S Shon Deskins, Waddell, AZ; 6. #53 Jack Dover, Springfield, NE; 7. #12C Rick England, Wichita, KS; 8. #71N Mark Noble, Madison, WI; 9. #87 Johnny Rodriguez, Elk Grove, CA
3: 1. #7F Aaron Fiscus, Sun Prairie, WI; 2. #10H Eric Heydenreich, Bloomsburg, PA; 3. #31 Donnie Lehmann, Springfield, IL; 4. #1W Paul White, Temple, TX; 5. #68C Matt Covington, Glenpool, OK; 6. #2B Brady Short, Bedford, IN; 7. #73E Brian Portschy, Plymouth, WI; 8. #5T Randy Timms, Wheatland, OK; DNS - #2M Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL
4: 1. #20C C.J. Sarna, Palm Desert, CA; 2. #22J Jasiel Randolph, Tulsa, OK; 3. #52D Derek Hagar, Marion, AR; 4. #4 Michele Miller, Birdsboro, PA; 5. #14S Chris Sheil, Lakewood, Co; 6. #21K Ryan Kaplan, Chico, CA; DNS - #81 Shane Carson, Yukon, OK; #85J Matt Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK

A Qualifiers (Top 16 in combined passing points to A Main; Balance to twin B Mains)
1: 1. #20J Levi Jones, Olney, IL; 2. #73 Josh Ford, Oxnard, CA; 3. #5F Mike Goodman, Tulsa, OK; 4. #86C Dave Camfield Jr., Decatur, IL; 5. #XX Darrin Bolton, El Dorado Hills, CA; 6. #14JR Matt Streeter, Galt, CA; 7. #37X Casey Shuman, Tempe, AZ; 8. #51J R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, AZ; 9. #35 Mat Neely, Robinson, IL; 10. Rick Hendrix, Canoga Park, CA; 11. #22 Ray Bull, Bloomsburg, PA DNS - #35J Justin Melton, Flower Mound, TX
2: 1. #11 Jerry Coons Jr., Tucson, AZ; 2. #55 Donnie Ray Crawford, Broken Arrow, OK; 3. #67 Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN; 4. #63N Rex Norris III, Knightstown, IN; 5. #69 A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 6. #1X Eddie Martin, Ada, OK; 7. #14 Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 8. #73F Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, MO; 9. #7R Blake Miller, Anaheim, CA; 10. #7M Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 11. #7J Jerrod Wilson, Tulsa, OK; 12. #93 Dustin Morgan, Collinsville, OK
3: 1. #33 Davey Ray, Loves Park, IL; 2. #7F Aaron Fiscus, Sun Prairie, WI; 3. #39R Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro, IN; 4. #96 Cody Brewer, Choctaw, OK; 5. #29L Jesse Hockett, Warsaw, MO; 6. #30 Chad Boat, Phoenix, AZ; 7. #49E Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 8. #5E Danny Ebberts, Canyon Lake, CA; 9. #8K Chad Kemenah, Alvada, OH; 10. #9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN; 11. #21AZ Stevie Sussex, La