Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Featured on SPEED February 13

TULSA, Okla. (January 20, 2010) – So, perhaps you were one of the unfortunate souls that missed out on one of the most spectacular Chili Bowls in event history.  Or, maybe you were among the thousands upon thousands at a packed QuikTrip Center over the weekend and just want to relive every breathtaking moment from the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals 50-lap championship finale.

You’ll get just that opportunity, as SPEED Channel offers a two-hour presentation of the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals on Saturday night, February 13, at 9:00 p.m. EST.

A total of 256 competitors from throughout the nation and beyond converged upon the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway for the January 12-16 event that culminated with Saturday night’s 50-lap Rockstar Energy Drink championship feature event.

That championship finale, along with other highlights throughout the week, will be included in the February 13 airing on SPEED.

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Kevin Swindell Captures Golden Driller at Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals!
 
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 16, 2010) – Another one of those coveted Golden Driller trophies is going back to Tennessee.  This time though, it’s not in Sammy’s hands as Kevin Swindell topped Saturday night’s 50-lap Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals main event that wrapped up a full slate of Rockstar Energy Drink championship feature events atop the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway.
 
The 20-year-old from Germantown, TN, led the final 26 rounds to become the youngest winner in Chili Bowl Nationals history, adding a sixth Golden Driller from the prestigious Midget racing event to the Swindell family collection that already includes hardware from his father’s unmatched five wins.
 
After pole starter Darren Hagen and Cory Kruseman both enjoyed stints at the front of the field, Kevin Swindell took command just prior to the midway point and then survived a late caution in the hotly-contested affair that gave both Cole Whitt and a rallying Sammy Swindell one last opportunity.
 
“I felt like the best laps I ran all night were on the restarts, so I was somewhat confident but I knew I had to go,” the younger Swindell explained.
 
Swindell went on successfully to Roger Slack’s checkered flag to take the win in the Esslinger-powered John Christner Trucking No. 39 Spike in front of Whitt and his father Sammy, who rallied from the tail on several occasions after using a defending race winner’s provisional to start the main event.
 
“This year he (Kevin) had a race that didn’t tear up anything, this year I tore up a lot,” the five-time Chili Bowl champion explained.  “But we salvaged  a first and a third, so we’ll have to come back next year and try to make it a one-two like it probably could have been last year.”
 
After winning Wednesday night’s River Spirit Casino Qualifier, Kevin Swindell started the main event outside the front row only to fall back as far as sixth as pole starter Darren Hagen paced the early rounds.
 
“I wish I would of have been too tight at the beginning, but I was way too free and that really worried me and I kinda felt that I wasn’t gonna be good enough at the end,” Kevin Swindell explained.
 
But after Sammy Swindell was involved in tangles on laps eleven and 18 that Sammy said, “…shortened my race up too much,” Kevin made the adjustments he needed.
 
“The yellows at the beginning helped,” Kevin explained.  “I got to work with the shocks a whole lot and just keep getting tighter and tighter.  It was good enough.”
 
While Friday’s E3 Spark Plugs Qualifier winner Cory Kruseman had taken the lead away from Hagen on the ninth round, Cole Whitt and then Kevin Swindell set sail on the high side and began moving to the front.
 
Whitt battled past Hagen for second on the 20th round while Kevin Swindell moved past Jerry Coons, Jr., and Michael Pickens for fourth by the time the caution flew for a seven-car scramble in turn three in which Brad Loyet got upside down.
 
A lap later, Hagen’s Chili Bowl victory hopes were doused when he got turned around in turn one, handing third to Swindell.
 
Swindell blasted past Whitt on the restart and then took the lead away from Kruseman on the 24th lap as Whitt got shuffled back a pair of positions after an exchange with Michael Pickens on a track conducive to extreme slide job activity.
 
Whitt worked his way back up to second by the 31st lap and tailed the leader the rest of the way, trying to mount a charge on several occasions including after the race’s final caution set up a green-white-checkered run to the stripe.
 
Swindell proved too strong, with Whitt settling for second in the Keith Kunz Motorsports Toyota-powered Red Bull No. 71 Bullet.
 
“I was trying everything I could and I couldn’t really keep up with Kevin,” Whitt explained.  “We were close, if Kevin made a few mistakes I could kinda get close to him but he made only a few.”
 
The final restart didn’t necessarily work to Whitt’s advantage either, with the 18-year-old explaining that, “We were real good on long runs, we could build up a little air pressure in the right rear.  On the restarts we’d be real, real tight on the cushion so I couldn’t really throw it in there as hard as I wanted.  Running second here is huge, there’s just so many cars.”
 
In a bid to become the first back-to-back winner in Chili Bowl history, Sammy Swindell’s odds were long after being collected in a crash while leading Thursday night’s Bully Dog Qualifying feature event.
 
Rather than risk damage by racing from a “C” Main, the veteran shoe opted to utilize the defending race winner’s provisional for the main event.  And by the end of the 50-lapper, Sammy had the capacity crowd on its feet as he had the lead duo in his crosshairs.
 
Starting from 25th, the opening rounds were rough with Sammy involved in a pair of incidents that prompted Kevin to say, “At the beginning it was easy to keep track of him because he was sittin’ there on the yellows.”
 
That changed soon after though.  And, after dodging the seven-car scrum on lap 20, he was back in the hunt.
 
Sammy mixed it up among the top ten over the last 20 circuits, ultimately working his way up to third by the time the race’s final caution flew after 48 laps.
 
Kevin had tracked his father’s progress as good as possible, noting that, “With ten to go I saw he was sixth, and then on the green-white-checkered I could just tell by the crowd he was coming.”
 
Sammy’s charge for a sixth Golden Driller and second in a row came up short as he followed the young duo across the line to take the show position in the Esslinger-powered John Christner Trucking No. 1 Spike.
 
Jerry Coons, Jr., finished fourth in the finale for the second year in a row aboard the Wilke Pak Motorsports Toyota-powered Speedway Motors No. 4 Spike, with two-time Chili Bowl Hard Charger Award winner Chris Windom racing from 20th to a career-best event finish of fifth aboard the Keith Kunz Motorsports Esslinger-powered No. 17 Bullet.
 
Shane Cottle raced from 15th to sixth, with Mike Hess charging from 22nd to seventh.  After leading from laps nine through 23, Kruseman was shuffled back to eighth at the finish, with Brad Sweet gaining eight positions to finish ninth in his first career Chili Bowl championship feature start.  Sweet bested car owner and teammate Kasey Kahne, who finished 18th after winning the first “B” Main.
 
After winning the night’s second “B” Main, Kyle Larson completed the top ten in one of two Cory Tucker Racing/BCI entries to crack the feature field.
 
New Zealand car owner Simon Longdill matched Kasey Kahne Racing, Keith Kunz Motorsports, Swindell Motorsports and Corey Tucker Racing/BCI by placing two entries in the championship finale with Michael Pickens finishing eleventh and 20th-runner Brad Mosen the event’s top finishing Chili Bowl rookie contender.
 
Saturday’s 20-race Rockstar Energy Drink slate of championship feature events opened with Ronnie Gardner winning the “K” Main.
 
Seventy-five year old Floyd Alvis won the first “J” Main, with IRA Sprint Car champ Billy Balog topping the second “J” Main.
 
Stonington, IL, shoe Derrick Myers provided early entertainment by reeling off an “I” Main win, an “H” Main win and a runner-up “G” Main showing before running out of steam in the first “F” Main.
 
Eric Sandage won the second “I” Main, while Austen Wheatley made a late move around Kevin Ramey to win the second “H” Main after early leader Aaron Ott decided to test the turn one retaining wall without success. 
 
After Tanner Mullens held off Myers in the first “G” Main, Matt Sherrell bested fellow Owasso, OK, entrant Dex Eaton in the second “G” Main.
 
Ronnie Burke and Matt Mitchell won the twin “F” Mains, with Randy Hannagan and Gary Taylor best in the “E” Mains.
 
Johnny Rodriquez and Josh Wise took “D” Main checkered flags, with Shane Hollingsworth and Josh Pelkey first in the “C” Mains.
 
Kasey Kahne overtook Shane Cottle on the 11th round en route to winning the first “B” Main, with Cottle, Sweet, Chad Boat, Brad Loyet and Brent Beauchamp earning transfers to the main event.  Loyet’s night started in the “C” Main.
 
Kyle Larson made a lap 15 move around Windom to take the checkered flag in the second “B” Main ahead of Thomas Meseraull, Daniel Adler, Windom, Hess and Bobby East.

Rockstar Energy Drink Championship Saturday Results

K Mains (Top 8 - Pos. 1, 3, 5, 7 to back of 1st J Main; Pos. 2, 4, 6, 8 to back of 2nd J Main)

K Main: 1. #51X Ronnie Gardner, Norco, CA; 2. #8E Murray Erickson, Odessa, TX; 3. #93X Brian Harvey, Durant, OK; 4. #33 Scott Fennell, Littleton, CO; 5. #2R Riley Adair, Tulsa, OK; 6. #27 Brock Lemley, Bellingham, WA; 7. #40H Andy Huston, Roseville, IL; 8. #50 Ted Kirkpatrick, Waterloo, IL DNS -- #57 Kevin Studley, Plainfield, IN; #56X Curtis Bailey, Bartlesville, OK; #27D Nick Chivello, Brookins, SD; #111 Ryan Durst, Lincoln, NE; #27B Joe Bob Lee, Cache, OK; #15 Tim Siner, Dupo, IL; #76K Michael Koontz, Bloomington, IN; #83X Bruce Buckwalter Jr., Royersford, PA

J Mains (Top 4 transfer to back of corresponding I Main)

J Main 1: 1. #18 Floyd Alvis, San Carlos, CA; 2. #71T Tim Pyle, Portland, OR; 3. #85J Matt Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK; 4. #11R Ryan Cole, Porter, OK; 5. #51X Ronnie Gardner, Norco, CA; 6. #2G Terry Goodwin, Laveen, AZ; 7. #82 Eric Johnson, Rockford, IL; 8. #31V Victor Davis, Ventura, CA; 9. #19N Nick O'Neal, Wagoner, OK; 10. #40H Andy Huston, Roseville, IL; 11. #11XS Donovan Peterson, Brookings, SD; 12. #6E Rafe Essary, Stillwell, OK: 13. #93X Brian Harvey, Durant, OK; 14. #2R Riley Adair, Tulsa, OK; DNS -- #38N Kyle Neal, Ewing, IL; #61 Chad Pitts, Little Rock, AR

J Main 2: 1. #73E Billy Balog, Chippewa Falls, WI; 2. #7J Clint Todd, Lynchburg, MO; 3. #58 Cole Peard, Quincy, CA; 4. #15J Jeff Wimmenauer, New Whiteland, IN; 5. #11X Ricky Williams, Clinton, OH; 6. #0Z Johnny Murdock, Dallas, TX; 7. #91 Donnie Trent, Honey Brook, PA; 8. #83 Kurt Blackaby, Bentonville, AR; 9. #8E Murray Erickson, Odessa, TX; 10. #27 Brock Lemley, Bellingham, WA; 11. #5M Zach Cougill, Greenwood, IN; 12. #12D Dusty Heistand, Manheim, PA; 13. #44X Forrest Slater, Alabaster, AL; 14. #33 Scott Fennell, Littleton, CO; 15. #12J Jay Mounce, Downs, IL; DNS -- #50 Ted Kirkpatrick, Waterloo, IL

I Main (Top 4 transfer to back of corresponding H Main)

I Main 1: 1. #25M Derrick Myers, Stonington, IL; 2. #17K Austin Mero, Kingsburg, CA; 3. #11R Ryan Cole, Porter, OK; 4. #19K Klint Angelette, Thibodaux, LA; 5. #85J Matt Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK; 6. #71T Tim Pyle, Portland, OR; 7. #7C Pat Schudy, Springfield, MO; 8. #25Z Chris Zrinski, Forked River, NJ; 9. #89JR Todd McVay, Lees Summit, MO; 10. #14 Tony Rossi, Brighton, CO; 11. #14K Channing Zierolf, Houma, LA; 12. #47JR Ron Bach, Santa Paula, CA; 13. #73X Greg Edenholm, Malibu, CA; 14. #18 Floyd Alvis, San Carlos, CA; DNS -- #11H Garrett Hood, Concordia, KS; #57K Bubba Altig, Mechanicsburg, IL

I Main 2: 1. #60 Eric Sandage, Alexander, AR; 2. #19S Patrick Stasa, Kingman, KS; 3. #6M Justin Mallo, Cheyenne, WY; 4. #33S Austin Smith, Chino Hills, CA; 5. #1D Dennis Rodriguez, Camarillo, CA; 6. #00 Pete Davis, Pleasanton, CA; 7. #73E Billy Balog, Chippewa Falls, WI; 8. #36F Frank Flud, Broken Arrow, OK; 9. #04 Cap Henry, Bellevue, OH; 10. #90 Toni Lutar, Richmond, BC; 11. #10W George White, Fort Worth; 12. #31B Bruce Douglass, Ventura, CA; 13. #15J Jeff Wimmenauer, New Whiteland, IN; 14. #58 Cole Peard, Quincy, CA; 15. #7J Clint Todd, Lynchburg, MO; DNS -- #7RS Matt Gilbert, Shawnee, KS

H Main (Top 4 transfer to back of corresponding G Main)

H Main 1: 1. #25M Derrick Myers, Stoington, IL; 2. #40 Jason Leffler, Long Beach, CA; 3. #9D Sean-Mikael Dodenhoff, Bakersfield, CA; 4. #9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN; 5. #39L Billy Lawhead, Tulsa, OK; 6. #17K Austin Mero, Kingsburg, CA; 7. #2A J.C. Bland, Springfield, IL; 8. #15B Danny Burke, Houston, TX; 9. #6C Brian Carter, Concord, NC; 10. #19K Klint Angelette, Thibodaux, LA; 11. #11R Ryan Cole, Porter, OK; 12. #84 Joey Fabozzi, Norco, CA; 13. #11XC Steve Newman, Breckenridge, CO; 14. #7D Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 15. #88D Rusty Dukes, Fair Grove, MO; DNS -- #23 Tadd Holliman, Beaver Lake, NE

H Main 2: 1. #73I Austen Wheatley, Lake Stevens, WA; 2. #7M Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 3. #13X Andrew Elson, Carmel, IN; 4. #92 Jake Rosario, Guthrie, OK; 5. #8K Bud Kaeding, San Jose, CA; 6. #60 Eric Sandage, Alexander, AR; 7. #89 Cody Darrah, Red Lion, PA; 8. #7JR J.D. Black, Grain Valley, MO; 9. #33S Austin Smith, Chino Hills, CA; 10. #2J Jackie Burke, Houston, TX; 11. #31E Evan Sewell, Tulsa, OK; 12. #6M Justin Mallo, Cheyenne, WY; 13. #4F Chad Frewaldt, Kansas City, KS; 14. #25A Aaron Ott, York Springs, PA; 15. #19S Patrick Stasa, Kingman, KS DNS -- #99J Eric Todd, Falcon, MO

G Main (Top 4 transfer to back of corresponding F Main)

G Main 1: 1. #19T Tanner Mullens, Andale, KS; 2. #25M Derrick Myers, Stoington, IL; 3. #9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN; 4. #86J Josh Most, Red Oak, IA; 5. #40 Jason Leffler, Long Beach, CA; 6. #12H Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, CA; 7. #9D Sean-Mikael Dodenhoff, Bakersfield, CA; 8. #118 Kyle Steffans, St. Charles, MO; 9. #16B David Budres, Beloit, WI; 10. #10X Alissa Geving, Penngrove, CA; 11. #60S Wink Schweitzer, Bakersfield, CA; 12. #67H Harris Brooks, Houston, TX; 13. #6R Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids, IA; 14. #25K Steve Knepper, Belleville, IL DNS -- #99K Kyle Rayburn, Pueblo, CO; #24T Jasiel Randolph, Tulsa, OK

G Main 2: 1. #35M Matt Sherrell, Owasso, OK; 2. #59 Dex Eaton, Owasso, OK; 3. #37X Jason Grady, Farmington, NM; 4. #10P Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 5. #13X Andrew Elson, Carmel, IN; 6. #12 Nathan High, Goodyear, AZ; 7. #7M Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 8. #73I Austen Wheatley, Lake Stevens, WA; 9. #97 Jon Stanbrough, Avon, IN; 10. #92 Jake Rosario, Guthrie, OK; 11. #56D Kevin Olson, Machesney Park, IL; 12. #89H Andrew Hannula, Matawan, NJ; 13. #6D Lex Burritt, Redding, CT; 14. #3J Julee Jamison, Highlands Ranch, CO; 15. #11J Justin Melton, Flower Mound, TX DNS -- #96 Cody Brewer, Choctaw, OK

F Main (Top 4 transfer to back of corresponding E Main)

F Main 1: 1. #4B Ronnie Burke Jr., League City, TX; 2. #4S Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO; 3. #15N David Prickett, Fresno, CA; 4. #9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN; 5. #37T Josh Grady, Farmington, NM; 6. #19T Tanner Mullens, Andale, KS; 7. #86J Josh Most, Red Oak, IA; 8. #87JR Troy Rutherford, Ojai, CA; 9. #57B Johnny Heydenreich, Indianapolis, IN; 10. #25M Derrick Myers, Stonington, IL; 11. #16 Jimmy Winkler, Parkville, MO; 12. #85 Patrick Bruns, Champaign, IL; 13. #45C Chris Coker, Greenville, TX; 14. #73S Cole Smith, Plainfield, IN; 15. #75P Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg, IN; 16. #11S Chris Sheil, Englewood, CO

F Main 2: 1. #37 Matt Mitchell, Yorba Linda, CA; 2. #16F Aaron Fiscus, Sun Prairie, WI; 3. #17E Tanner Berryhill, Tulsa, OK; 4. #91S Jeff Stasa, Kingman, KS; 5. #27C Tony Elliott, Warsaw, IN; 6. #35M Matt Sherrell, Owasso, OK: 7. #7S Shannon McQueen, Bakersfield, CA; 8. #22 Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 9. #37X Jason Grady, Farmington, NM; 10. #71X Henry Clarke, Villa Park, CA; 11. #10 Will Pierce, Lees Summit, MO; 12. #10P Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 13. #59 Dex Eaton, Owasso, OK; DNS -- #87C Rich Camfield, Decatur, IL; #15D Andrew Deal, #15M Mat Neely, Robinson, IL

E Main (Top 4 transfer to back of corresponding D Main)

E Main 1: 1. #07 Randy Hannagan, San Jose, CA; 2. #47X Mike Spencer, Temecula, CA; 3. #55K Nick Knepper, Belleville, IL: 4. #4S Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO; 5. #51C Brent Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 6. #51S Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria, CA; 7. #2X Nic Faas, Huntington Beach, CA; 8. #0 Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, ONT; 9. #1TX Paul White, Temple, TX; 10. #11B Scotty Weir, Marion, IN; 11. #78 Nick Wean, Phillipsburg, NJ; 12. #9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN; 13. #5* Ray Allen Kulhanek, Magnolia, TX; 14. #4B Ronnie Burke, League City, TX; 15. #15N David Prickett, Fresno, CA; DNS -- #7A Dakoda Armstrong, New Castle, IN

E Main 2: 1. #1AU Gary Taylor, Snohomish, WA; 2. #87B Stuart Snyder, Lincoln, NE; 3. #37B Daniel Robinson, Wayne City, IL; 4. #9H Russ Harper, Indianapolis, IN; 5. #7 Austin Brown, Milstadt, IL; 6. #19W Wes Gutierrez, San Martin, CA; 7. #21 Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK; 8. #11C Chett Gehrke, Broken Arrow, OK; 9. #23T Tanner Swanson, Kingsburg, CA; 10. #91S Jeff Stasa, Kingman, KS; 11. #37 Matt Mitchell, Yorba Linda, CA; 12. #54 Evan Pardo, Gatesville, TX; 13. #17E Tanner Berryhill, Tulsa, OK; 14. #27S Andy Shouse, Oklahoma City, OK; 15. #16F Aaron Fiscus, Sun Prairie, WI; DNS -- #05L Danny Lasoski, Higginsville, MO

D Mains (Top 6 transfer to back of corresponding C Main)

D Main 1: 1. #37M Johnny Rodriguez, Elk Grove, CA; 2. #11K Brett Anderson, Belleville, IL; 3. #47 Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA; 4. #14W Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 5. #8X Donnie Ray Crawford, Broken Arrow, OK; 6. #55B Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL; 7. #19 Colby Copeland, Roseville, CA; 8. #92W Billy Wease, Noblesville, IN; 9. #4S Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO; 10. #12K Tyler Edwards, Ventura, CA; 11. #7E Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 12. #91AU Brad Cox, Gunnedah, AUS; 13. #07 Randy Hannagan, San Jose, CA; 14. #6X Dylan Peterson, Sioux Falls, SD; 15. #0X Greg Bragg, Visalia, CA; 16. #47X Mike Spencer, Temecula, CA; 17. #55K Nick Knepper, Belleville, IL; 18. #007 Cole Carter, Brownsburg, IN

D Main 2: 1. #17W Josh Wise, Riverside, CA; 2. #67 J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 3. #U1 Dustin Morgan, Tulsa, OK; 4. #91K Kevin Bayer, Bixby, OK; 5. #91J P.J. Jones, Torrance, CA; 6. #F5 Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA; 7. #37B Daniel Robinson, Wayne City, IL; 8. #75Z Dusty Zomer, Brandon, SD; 9. #76 Kellen Conover, Sumner, IL; 10. #1AU Gary Taylor, Snohomish, WA; 11. #7B Joe Boyles, Greenwood, MO; 12. #3C Cale Conley, Vienna, WV; 13. #19R Kody Swanson, Kingsburg, CA; 14. #35 Travis Berryhill, American Canyon, CA; 15. #87B Stuart Snyder, Lincoln, NE; 16. #2 Davey Ray, Rockford, IL; 17. #14AJ Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK DNS -- #68 Jonathan Hendrick, Fortville, IN

C Mains (Top 6 to back of corresponding B Main)

C Main 1: 1. #86 Shane Hollingsworth, Lafayette, IN; 2. #05C Tim Crawley, Benton, AR; 3. #35T Tyler Robbins, Collinsville, IL; 4. #05 Brad Loyett, Sunset Hills, MO; 5. #73 Josh Ford, Oxnard, CA; 6. #9J Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA; 7. #55 Alex Bowman, Oro Valley, AZ; 8. #32 Tyler Walker, Encino, CA; 9. #8 Randi Pankratz, Atascadero, CA; 10. #47 Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA; 11. #4X Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN; 12. #14W Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 13. #55B Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL; 14. #6 David Gough, Machesney Park, IL; 15. #14AJ Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK; 16. #8X Donnie Ray Crawford, Broken Arrow, OK; 17. #11K Brett Anderson, Belleville, IL; 18. #05S Casey Shuman, Tempe, AZ; 19. #37M Johnny Rodriguez, Elk Grove, CA; DNS – #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN

C Main 2: 1. #12JR Josh Pelkey, Peoria, AZ; 2. #71K Jay Drake, Val Verde, CA; 3. #3F Casey Riggs, Shelbyville, IN; 4. #56 Shane Hmiel, Pleasant Garden, NC; 5. #67 J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 6. #F5 Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA; 7. #75 Billy Pauch Jr., Frenchtown, NJ; 8. #24 Rick Eckert, York, PA; 9. #91K Kevin Bayer, Bixby, OK; 10. #14C Shane Cockrum, Benton, IL; 11. #6B Keith Bloom, Anderson, CA; 12. #5K Jimmy Light, West Springfield, PA; 13. #91J P.J. Jones, Torrance, CA; 14. #15H Scott Hatton, Roscoe, IL; 15. #88 Johnathon Henry, Stockton, CA; 16. #17W Josh Wise, Riverside, CA; 17. #17T Justin Grant, Ione, CA; 18. #U1 Dustin Morgan, Tulsa, OK; 19. #84X Colton Heath, Marysville, WA; 20. #51J R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, AZ

B Mains (Top 6 in each advance to A Main)

B Main 1: 1. #91X Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, WA; 2. #1ST Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 3. #49 Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 4. #30 Chad Boat, Phoenix, AZ; 5. #05 Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO; 6. #75B Brent Beauchamp, Fairland, IN; 7. #2B Levi Jones, Olney, IL; 8. #39B Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN; 9. #44 Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 10. #86 Shane Hollingsworth, Lafayette, IN; 11. #35T Tyler Robbins, Collinsville, IL; 12. #73 Josh Ford, Oxnard, CA; 13. #44D Damion Gardner, Concord, CA; 14. #05C Tim Crawley, Benton, AR; 15. #14JR Matt Streeter, Galt, CA; 16. #11A Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, MO; 17. #9J Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA; 18. #25 Steve Buckwalter, Royersford, PA; 19. #11 Tracy Hines, New Castle, IN; 20. #69 A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL

B Main 2: 1. #39I Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA; 2. #2T Thomas Meseraull, San Jose, CA; 3. #401 Daniel Adler, East Carondolet, IL; 4. #17 Chris Windom, Canton, IL; 5. #51 Mike Hess, Springfield, IL; 6. #4 Bobby East, Brownsburg, IN; 7. #11W Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY; 8. #99 Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK; 9. #F5 Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA; 10. #86C David Camfield Jr., Decatur, IL: 11. #67 J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 12. #56 Shane Hmiel, Pleasant Garden, NC; 13. #71K Jay Drake, Val Verde, CA; 14. #3W Brandon Waelti, Sun Prairie, WI; 15. #3F Casey Riggs, Shelbyville, IN; 16. #49K Trevor Kobylarz, Birdsboro, PA; 17. #36 Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, OK; 18. #05H Jesse Hockett, Warsaw, MO; 19. #12JR Josh Pelkey, Peoria, AZ; 20. #49JR Bobby Michnowicz

A Main (50 Laps): 1. #39 Kevin Swindell, Germantown, TN; 2. #71 Cole Whitt, Alpine, CA; 3. #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN; 4. #5 Jerry Coons Jr., Tucson, AZ; 5. #17 Chris Windom, Canton, IL; 6. #1ST Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 7. #51 Mike Hess, Springfield, IL; 8. #21K Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA; 9. #49 Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 10. #39I Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA; 11. #88NZ Michael Pickens, Auckland, NZ; 12. #17B Brad Kuhn, Avon, IN; 13. #75B Brent Beauchamp, Fairland, IN; 14. #1T Tony Roney, Herculaneum, MO; 15. #401 Daniel Adler, East Carondolet, IL; 16. #3 Darren Hagen, Riverside, CA; 17. #4 Bobby East, Brownsburg, IN; 18. #91X Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, WA; 19. #05 Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO; 20. 19NZ Brad Mosen, Auckland, NZ; 21. #2T Thomas Meseraull, San Jose, CA; 22. #39C Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA; 23. #5D Zach Daum, Pocahontas, IL; 24. #13 Danny Stratton, Indianapolis, IN; 25. #30 Chad Boat, Phoenix, AZ

-end-

Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Saturday Feature Lineups
 
20 Races on Rockstar Energy Drink Championship Saturday!
 
Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 16, 2010) – A total of 256 competitors from 28 different states as well as New Zealand, Australia and Canada have battled it out atop the QuikTrip Center’s ¼-mile Tulsa Expo Raceway clay oval over the past four nights at the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals.
 
And now the stage is set for Saturday’s Rockstar Energy Drink slate of championship feature events that includes 20 races.
 
After initial hot lap sessions at 11:15 a.m., the day’s official racing action begins at 12:00 noon with the “K” Main.  Twin “J” Mains, twin “I” Mains, twin “H” Mains, etc., will follow, ultimately culminating with Saturday night’s 50-lap Chili Bowl championship main event.
 
A dozen drivers have already earned starting berths for Saturday’s finale including Tuesday night Warren CAT winner Zach Daum, Wednesday night River Spirit Casino winner Kevin Swindell, Thursday night Bully Dog winner Darren Hagen and Friday night E3 Spark Plugs winner Cory Kruseman along with the second and third-place winners from each night.
 
The remaining twelve feature positions will be determined by Saturday’s hearty serving of an alphabet soup of feature events.
 
Those already locked in include, listed in order of past Chili Bowl championship feature starts:
 
#5 Jerry Coons, Jr. (Tucson, AZ) – 11th start in 14 tries and his seventh in a row, last year’s fourth-place finish is the best of three top-tens.
 
#21k Cory Kruseman (Ventura, CA) – 9th start in 14 tries and first since 2006, wins in 2000 and 2004 were among six podium finishes from 1999 to 2006.
 
#17b Brad Kuhn (Avon, IN) – 5th start in 9 tries and fifth in a row, a third-place finish last year trumped his fourth-place run in 2006.
 
#71 Cole Whitt (Alpine, CA) – 3rd start in 6 tries for the 18-year-old, improved from 13th in 2008 to 8th in 2009.
 
#13 Danny Stratton (Indianapolis, IN) – 2nd start in 7 tries, rallied from a “D” Main to finish 7th in 2004.
 
#39 Kevin Swindell (Germantown, TN) – 2nd start in 6 tries, was 6th in 2008 and was contending for a preliminary win last year until a late-race incident marred his Bowl experience.
 
#88nz Michael Pickens (Auckland, New Zealand) – 2nd start in 2 tries, finished sixth as a Chili Bowl rookie in 2005 and makes it two-for-two in feature starts after globetrotting to a runner-up finish on Tuesday night.
 
#5d Zach Daum (Pocahontas, IL) – 1st start in 5 tries, the 18-year-old cracked the field by winning Tuesday’s feature after missing last year’s championship finale by just a pair of positions.
 
#3 Darren Hagen (Riverside, CA) – 1st start in 5 tries, climbs to “A” Main after ending in a Saturday “B” Main last year.
 
#1T Tony Roney (Herculaneum, MO) – 1st start in 4 tries, the darkhorse contender of this year’s Chili Bowl just further proves that it can be done.
 
#39c Shane Golobic (Fremont, CA) – 1st start in 3 tries, outshines teammate/car owner and National Midget Driver of the Year Bryan Clauson who starts six rows deep in a Saturday “B” Main, at least in preliminary action.
 
#19nz Brad Mosen (Auckland, New Zealand) – Made it in his first time to become the first rookie to crack the feature field since Donnie Ray Crawford bested three rookies in the 2007 main event with a fifth-place run.  Mosen is part of the fearsome Kiwi contingent that also includes Pickens.
 
Following Friday night’s main event, the winners from each night drew to determine starting positions with Hagen pulling the number one for the pole position.  Kevin Swindell will start on Hagen’s outside shoulder, with Daum inside row two and Kruseman outside row two.
 
The second-place finishers drew for positions five through eight, with the third-place runners drawing for nine through twelve.
 
The balance of Saturday’s Rockstar Energy Drink feature lineups were determined according to preliminary night finishes in the order of the winner’s draw (Thursday, Wednesday, Tuesday, Friday).
 
Sammy Swindell has his work cut out for him in his effort to become the first back-to-back winner in Chili Bowl history as he starts his day inside row three of the First “C” Main after getting caught up in a wreck while leading in the final laps of Thursday night’s main event.
 
Saturday’s Rockstar Energy Drink Championship Saturday feature lineups at the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals are as follows:
 
A Main (50 Laps):
 
3 Darren Hagen (Riverside, CA) – 39 Kevin Swindell (Germantown, TN)
5d Zach Daum (Pocahontas, IL) – 21k Cory Kruseman (Ventura, CA)
5 Jerry Coons, Jr. (Tucson, AZ) – 1T Tony Roney (Herculaneum, MO)
88nz Michael Pickens (Auckland, NZ) – 71 Cole Whitt (Alpine, CA)
39c Shane Golobic (Fremont, CA) – 13 Danny Stratton (Indianapolis, IN)
17b Brad Kuhn (Avon, IN) – 19nz Brad Mosen (Auckland, NZ)
B Main 1 Transfer 1 – B Main 2 Transfer 1
B Main 1 Transfer 2 – B Main 2 Transfer 2
B Main 1 Transfer 3 – B Main 2 Transfer 3
B Main 1 Transfer 4 – B Main 2 Transfer 4
B Main 1 Transfer 5 – B Main 2 Transfer 5
B Main 1 Transfer 6 – B Main 2 Transfer 6
 
 
B Mains (20 Laps – Top 6 Transfer to A Main)
 
B Main 1:
1st Shane Cottle (Kokomo, IN) – 75b Brent Beauchamp (Fairland, IN)
49 Brad Sweet (Grass Valley, CA) – 30 Chad Boat (Phoenix, AZ)
91x Kasey Kahne (Enumclaw, WA) – 25 Steve Buckwalter (Royersford, PA)
69 A.J. Fike (Galesburg, IL) – 2b Levi Jones (Olney, IL)
11 Tracy Hines (New Castle, IN) – 14jr Matt Streeter (Galt, CA)
39b Bryan Clauson (Noblesville, IN) – 44 Don Droud, Jr. (Lincoln, NE)
44d Damion Gardner (Concord, CA) – 11a Andrew Felker (Carl Junction, MO)
C Main 1 Transfer 1 – C Main 1 Transfer 2
C Main 1 Transfer 3 – C Main 1 Transfer 4
C Main 1 Transfer 5 – C Main 1 Transfer 6
 
B Main 2:
11w Tim McCreadie (Watertown, NY) – 17 Chris Windom (Canton, IL)
39i Kyle Larson (Elk Grove, CA) – 4 Bobby East (Brownsburg, IN)
401 Daniel Adler (East Carondolet, IL) – 51 Mike Hess (Springfield, IL)
2T Thomas Meseraull (San Jose, CA) – 99 Brady Bacon (Broken Arrow, OK)
36 Jonathan Beason (Broken Arrow, OK) – 49jr Bobby Michnowicz (Torrance, CA)
05h Jesse Hockett (Warsaw, MO) – 86c David Camfield, Jr. (Decatur, IL)
3w Brandon Waelti (Sun Prairie, WI) – 49k Trevor Kobylarz (Birdsboro, PA)
C Main 2 Transfer 1 – C Main 2 Transfer 2
C Main 2 Transfer 3 – C Main 2 Transfer 4
C Main 2 Transfer 5 – C Main 2 Transfer 6
 
 
C Mains (15 Laps – Top 6 Transfer to Corresponding B Main)
 
C Main 1:
86 Shane Hollingsworth (Lafayette, IN) – 05c Tim Crawley (Benton, AR)
35T Tyler Robbins (Collinsville, IL) – 9J Jason Meyers (Clovis, CA)
1 Sammy Swindell (Germantown, TN) – 8 Randi Pankratz (Atascadero, CA)
05s Casey Shuman (Tempe, AZ) – 05 Brad Loyet (Sunset Hills, MO)
14aj Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK) – 4x Dave Darland (Lincoln, IN)
73 Josh Ford (Oxnard, CA) – 55 Alex Bowman (Oro Valley, AZ)
6 David Gough (Machesney Park, IL) – 32 Tyler Walker (Encino, CA)
D Main 1 Transfer 1 – D Main 1 Transfer 2
D Main 1 Transfer 3 – D Main 1 Transfer 4
D Main 1 Transfer 5 – D Main 1 Transfer 6
 
C Main 2:
12jr Josh Pelkey (Peoria, AZ) – 3F Casey Riggs (Shelbyville, IN)
5k Jimmy Light (West Springfield, PA) – 24 Rick Eckert (York, PA)
14c Shane Cockrum (Benton, IL) – 84x Colton Heath (Marysville, WA)
71k Jay Drake (Val Verde, CA) – 51J R.J. Johnson (Phoenix, AZ)
15h Scott Hatton (Roscoe, IL) – 88 Johnathon Henry (Stockton, CA)
75 Billy Pauch, Jr. (Frenchtown, NJ) – 6b Keith Bloom (Anderson, CA)
56 Shane Hmiel (Pleasant Grove, NC) – 17T Justin Grant (Ione, CA)
D Main 2 Transfer 1 – D Main 2 Transfer 2
D Main 2 Transfer 3 – D Main 2 Transfer 4
D Main 2 Transfer 5 – D Main 2 Transfer 6
 
 
D Mains (15 Laps – Top 6 Transfer to Corresponding C Main)
 
D Main 1:
37m Johnny Rodriguez (Elk Grove, CA) – 55b Joey Moughan (Springfield, IL)
14w Matt Westfall (Ludlow Falls, OH) – 11k Brett Anderson (Belleville, IL)
47 Garrett Hansen (Manhattan Beach, CA) – 19 Colby Copeland (Roseville, CA)
91au Brad Cox (Gunnedah, AUS) – 007 Cole Carter (Brownsburg, IN)
8x Donnie Ray Crawford (Broken Arrow, OK) – 0x Greg Bragg (Visalia, CA)
12k Tyler Edwards (Ventura, CA) – 6x Dylan Peterson (Sioux Falls, SD)
7e Caleb Armstrong (New Castle, OK) – 92w Billy Wease (Noblesville, IN)
E Main 1 Transfer 1 – E Main 1 Transfer 2
E Main 1 Transfer 3 – E Main 1 Transfer 4
 
D Main 2:
91k Kevin Bayer (Bixby, OK) – 17w Josh Wise (Riverside, CA)
91J P.J. Jones (Torrance, CA) – U1 Dustin Morgan (Tulsa, OK)
7b Joe Boyles (Greenwood, MO) – 67 J.J. Yeley (Phoenix, AZ)
68 Jonathan Hendrick (Fortville, IN) – 76 Kellen Conover (Sumner, IL)
75z Dusty Zomer (Brandon, SD) – 19r Kody Swanson (Kingsburg, CA)
F5 Terry McCarl (Altoona, IA) – 3c Cale Conley (Vienna, WV)
2 Davey Ray (Rockford, IL) – 35 Travis Berryhill (American Canyon, CA)
E Main 2 Transfer 1 – E Main 2 Transfer 2
E Main 2 Transfer 3 – E Main 2 Transfer 4
 
 
E Mains (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer to Corresponding D Main)
 
E Main 1:
0 Glenn Styres (Ohsweken, ONT) – 51s Danny Sheridan (Santa Maria, CA)
1tx Paul White (Temple, TX) – 7a Dakoda Armstrong (New Castle, IN)
2x Nic Faas (Huntington Beach, CA) – 07 Randy Hannagan (San Jose, CA)
5* Ray Allen Kulhanek (Magnolia, TX) – 55k Nick Knepper (Belleville, IL)
11b Scotty Weir (Marion, IN) – 47x Mike Spencer (Temecula, CA)
78 Nick Wean (Phillipsburg, NJ) – 51c Brent Camarillo (Camarillo, CA)
F Main 1 Transfer 1 – F Main 1 Transfer 2
F Main 1 Transfer 3 – F Main 1 Transfer 4
 
E Main 2:
87b Stuart Snyder (Lincoln, NE) – 1au Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA)
27 Andy Shouse (Oklahoma City, OK) – 9h Russ Harper (Indianapolis, IN)
7 Austin Brown (Millstadt, IL) – 19w Wes Gutierrez (San Martin, CA)
05L Danny Lasoski (Higginsville, MO) – 37b Daniel Robinson (Wayne City, IL)
23T Tanner Swanson (Kingsburg, CA) – 11c Chett Gehrke (Broken Arrow, OK)
54 Evan Pardo (Gatesville, TX) – 21 Daryn Pittman (Owasso, OK)
F Main 2 Transfer 1 – F Main 2 Transfer 2
F Main 2 Transfer 3 – F Main 2 Transfer 4
 
 
F Mains (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer to Corresponding E Main)
 
F Main 1:
4b Ronnie Burke, Jr. (League City, TX) – 37T Josh Grady (Farmington, NM)
16 Jimmy Winkler (Parkville, MO) – 4s Hunter Schuerenberg (Sikeston, MO)
45c Chris Coker (Greenville, TX) – 15n David Prickett (Fresno, CA)
73s Cole Smith (Plainfield, IN) – 57b Johnny Heydenreich (Indianapolis, IN)
75p Cruz Pedregon (Brownsburg, IN) – 85 Patrick Bruns (Champaign, IL)
11s Chris Sheil (Englewood, CO) – 87jr Troy Rutherford (Ojai, CA)
G Main 1 Transfer 1 – G Main 1 Transfer 2
G Main 1 Transfer 3 – G Main 1 Transfer 4
 
F Main 2:
17e Tanner Berryhill (Tulsa, OK) – 27c Tony Elliott (Warsaw, IN)
7s Shannon McQueen (Bakersfield, CA) – 37 Matt Mitchell (Yorba Linda, CA)
71x Henry Clarke (Villa Park, CA) – 91s Jeff Stasa (Kingman, KS)
16F Aaron Fiscus (Sun Prairie, WI) – 87c Rich Camfield (Decatur, IL)
22 Brian Camarillo (Camarillo, CA) – 10 Will Pierce (Lees Summit, MO)
15d Andrew Deal (Caney, KS) – 15m Mat Neely (Robinson, IL)
G Main 2 Transfer 1 – G Main 2 Transfer 2
G Main 2 Transfer 3 – G Main 2 Transfer 4
 
 
G Mains (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer to Corresponding F Main)
 
G Main 1:
6r Jody Rosenboom (Rock Rapids, IA) – 19T Tanner Mullens (Andale, KS)
99k Kyle Rayburn (Pueblo, CO) – 24T Jasiel Randolph (Tulsa, OK)
25k Steve Knepper (Belleville, IL) – 60s Wink Schweitzer (Bakersfield, CA)
10x Alissa Geving (Penngrove, CA) – 86J Josh Most (Red Oak, IA)
118 Kyle Steffens (St. Charles, MO) – 12h Rick Hendrix (Palmdale, CA)
67h Harris Brooks (Houston, TX) – 16b David Budres (Beloit, WI)
H Main 1 Transfer 1 – H Main 1 Transfer 2
H Main 1 Transfer 3 – H Main 1 Transfer 4
 
G Main 2:
12 Nathan High (Goodyear, AZ) – 3J Julee Jamison (Highlands Ranch, CO)
35m Matt Sherrell (Owasso, OK) – 59 Dex Eaton (Owasso, OK)
37x Jason Grady (Farmington, NM) – 10p Scott Pierovich (Alamo, CA)
97 Jon Stanbrough (Avon, IN) – 96 Cody Brewer (Choctaw, OK)
11J Justin Melton (Flower Mound, TX) – 89h Andrew Hannula (Matawan, NJ)
6d Lex Burritt (Redding, CT) – 56d Kevin Olson (Machesney Park, IL)
H Main 2 Transfer 1 – H Main 2 Transfer 2
H Main 2 Transfer 3 – H Main 2 Transfer 4
 
 
H Mains (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer to Corresponding G Main)
 
H Main 1:
40 Jason Leffler (Long Beach, CA) – 11xc Steve Newman (Breckenridge, CO)
9d Sean-Mikael Dodenhoff (Bakersfield, CA) – 84 Joey Fabozzi (Norco, CA)
39L Billy Lawhead (Tulsa, OK) – 2a J.C. Bland (Springfield, IL)
15b Danny Burke (Houston, TX) – 9 Joey Saldana (Brownsburg, IN)
7d Michelle Decker (Guthrie, OK) – 6c Brian Carter (Concord, NC)
23 Tadd Holliman (Beaver Lake, NE) – 88d Rusty Dukes (Fair Grove, MO)
I Main 1 Transfer 1 – I Main 1 Transfer 2
I Main 1 Transfer 3 – I Main 1 Transfer 4
 
H Main 2:
25a Aaron Ott (York Springs, PA) – 92 Jake Rosario (Guthrie, OK)
7m Kevin Ramey (Fort Worth, TX) – 7jr J.D. Black (Grain Valley, MO)
89 Cody Darrah (Red Lion, PA) – 73i Austen Wheatley (Lake Stevens, WA)
13x Andrew Elson (Carmel, IN) – 8k Bud Kaeding (San Jose, CA)
99J Eric Todd (Falcon, MO) – 31e Evan Sewell (Tulsa, OK)
4F Chad Frewaldt (Kansas City, KS) – 2J Jackie Burke (Houston, TX)
I Main 2 Transfer 1 – I Main 2 Transfer 2
I Main 2 Transfer 3 – I Main 2 Transfer 4
 
 
I Mains (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer to Corresponding H Main)
 
I Main 1:
89jr Todd McVay (Lees Summit, MO) – 7c Pat Schudy (Springfield, MO)
11h Garrett Hood (Concordia, KS) – 57k Bubba Altig (Mechanicsburg, IL)
47jr Ron Bach (Santa Paula, CA) – 14k Channing Zierolf (Houma, LA)
73x Greg Edenholm (Malibu, CA) – 25m Derrick Myers (Stonington, IL)
19k Klint Angelette (Thibodaux, LA) – 14 Tony Rossi (Brighton, CO)
17k Austin Mero (Kingsburg, CA) – 25z Chris Zrinski (Forked River, NJ)
J Main 1 Transfer 1 – J Main 1 Transfer 2
J Main 1 Transfer 3 – J Main 1 Transfer 4
 
I Main 2:
19s Patrick Stasa (Kingman, KS) – 6m Justin Mallo (Cheyenne, WY)
60 Eric Sandage (Alexander, AR) – 1d Dennis Rodriguez (Camarillo, CA)
90 Toni Lutar (Richmond, BC) – 00 Pete Davis (Pleasanton, CA)
36F Frank Flud (Broken Arrow, OK) – 10w George White (Fort Worth, TX)
04 Cap Henry (Bellevue, OH) – 31b Bruce Douglass (Ventura, CA)
7rs Matt Gilbert (Shawnee, KS) – 33s Austin Smith (Chino Hills, CA)
J Main 2 Transfer 1 – J Main 2 Transfer 2
J Main 2 Transfer 3 – J Main 2 Transfer 4
 
 
J Mains (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer to Corresponding I Main)
 
J Main 1:
71T Tim Pyle (Portland, OR) – 18 Floyd Alvis (San Carlos, CA)
85J Matt Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK) – 38n Kyle Neal (Ewing, IL)
31v Victor Davis (Ventura, CA) – 19n Nick O’Neal (Wagoner, OK)
6e Rafe Essary (Stilwell, OK) – 11r Ryan Cole (Porter, OK)
61 Chad Pitts (Little Rock, AR) – 2g Terry Goodwin (Laveen, AZ)
82 Eric Johnson (Rockford, IL) – 11xs Donovan Peterson (Brookings, SD)
K Main Transfer 1 – K Main Transfer 3
K Main Transfer 5 – K Main Transfer 7
 
J Main 2:
73e Billy Balog (Chippewa Falls, WI) – 12J Jay Mounce (Downs, IL)
5m Zach Cougill (Greenwood, IN) – 7J Clint Todd (Lynchburg, MO)
0z Johnny Murdock (Dallas, TX) – 44x Forrest Slater (Alabaster, AL)
15J Jeff Wimmenauer (New Whiteland, IN) – 58 Cole Peard (Quincy, CA)
83 Kurt Blackaby (Bentonville, AR) – 91 Donnie Trent (Honey Brook, PA)
11x Ricky Williams (Clinton, OH) – 12d Dusty Heistand (Manheim, PA)
K Main Transfer 2 – K Main Transfer 4
K Main Transfer 6 – K Main Transfer 8
 
 
K Main (10 Laps – Finishers 1,3,5 and 7 Transfer to J Main 1; Finishers 2,4,6 and 8 Transfer to J Main 2)
 
K Main:
2R Riley Adair (Tulsa, OK) – 51x Ronnie Gardner (Norco, CA)
57 Kevin Studley (Plainfield, IN) – 56x Curtis Bailey (Bartlesville, OK)
27 Brock Lemley (Bellingham, WA) – 27d Nick Chivello (Manteca, CA)
93x Brian Harvey (Durant, OK) – 111 Ryan Durst (Lincoln, NE)
33 Scott Fennell (Littleton, CO) – 27b Joe Bob Lee (Cache, OK)
40h Andy Huston (Roseville, IL) – 15 Tim Siner (Dupo, IL)
83x Bruce Buckwalter, Jr. (Royersford, PA) – 76k Michael Koontz (Bloomington, IN)
8e Murray Erickson (Odessa, TX) – 50 Ted Kirkpatrick (Waterloo, IL)

“The Kruser” is Back on Top in Friday Chili Bowl Qualifier

Cory Kruseman won Friday night's E3 Spark Plugs Qualifier main event at the QuikTrip Center's Tulsa Expo Raceway's 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, OKla. Photo copyright Tim Aylwin.

TULSA, Okla. (January 15, 2010) – Cory Kruseman proved that he hasn’t forgotten the way to victory lane at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway by winning Friday night’s 25-lap E3 Spark Plugs Qualifying main event at the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals.

“The Kruser” held off the challenges of Jerry Coons, Jr., for the win, with Danny Stratton battling past Chris Windom on the final round for the third and final lock-in position to Saturday night’s 50-lap Chili Bowl championship main event.

With a pair of Golden Drillers on the mantle after Chili Bowl triumphs in 2000 and 2004, it marked Kruseman’s first Tulsa Expo Raceway win since a Friday preliminary score in 2006.  And, after missing the main event cut over the past three years, Kruseman fielded his own entry to earn a ninth career Chili Bowl main event start.

“It’s bitter and it’s sweet at the same time,” Kruseman explained of his departure from Andy Bondio’s entry.  “It’s nice to know that you can put a car together at the caliber of going out and winning races.  But, at the same time, me and Andy Bondio and John Martens had ten great years here, we had a lot of fun and we did really well together.  It was just time for me to get all my things under one roof.”
 
After earning the pole position for the main event, Kruseman outgunned Coons for the lead at the outset and paced the early rounds.
 
As the lead duo reeled in the tail of the pack, at least one of the leaders was nearly taken out for the second time in as many nights when Johnathon Henry, Travis Berryhill, Josh Wise and Kody Swanson tangled in turns one and two.
 
“I already tucked my head down, I was ready to turn over,” Kruseman explained after narrowly avoiding the scrum.  “I honestly thought I was gonna hit ‘em with the right rear.  I saw the crash happening and saw the cars that were involved and then one popped out that I never saw, I don’t know how I missed him.”
 
It proved to be a critical point in the race after Kruseman fought off Coons in the final stages to secure the win aboard the Kruseman Motorsports Mopar-powered Lucas Oil/Sander Engineering No. 21k Spike.
 
“Like I’ve said for all the years we’ve been coming here, you can buy the best cars, you can have the best driver, you can have the best crew chief, you can have the best parts, but if you don’t have luck then nothing else matters.  And that’s what showed tonight.”
 
Coons kept pace and may have had his best opportunity to pounce negated when J.J. Yeley came to a stop in turn four with 18 laps in the books just as Kruseman was approaching a gaggle of four cars.
 
Coons made a couple of challenges over the final laps, but settled for runner-up honors in the Wilke Pak Motorsports Toyota-powered Speedway Motors No. 5 Spike as he locked into his 11th career Chili Bowl championship main event.
 
“The one big slide job that I tried, I wasn’t really gonna try at that point,” Coons commented.  “Maybe if I would of tried it in the other corner instead of three and four, but I just did what I could and ran second.”
 
Making his first start since last year’s Chili Bowl, California native Danny Stratton battled past Chris Windom on the final round to snare the show position aboard Betsy Stuebgen’s Esslinger-powered Indy Race Parts No. 13 Spike.
 
“To be here is kinda surreal, I’ve never been in this room before,” commented the seventh-place Chili Bowl finisher from six years ago.  “When I did it in 2004, I came from the ‘D’ so I had to do some work.  Now it’ll be a little easier to concentrate on the car a little better.”
 
Windom settled for fourth in the Esslinger-powered Keith Kunz Motorsports No. 17 Bullet, with Chad Boat rounding out the top five in Billy Boat’s VDS-Ford Esslinger-powered Impact/Eibach No. 30 Spike.
 
After winning the first “B” Main, Mike Hess raced from 17th to sixth, with Levi Jones, Bobby Michnowicz, 22nd-starter Don Droud, Jr., and Chili Bowl rookie contender Trevor Kobylarz completing the top ten.
 
Kobylarz was one of four Chili Bowl rookies among the feature field, with others including Colton Heath, Alex Bowman and Kody Swanson.
 
Justin Grant, J.J. Yeley, Casey Riggs, Brad Loyet, Stratton, Swanson, Travis Berryhill and Michnowicz topped heat race action for Friday night’s 64-car field, with Kruseman, Brett Anderson, Windom and Levi Jones winning the qualifying races.
 
Hunter Schuerenberg and Joey Saldana won the twin “C” Mains, with Hess and Loyet topping the twin “B” Mains.
 
George White, Brent Camarillo, Daniel Robinson and Bruce Buckwalter, Jr., all flipped in heat race action, Cole Peard, Donovan Peterson and Austin Smith got upside down in “C” Mains and Nick Knepper turned over in a “B” Main.
 
Cleared by his doctors at the last minute after an injury sustained in August, J.J. Yeley jumped into the seat of a vacant Keith Kunz Motorsports entry.  After a heat race win, Yeley had a tumultuous qualifier, raced in through the “B” Main and then finished 20th after his late stoppage.
 
With four nights in the books, 256 competitors will battle it out in Saturday’s Rockstar Energy Drink slate of championship events that gets under way at 12:00 p.m.

Friday Night’s E3 Spark Plugs Qualifier Results from the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals:

Heat Races (Top 40 in passing points to A Qualifiers; Balance to twin C Mains)

Heat 1: 1. #17T Justin Grant, Ione, CA; 2. #21K Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA; 3. #21 Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK; 4. #57B Johnny Heydenreich, Indianapolis, IN; 5. #7A Dakoda Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 6. #56D Kevin Olson, Machesney Park, IL: 7. #86J Josh Most, Red Oak, IA; 8. #10W George White, Fort Worth, TX

Heat 2: 1. #67 J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 2. #9H Russ Harper, Indianapolis, IN; 3. #44 Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 4. #55K Nick Knepper, Belleville, IL; 5. #4S Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO; 6. #58 Cole Peard, Quincy, CA; 7. #25Z Chris Zrinski, Forked River, NJ; DNS -- # 1D Dennis Rodriguez, Camarillo, CA

Heat 3: 1. #3F Casey Riggs, Shelbyville, IN; 2. #87JR Troy Rutherford, Ojai, CA; 3. #2J Jackie Burke, Houston, TX; 4. #51C Brent Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 5. #16B David Budres, Beloit, WI; 6. #24T Jasiel Randolph, Tulsa, OK: 7. #25M Derrick Myers, Stonington, IL: 8. #15 Tim Siner, Dupo, IL

Heat 4: 1. #05 Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO; 2. #11K Brett Anderson, Belleville, IL; 3. #49K Bryan Kobylarz, Birdsboro, PA; 4. #51 Mike Hess, Springfield, IL: 5. #17 Chris Windom, Canton, IL: 6. #96 Cody Brewer, Choctaw, OK; 7. #11XS Donovan Peterson, Brookings, SD; 8. #11R Ryan Cole, Porter, OK

Heat 5: 1. #13 Danny Stratton, Indianapolis, IN; 2. #55 Alex Bowman, Oro Valley, AZ; 3. #17W Josh Wise, Riverside, CA; 4. #8K Bud Kaeding, Brownsburg, IN; 5. #88D Rusty Dukes, Fair Grove, MO; 6. #12D Dusty Heistand, Manheim, PA; 7. #7J Clint Todd, Lynchburg, MO; 8. #37B Daniel Robinson, Wayne City, IL

Heat 6: 1. #19R Kody Swanson, Kingsburg, CA; 2. #6X Dylan Peterson, Sioux Falls, SD; 3. #9J Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA; 4. #7JR J.D. Black, Grain Valley, MO; 5. #87C Rich Camfield, Decatur, IL; 6. #93X Brian Harvey, Durant, OK; 7. #83X Bruce Buckwalter Jr., Royersford, PA; 8. #27D Nick Chivello, Manteca, CA

Heat 7: 1. #35 Travis Berryhill, American Canyon, CA; 2. #007 Cole Carter, Brownsburg, IN; 3. #88 Jonathathon Henry, Stockton, CA; 4. #2B Levi Jones, Olney, IL; 5. #30 Chad Boat, Phoenix, AZ; 6. #33S Austin Smith, Chino Hills, CA; 7. #15M Mat Neely, Robinson, IL; 8. #59 Dex Eaton, Owasso, OK

Heat 8: 1. #49JR Bobby Michnowicz, Torrance, CA; 2. #37 Matt Mitchell, Yorba Linda, CA; 3. #5 Jerry Coons Jr., Tucson, AZ; 4. #84X Colton Heath, Marysville, WA; 5. #84 Joey Fabozzi, Norco, CA; 6. #9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN; 7. #38N Kyle Neal, Ewing, IL; 8. #57K Bubba Altig, Mechanicsburg, IL

C Mains (Top 4 in each transfer to back of corresponding B Main)

C Main 1: 1. #4S Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO; 2. #96 Cody Brewer, Choctaw, OK; 3. #37B Daniel Robinson, Wayne City, IL; 4. #88D Rusty Dukes, Fair Grove, MO; 5. #57K Bubba Altig, Mechanicsburg, IL; 6. #10W George White, Fort Worth, TX; 7. #25Z Chris Zrinski, Forked River, NJ; 8. #38N Kyle Neal, Ewing, IL; 9. #58 Cole Peard, Quincy, CA; 10. #11XS Donovan Peterson, Brookings, SD; 11. #27D Nick Chivello, Manteca, CA DNS -- #83X Bruce Buckwalter Jr., Royersford, PA

C Main 2: 1. #9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN; 2. #86J Josh Most, Red Oak, IA; 3. #15M Mat Neely, Robinson, IL; 4. #59 Dex Eaton, Owasso, OK: 5. #1D Dennis Rodriguez, Camarillo, CA; 6. #25M Derrick Myers, Stonington, IL; 7. #33S Austin Smith, Chino Hills, CA; 8. #7J Clint Todd, Lynchburg, MO; 9. #11R Ryan Cole, Porter, OK; 10. #12D Dusty Heistand, Manheim, PA; 11. #93X Brian Harvey, Durant, OK DNS -- #15 Tim Siner, Dupo, IL

A Qualifiers (Top 16 in combined passing points to A Main; Balance to twin B Mains)

A Qualifier 1: 1. #21K Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA; 2. #30 Chad Boat, Phoenix, AZ; 3. #13 Danny Stratton, Indianapolis, IN; 4. #9H Russ Harper, Indianapolis, IN; 5. #35 Travis Berryhill, American Canyon, CA; 6. #51 Mike Hess, Springfield, IL; 7. #2J Jackie Burke, Houston, TX; 8. #84 Joey Fabozzi, Norco, CA; 9. #51C Brent Camarillo, CA; 10. #8K Bud Kaeding, Brownsburg, IN

A Qualifier 2: 1. #11K Brett Anderson, Belleville, IL; 2. #55 Alex Bowman, Oro Valley, AZ; 3. #49JR Bobby Michnowicz, Torrance, CA; 4. #17T Justin Grant, Ione, CA; 5. #87JR Troy Rutherford, Ojai, CA; 6. #05 Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO; 7. #7A Dakoda Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 8. #21 Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK; 9. #7JR J.D. Black, Grain Valley, MO; 10. #57B Johnny Heydenreich, Indianapolis, IN

A Qualifier 3: 1. #17 Chris Windom, Canton, IL; 2. #007 Cole Carter, Brownsburg, IN; 3. #49K Bryan Kobylarz, Birdsboro, PA; 4. #6X Dylan Peterson, Sioux Falls, SD; 5. #17W Josh Wise, Riverside, CA; 6. #67 J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 7. #9J Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA; 8. #55K Nick Knepper, Belleville, IL; 9. #16B David Budres, Beloit, WI; 10. #56D Kevin Olson, Machesney Park, IL

A Qualifier 4: 1. #2B Levi Jones, Olney, IL; 2. #5 Jerry Coons Jr., Tucson, AZ; 3. #19R Kody Swanson, Kingsburg, CA; 4. #3F Casey Riggs, Shelbyville, IN; 5. #84X Colton Heath, Marysville, WA; 6. #44 Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 7. #88 Jonathon Henry, Stockton, CA; 8. #24T Jasiel Randolph, Tulsa, OK; 9. #37 Matt Mitchell, Yorba Linda, cA; 10. #87C Rich Camfield, Decatur, IL

B Mains (Top 4 in each transfer to A Main)

B Main 1: 1. #51 Mike Hess, Springfield, IL; 2. #84X Colton Heath, Marysville, WA; 3. #17T Justin Grant, Ione, CA; 4. #9J Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA; 5. #7A Dakoda Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 6. #37B Daniel Robinson, Wayne City, IL; 7. #51C Brent Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 8. #4S Hunter Schuerenberg, Sikeston, MO; 9. #87C Rich Camfield, Decatur, IL; 10. #87JR Troy Rutherford, Ojai, CA; 11. #24T Jasiel Randolph, Tulsa, OK; 12. #96 Cody Brewer, Choctaw, OK; 13. #16B David Budres, Beloit, WI; 14. #84 Joey Fabozzi, Norco, CA; 15. #8K Bud Kaeding, Brownsburg, IN; 16. #88D Rusty Dukes, Fair Grove, MO

B Main 2: 1. #05 Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO; 2. #67 J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 3. #44 Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 4. #88 Johnathon Henry, Stockton, CA; 5. #9H Russ Harper, Indianapolis, IN; 6. #55K Nick Knepper, Belleville, IL; 7. #21 Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK; 8. #37 Matt Mitchell, Yorba Linda, CA; 9. #57B Johnny Heydenreich, Indianapolis, IN; 10. #15M Mat Neely, Robinson, IL; 11. #59 Dex Eaton, Owasso, OK; 12. #86J Josh Most, Red Oak, IA; 13. #56D Kevin Olson, Machesney Park, IL; 14. #7JR J.D. Black, Grain Valley, MO; 15. #9 Joey Saldana, Brownsburg, IN; 16. #2J Jackie Burke, Houston, TX

A Main (25 laps – Top 3 advance to Saturday Night's Main Event)
1. #21K Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA; 2. #5 Jerry Coons Jr., Tucson, AZ; 3. #13 Danny Stratton, Indianapolis, IN; 4. #17 Chris Windom, Canton, IL; 5. #30 Chad Boat, Phoenix, AZ; 6. #51 Mike Hess, Springfield, IL; 7. #2B Levi Jones, Olney, IL; 8. #49JR Bobby Michnowicz, Torrance, CA; 9. #44 Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 10. #49K Trevor Kobylarz, Birdsboro, PA; 11. #3F Casey Riggs, Shelbyville, IN; 12. #9J Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA; 13. #84X Colton Heath, Marysville, WA; 14. #05 Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO; 15. #88 Jonathon Henry, Stockton, CA; 16. #55 Alex Bowman, Oro Valley, AZ; 17. #17T Justin Grant, Ione, CA; 18. #17W Jose Wise, Riverside, CA; 19. #11K Brett Anderson, Belleville, IL; 20. #67 J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 21. #007 Cole Carter, Brownsburg, IN; 22. #19R Kody Swanson, Kingsburg, CA; 23. #6X Dylan Peterson, Sioux Falls, SD; 24. #35 Travis Berryhill, American Canyon, CA

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Hagen Tops Bully Dog Qualifier at the Chili Bowl

Defending Race Winner Sammy Swindell Crashes While Leading… 

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 14, 2010) – The 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals started out in unpredictable fashion on Tuesday night.  That trend continued to escalate with Thursday night’s Bully Dog Qualifying main event as the leader got tangled up in traffic two laps shy of the checkered flag and then three drivers ending up on the podium that each locked into a first career Chili Bowl championship main event.

After sweeping into the lead on the ninth round, five-time and defending Chili Bowl king Sammy Swindell appeared to be well on the way to another checkered flag when he was collected by a flipping car along the frontstretch just as the two laps to go signal was indicated.

Taking full advantage was Riverside, California’s Darren Hagen, who paced the final three laps atop the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway clay oval to top Thursday night’s 25-lap Bully Dog Qualifying main event at the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals.

Chasing Hagen to the stripe was the unheralded Tony Roney of Herculaneum, MO, with New Zealand’s Brad Mosen taking the third lock-in position to Saturday night’s main event.  With all three locking into a Chili Bowl finale for the first time, it will be a new experience for five of the nine drivers locked into Saturday’s 50-lapper as Tuesday winner Zach Daum and third-place runner Shane Golobic will also embark upon new territory.

After starting Thursday night’s feature inside the fourth row, Hagen was up to fourth within the initial pair of circuits before making his way past front row outside starter Shane Cottle for third on the fifth round.

“I told the guys after the qualifier that was my fault, I got schooled by Sammy,” Hagen explained of a qualifying race that put him mid-pack in the feature.  “I told ‘em I won’t waste any more time this time.”   

While Hagen worked his way up to third, 2005 Chili Bowl champ Tracy Hines paced the opening eight circuits before third-starting Swindell stepped up the pace and slid into the lead through turns one and two on the ninth round.

With Swindell and Hines leading the way into traffic by the 16th round, Hagen held third through the race’s middle stages in front of Cottle and Mosen.

“To be honest, I thought I was just going to be blessed to run third,” Hagen commented afterward.

Hagen closed the gap on Hines in traffic though, and took over second on the 19th lap after the pair swapped positions the previous round.  Sitting in second proved the perfect place to be as the closing laps clicked off.

With Swindell just two laps away from matching his son Kevin’s victory just one night earlier, disaster struck for the Germantown, TN, veteran shoe in the form of a wildly-flipping Jonathan Hendrick down the frontstretch.  Swindell was unable to avoid the melee that also collected Billy Pauch, Jr., and rejoined the field at the tail to salvage a 13th place finish in the final rounds.

“When I saw that, he must have had nowhere to go,” Hagen explained of the incident that happened just ahead of him.  “A guy with that much talent and that good of reaction time, I thought he had it wrapped up tonight.”

At the head of the field, Hagen paced the final three circuits aboard the Esslinger-powered RFMS Racing RFMS Liberty Village/McGladrey & Pullen No. 3 Spike to secure the prominent win.

In Hagen’s wake, the complexion of the field changed drastically when second runner Hines jumped the turn two cushion and fell back in the field.

Mosen immediately moved into second only to have Tony Roney slip by on the low side on the final lap to snare runner-up honors in the Fontana-powered Simpson/Saldana No. 1T Stealth.

“I am a little in shock,” Roney commented afterward.  “I never expected to do this; my goal was to get into a ‘C’ Main (Saturday night), which you had to make the ‘A’ tonight to do that. At the end, I thought I might get third if I played my cards right.  A little luck and it happened, it was awesome.”

Mosen settled for the show position in Simon Longdill’s Synergy V8-powered CRC/Transitainer No. 19nz Aggressor, joining Kiwi teammate Michael Pickens in Saturday night’s championship feature field.  Pickens posted a second-place run on Tuesday night.

"Running against those guys, you’ve just got to make every leap you can past the guys,” Mosen explained.  “You’re not gonna give them any chances.  Until Tony (Roney) turned up, I was pretty happy with second but third is good enough as well.”

After slipping as far back as eighth, Cottle rallied in the final three rounds to finish fourth in Daryl Saucier’s Chevy-powered DSR Fuel Systems No. 1st Beast, with California youngster Kyle Larson rounding out the top five in the Corey Tucker Racing/BCI Esslinger-powered Stadelhofer Construction No. 39i Spike.

NASCAR star Kasey Kahne mixed it up among the top-ten the entire distance before crossing the stripe in sixth, with Thomas Meseraull in seventh.  Hines’ late race miscue relegated him to eighth at the line, with Jesse Hockett and 2008 Chili Bowl champion Damion Gardner completing the top ten.

Cottle, Mosen, Michelle Decker, Hines, Hagen, Terry McCarl, David Gough and Garrett Hansen topped heat race action for Thursday night’s 67-car field, with McCarl, Kahne, Roney and Swindell winning the qualifying races.

Cody Darrah and Donnie Ray Crawford won the twin “C” Mains, with Shane Hollingsworth and Hansen winning the “B” Mains.  Jimmy Light climbed from a fourth place “C” Main finish to claim third in a “B” Main before finishing out the night 12th in the “A” Main.

Mosen established himself as this year’s leading Chili Bowl rookie contender with his third-place finish.  Mosen was the only rookie contender to make Thursday night’s feature cut and just the sixth rookie this week to race into preliminary night “A” Main action.

While Hendrick’s wild ride down the frontstretch was the most notable, nine other drivers took tumbles during the night including Billy Lawhead in hot laps, Ted Kirkpatrick and Joe Bob Lee in heat race action, Riley Adair and Ron Bach in “C” Main competition, Decker and Austin Brown in the first “B” Main and Justin Melton and Steve Knepper in the second “B” Main.

Action at the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals resumes with Friday night’s E3 Spark Plugs Qualifier, with racing action set to go green at 6:00 p.m.  Friday’s action fills in the final pieces of the puzzle for Saturday’s Rockstar Energy Drink slate of championship feature events.

Thursday Night’s Bully Dog Qualifier Results from the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals:

Heat Races (Top 40 in passing points to A Qualifiers; Balance to twin C Mains)

Heat 1: 1. #1ST Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 2. #39I Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA; 3. #23T Tanner Swanson, Kingsburg, CA; 4. #91J P.J. Jones, Torrance, CA; 5. #0 Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, ONT; 6. #19K Klint Angelette, Thibodaux, LA; 7. #87B Stuart Snyder, Lincoln, NE; 8. #2R Riley Adair, Tulsa, OK; 9. #50 Ted Kirkpatrick, Waterloo, IL

Heat 2: 1. #19NZ Brad Mosen, Auckland, NZ; 2. #91X Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, WA; 3. #1T Tony Roney, Herculaneum, MO; 4. #71X Henry Clarke, Villa Park, CA; 5. #5K Jimmy Light, West Springfield, PA; 6. #89JR Todd McVay, Lees Summit, MO; 7. #61 Chad Pitts, Little Rock, AR; 8. #14AJ Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK; 9. #51X Ronnie Gardner, Norco, CA

Heat 3: 1. #7D Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 2. #05H Jesse Hockett, Warsaw, MO; 3. #37X Jason Grady, Farmington, NM; 4. #7E Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 5. #2X Nic Faas, Huntington Beach, CA; 6. #0Z Johnny Murdock, Dallas, TX; 7. #11B Scotty Weir, Marion, IN; 8. #111 Ryan Durst, Lincoln, NE; 9. #7 Austin Brown, Millstadt, IL

Heat 4: 1. #11 Tracy Hines, New Castle, IN; 2. #75P Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg, IN; 3. #17E Tanner Berryhill, Tulsa, OK; 4. #39L Billy Lawhead, Tulsa, OK; 5. #4B Ronnie Burke, League City, TX; 6. #99J Eric Todd, Falcon, MO; 7. #31V Victor Davis, Ventura, CA; 8. #90 Toni Lutar, Richmond, BC

Heat 5: 1. #3 Darren Hagen, Riverside, CA; 2. #118 Kyle Steffans, St. Charles, MO; 3. #75 Billy Pauch Jr.; 4. #45C Chris Coker, Greenville, TX; 5. #25K Steve Knepper, Belleville, IL; 6. #89 Cody Darrah, Red Lion, PA; 7. #8X Donnie Ray Crawford, Broken Arrow, OK; 8. #76K Michael Koontz, Bloomington, IN

Heat 6: 1. #F5 Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA; 2. #86 Shane Hollingsworth, Lafayette, IN; 3. #71K Jay Drake, Val Verde, CA; 4. #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN; 5. #6R Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids, IA; 6. #19S Patrick Stasa, Kingman, KS; 7. #27B Joe Bob Lee, Cache, OK; 8. #8E Murray Erickson, Odessa, TX

Heat 7: 1. #6 David Gough, Machesney Park, IL; 2. #44D Damion Gardner, Concord, CA; 3. #68 Jonathan Hendrick, Fortville, IN; 4. #40 Jason Leffler, Long Beach, CA; 5. #25A Aaron Ott, York Springs, PA; 6. #04 Cap Henry, Bellevue, OH; 7. #71T Tim Pyle, Portland, OR; 8. #83 Kurt Blackaby, Bentonville, AR

Heat 8: 1. #47 Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA; 2. #2T Thomas Meseraull, San Jose, CA; 3. #11J Justin Melton, Flower Mound, TX; 4. #37M Johnny Rodriguez, Elk Grove, CA; 5. #22 Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 6. #47JR Ron Bach, Santa Paula, CA; 7. #12 Nathan High, Goodyear, AZ; 8. #73E Billy Balog, Chippewa Falls, WI

C Mains (Top 4 in each transfer to back of corresponding B Main)

C Main 1: 1. #89 Cody Darrah, Red Lion, PA; 2. #7 Austin Brown, Millstadt, IL; 3. #11B Scotty Weir, Marion, IN; 4. #5K Jimmy Light, West Springfield, PA; 5. #89JR Tim McVay, Lees Summit, MO; 6. #90 Toni Lutar, Richmond, BC; 7. #19K Klint Angelette, Thibodaux, LA; 8. #71T Tim Pyle, Portland, OR; 9. #0Z Johnny Murdock, Dallas, TX; 10. #61 Chad Pitts, Little Rock, AR; 11. #2R Riley Adair, Tulsa, OK; DNS -- #27B Joe Bob Lee, Cache, OK; #76K Michael Koontz, Bloomington, IN; #50 Ted Kirkpatrick, Waterloo, IL

C Main 2: 1. #8X Donnie Ray Crawford, Broken Arrow, OK; 2. #12 Nathan High, Goodyear, AZ; 3. #87B Stuart Snyder, Lincoln, NE; 4. #99J Eric Todd, Falcon, MO; 5. #19S Patrick Stasa, Kingman, KS; 6. #47JR Ron Bach, Santa Paula, CA; 7. #04 Cap Henry, Bellevue, OH; 8. #73E Billy Balog, Chippewa Falls, WI; 9. #31V Victor Davis, Ventura, CA; 10. #83 Kurt Blackaby, Bentonville, AR; 11. #51X Ronnie Gardner, Norco, CA; 12. #111 Ryan Durst, Lincoln, NE DNS -- #8E Murray Erickson, Odessa, TX

A Qualifiers (Top 16 in combined passing points to A Main; Balance to twin B Mains)

A Qualifier 1: 1. #F5 Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA; 2. #44D Damion Gardner, Concord, CA; 3. #11 Tracy Hines, New Castle, IN; 4. #05H Jesse Hockett, Warsaw, MO; 5. #86 Shane Hollingsworth, Lafayette, IN; 6. #0 Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, ONT; 7. #23T Tanner Swanson, Kingsburg, CA; 8. #4B Ronnie Burke, Jr., League City, TX; 9. #40 Jason Leffler, Long Beach, CA; 10. #68 Jonathan Hendrick, Fortville, IN

A Qualifier 2: 1. #91 Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, WA; 2. #19NZ Brad Mosen, Auckland, NZ; 3. #14AJ Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK; 4. #6 David Gough, Machesney Park, IL; 5. #39I Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA; 6. #71K Jay Drake, Val Verde, CA; 7. #6R Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids, IA; 8. #25K Steve Knepper, Belleville, IL; 9. #37X Jason Grady, Farmington, NM; 10. #75P Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg, IN

A Qualifier 3: 1. #1T Tony Roney, Herculaneum, MO: 2. #91J P.J. Jones, Torrance, CA; 3. #1ST Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 4. #118 Kyle Steffans, St. Charles, MO; 5. #11J Justin Melton, Flower Mound, TX; 6. #75 Billy Pauch Jr., Frenchtown, NJ; 7. #47 Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA; 8. #2X Nic Faas, Huntington Beach, CA; 9. #22 Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 10. #39L Billy Lawhead, Tulsa, OK

A Qualifier 4: 1. #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN; 2. #2T Thomas Meseraull, San Jose, CA; 3. #3 Darren Hagen, Riverside, CA; 4. #37M Johnny Rodriguez, Elk Grove, CA; 5. #71X Henry Clarke, Villa Park, CA; 6. #7E Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 7. #25A Aaron Ott, York Springs, PA; 8. #7D Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 9. #45C Chris Coker, Greenville, TX; 10. #17E Tanner Berryhill, Tulsa, OK

B Mains (Top 4 in each transfer to A Main)

B Main 1: 1. #86 Shane Hollingsworth, Lafayette, IN; 2. #75 Billy Pauch Jr., Frenchtown, NJ; 3. #5K Jimmy Light, West Springfield, PA; 4. #68 Jonathan Hendrick, Fortville, IN; 5. #0 Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, ONT; 6. #7 Austin Brown, Millstadt, IL; 7. #11B Scotty Weir, Marion, IN; 8. #4B Ronnie Burke Jr., League City, TX; 9. #71X Henry Clarke, Villa Park, CA; 10. #75P Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg, IN; 11. #6R Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids, IA; 12. #37X Jason Grady, Farmington, NM; 13. #118 Kyle Steffens, St. Charles, MO; 14. #40 Jason Leffler, Long Beach, CA; 15. #89 Cody Darrah, Red Lion, PA; 16. #7D Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK

B Main 2: 1. #47 Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA; 2. #71K Jay Drake, Val Verde, CA; 3. #7E Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, IN; 4. #8X Donnie Crawford, Broken Arrow, OK; 5. #87B Stuart Snyder, Lincoln, NE; 6. #2X Nic Faas, Huntington Beach, CA; 7. #23T Tanner Swanson, Kingsburg, CA; 8. #17E Tanner Berryhill, Tulsa, OK; 9. #45C Chris Coker, Greenville, TX; 10. #22 Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 11. #12 Nathan High, Goodyear, AZ; 12. #25K Steve Knepper, Belleville, IL; 13. #11J Justin Melton, Flower Mound, TX; 14. #25A Aaron Ott, York Springs, PA; 15. #39L Billy Lawhead, Tulsa, OK DNS -- #99J Eric Todd, Falcon, MO

A Main (25 laps – Top 3 advance to Saturday Night's Main Event): 1. #3 Darren Hagen, Riverside, CA; 2. #1T Tony Roney, Herculaneum, MO; 3. #19NZ Brad Mosen, Auckland, NZ; 4. #1ST Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 5. #39I Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA; 6. #91X Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, WA; 7. #2T Thomas Meseraull, San Jose, CA; 8. #11 Tracy Hines, New Castle, IN; 9. #05H Jesse Hockett, Warsaw, MO; 10. #44D Damion Gardner, Concord, CA; 11. #86 Shane Hollingsworth, Lafayette, IN; 12. #5K Jimmy Light, West Springfield, PA; 13. #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN; 14. #71K Jay Drake, Val Verde, CA; 15. #14AJ Wayne Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK; 16. #75 Billy Pauch, Frenchtown, NJ; 17. #6 David Gough, Machesney Park, IL; 18. #37M Johnny Rodriguez, Elk Grove, CA; 19. #91J P.J. Jones, Torrance, CA; 20. #47 Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA; 21. #68 Jonathan Hendrick, Fortville, IN; 22. #8X Donnie Ray Crawford, Broken Arrow, OK; 23. #F5 Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA; DNS -- #7E Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, IN

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Kevin Swindell Wins Wednesday Night Chili Bowl Qualifier!  

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 13, 2010) – Kevin Swindell snared his first taste of Chili Bowl glory by wiring the field in Wednesday night’s 25-lap River Spirit Casino Qualifying Showdown main event at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway.
 
Swindell, the son of five-time and defending Chili Bowl champion Sammy Swindell, outdueled Cole Whitt for the lead in the opening rounds and led all the way to the checkered flag with Whitt in tow, as tenth-starter Brad Kuhn nipped Tim McCreadie at the stripe for the third and final lock-in position to Saturday night’s 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals 50-lap championship main event.
 
Eighteen-year-old Whitt earned the pole position for the feature event by racing from eighth to win his heat race with a last corner pass and then charging from sixth to win his qualifying race.
 
However, it was front row outside starter Swindell taking advantage of the topside to take command before the caution flew on consecutive occasions with two laps in the books that sent contenders Josh Ford and Bryan Clauson to the tail of the field.
 
The 20-year-old Swindell weathered another pair of cautions after laps five and 14 before racing to the checkered flag aboard the Esslinger-powered John Christner Trucking No. 39 Spike.
 
“Every time we got to traffic and I would of had to start moving around, the yellow came out,” Swindell explained.  “Everything kinda worked out and I managed to limit the mistakes on the cushion.”
 
Whitt kept Swindell in his sights throughout but was never able to mount a serious challenge in the Toyota-powered Keith Kunz Motorsports No. 71 Red Bull Bullet.
 
“I wanted to get into traffic,” Whitt commented.  “But, then again, being at the Chili Bowl second is still great.  Getting in the A Main was our goal tonight.”

Behind the lead duo, the battle for the third and final lock-in position to Saturday night’s 50-lap finale was fierce.  While 2006 Chili Bowl champion Tim McCreadie held the third position much of the way, 2009 USAC National Midget champion Brad Kuhn worked his way past Daniel Adler and A.J. Fike for fourth soon after the lap 14 caution and went to work on McCreadie.
 
Late Model and DIRT Modified ace McCreadie and midgeteer Kuhn traded sliders over the final handful of laps with Kuhn nipping the New Yorker for the show position at the stripe by mere inches.
 
“I knew I had him at the line,” Kuhn commented.
 
McCreadie settled for fourth in the Wilke Pak Motorsports No. 11w, with Brad Sweet rounding out the top five in the Kasey Kahne Racing No. 49.
 
Adler and Fike crossed the stripe sixth and seventh, respectively, with Jonathan Beason charging from 17th to eighth.  National Midget Driver of the Year Bryan Clauson rebounded from his early incident to claim ninth, with Brandon Waelti completing the top ten.
 
McCreadie, Whitt, Fike, Sweet, Clauson, Swindell, Davey Ray and Kuhn topped Wednesday’s heat race action that included 62 competitors, with Whitt, McCreadie, Clauson and Kevin Bayer winning the qualifying races.
 
Mike Spencer and Gary Taylor won the twin “C” Mains, with Beason and Casey Shuman topping the twin “B” Mains.
 
Shane Cockrum and Taylor both got upside down in the second heat race, Nick O’Neal flipped in “C” Main action and Brian Carter turned over as the checkered flag flew on the first “B” Main.  There were no injuries.
 
Four Chili Bowl rookie contenders cracked the feature field, including Tyler Edwards, Cockrum, Dusty Zomer and Australia’s Brad Cox.  Cockrum fared the best in the feature with a 13th place showing after Edwards battled amongst the top five much of the way before losing power and coming to a stop on the track to bring out the lap 14 caution.
 
Action at the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals resumes with Thursday night’s Bully Dog Qualifier, with racing action set to go green at 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Night’s River Spirit Casino Qualifying Showdown Results from the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals:

Heat Races (Top 40 in passing points to A Qualifiers; Balance to twin C Mains)

Heat 1: 1. #11W Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY; 2. #12H Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, CA; 3. #12JR Josh Pelkey, Peoria, AZ; 4. #10P Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 5. #56 Shane Hmiel, Pleasant Garden, NC; 6. #47X Mike Spencer, Temecula, CA; 7. #00 Pete Davis, Pleasanton, CA; 8. #6C Brian Carter

Heat 2: 1. #71 Cole Whitt, Alpine, CA; 2. #27C Tony Elliott, Warsaw, IN; 3. #14C Shane Cockrum, Benton, IL; 4. #91AU Brad Cox, Gunnedah, AUS; 5. #18 Floyd Alvis, San Carlos, CA; 6. #1AU Gary Taylor, Snohomish, WA; 7. #57 Kevin Studley, Plainfield, IN; 8. #33 Scott Fennell, Littleton, CO

Heat 3: 1. #69 A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 2. #73 Josh Ford, Oxnard, CA; 3. #85 Patrick Bruns, Champaign, IL; 4. #19W Wes Gutierrez, San Martin, CA; 5. #401 Daniel Adler, East Carondolet, IL; 6. #31B Bruce Douglass, Ventura, CA; 7. #11C Chett Gehrke, Broken Arrow, OK; 8. #6M Justin Mallo, Cheyenne, WY

Heat 4: 1. #49 Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 2. #60S Wink Schweitzer, Bakersfield, CA; 3. #91S Jeff Stasa, Kingman, KS; 4. #3J Julee Jamison, Highlands Ranch, CO; 5. #7B Joe Boyles, Greenwood, MO; 6, #73I Austin Wheatley, Lake Stevens, WA; 7. #7C Pat Schudy, Springfield, MO; 8. #12J Jay Mounce, Downs, IL

Heat 5: 1. #39B Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN; 2. #15N David Prickett, Fresno, CA; 3. #51S Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria, CA; 4. #36 Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, OK; 5. #14W Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 6. #37T Josh Grady, Farmington, NM; 7. #91 Donnie Trent, Honey Brook, PA; 8. #19T Tanner Mullens, Andale, KS

Heat 6: 1. #39 Kevin Swindell, Germantown, TN; 2. #12K Tyler Edwards, Ventura, CA; 3. #15H Scott Hatton, Roscoe, IL; 4. #75Z Dusty Zomer, Brandon, SD; 5. #11XC Steve Newman, Breckenridge, CO; 6. #44X Forrest Slater, Alabaster, AL; 7. #2G Terry Goodwin, Laveen, AZ; 8. #14 Tony Rossi, Brighton, CO

Heat 7: 1. #2 Davey Ray, Rockford, IL; 2. #07 Randy Hannagan, San Jose, CA; 3. #05S Casey Shuman, Tempe, AZ; 4. #2A J.C. Bland, Springfield, IL; 5. #10 Will Pierce, Lees Summit, MO; 6. #92 Jake Rosario, Guthrie, OK; 7. #19N Nick O'Neal, Wagoner, OK

Heat 8: 1. #17B Brad Kuhn, Avon, IN; 2. #3W Brandon Waelti, Sun Prairie, WI; 3. #91K Kevin Bayer, Bixby, OK; 4. #35T Tyler Robbins, Collinsville, IL; 5. #89H Andrew Hannula, Matawan, NJ; 6. #31E Evan Sewell, Tulsa, OK; 7. #14K Channing Zierolf, Houma, LA

C Mains (Top 4 in each transfer to back of corresponding B Main)

C Main 1: 1. #47X Mike Spencer, Temecula, CA; 2. #73I Austen Wheatley, Lake Stevens, WA; 3. #19T Tanner Mullens, Andale, KS; 4. #6C Brian Carter, Concord, NC; 5. #7C Pat Schudy, Springfield, MO; 6. #00 Pete Davis, Pleasanton, CA; 7. #14 Tony Rossi, Brighton, CO; 8. #18 Floyd Alvis, San Carlos, CA; 9. #44X Forrest Slater, Alabaster, AL; 10. #2G Terry Goodwin, Laveen, AZ; 11. #57 Kevin Studley, Plainfield, IN

C Main 2: 1. #1AU Gary Taylor, Snohomish, WA; 2. #11C Chet Gehrke, Broken Arrow, OK; 3. #31E Evan Sewell, Tulsa, OK; 4. #92 Jake Rosario, Guthrie, OK; 5. #6M Justin Mallo, Cheyenne, WY; 6. #14K Channing Zierolf, Houma, LA; 7. #31B Bruce Douglass, Ventura, CA; 8. #12J Jay Mounce, Downs, IL; 9. #19N Nick O'Neal, Wagoner, OK; 10. #91 Donnie Trent, Honey Brook, PA; DNS -- #33 Scott Fennell, Littleton, CO

A Qualifiers (Top 16 in combined passing points to A Main; Balance to twin B Mains)

A Qualifier 1: 1. #71 Cole Whitt, Alpine, CA; 2. #12JR Josh Pelkey, Peoria, AZ; 3. #3W Brandon Waelti, Sun Prairie, WI; 4. #12K Tyler Edwards, Ventura, CA; 5. #14C Shane Cockrum, Benton, IL; 6. #36 Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, OK; 7. #75Z Dusty Zomer, Brandon, SD; 8. #12H Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, CA; 9. #19W Wes Gutierrez, San Martin, CA; 10. #10P Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA

A Qualifier 2: 1. #11W Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY; 2. #39 Kevin Swindell, Germantown, TN; 3. #49 Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 4. #51S Danny Sheridan, Santa Maria, CA; 5. #05S Casey Shuman, Tempe, AZ; 6. #56 Shane Hmiel, Pleasant Garden, NC; 7. #27C Tony Elliott, Warsaw, IN; 8. #89H Andrew Hannula, Matawan, NJ; 9. #7B Joe Boyles, Greenwood, MO; 10. #11XC Steve Newman, Breckenridge, CO

A Qualifier 3: 1. #39B Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN; 2. #73 Josh Ford, Oxnard, CA; 3. #15H Scott Hatton, Roscoe, IL; 4. #2A J.C. Bland, Springfield, IL; 5. #2 Davey Ray, Rockford, IL; 6. #91AU Gunnedah, AUS; 7. #14W Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 8. #91S Jeff Stasa, Kingman, KS; 9. #60S Wink Schweitzer, Bakersfield, CA; 10. #10 Will Pierce, Lees Summit, MO

A Qualifier 4: 1. #91K Kevin Bayer, Bixby, OK; 2. #401 Daniel Adler, East Carondolet, IL; 3. #17B Brad Kuhn, Avon, IN; 4. #35T Tyler Robbins, Collinsville, IL; 5. #69 A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 6. #15N David Prickett, Fresno, CA; 7. #15N David Prickett, Fresno, CA; 8. #85 Patrick Bruns, Champaign, IL; 9. #37T Josh Grady, Farmington, NM; 10. #07 Randy Hannagan, San Jose, CA

B Mains (Top 4 in each transfer to A Main)

B Main 1: 1. #36 Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, OK; 2. #2 Davey Ray, Rockford, IL; 3. #75Z Dusty Zomer, Brandon, SD; 4. #91AU Brad Cox, Gunnedah, AUS; 6. #19W Wes Gutierrez, San Martin, CA; 7. #47X Mike Spencer, Temecula, CA; 8. #37T Josh Grady, Farmington, NM; 9. #91S Jeff Stasa, Kingman, KS; 10. #85 Patrick Bruns, Champaign, IL; 11. #19T Tanner Mullens, Andale, KS; 12. #10P Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 13. #12H Rick Hendrix, Palmdale, CA; 14. #11XC Steve Newman, Breckenridge, CO; 15. #73I Austen Wheately, Lake Stevens, WA; 16. #6C Brian Carter, Concord, NC

B Main 2: 1. #05S Casey Shuman, Tempe, AZ; 2. #14W Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 3. #7B Joe Boyles, Greenwood, MO; 4. #56 Shane Hmiel, Pleasant Garden, NC; 5. #1AU Gary Taylor, Snohomish, WA; 6. #07 Randy Hannagan, San Jose, CA; 7. #11C Chett Gehrke, Broken Arrow, OK; 8. #27C Tony Elliott, Warsaw, IN; 9. #15N David Prickett, Fresno, CA; 10. #10 Will Pierce, Lees Summit, MO: 11. #3J Julee Jamison, Highlands Ranch, CO; 12. #60S Wink Schweitzer, Bakersfield, CA; 13. #89H Andrew Hannula, Matawan, NJ; 14. #92 Jake Rosario, Guthrie, OK; 15. #2A J.C. Bland, Springfield, IL; 16. #31E Evan Sewell, Tulsa, OK

A Main (25 laps – Top 3 advance to Saturday Night's Main Event): 1. #39 Kevin Swindell, Germantown, TN; 2. #71 Cole Whitt, Alpine, CA; 3. #17B Brad Kuhn, Avon, IN; 4. #11W Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY; 5. #49 Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 6. #401 Daniel Adler, East Carondolet, IL; 7. #69 A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 8. #36 Jonathan Beason, Broken Arrow, OK; 9. #39B Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN; 10. #3W Brandon Waelti, Sun Prairie, WI; 11. #12JR Josh Pelkey, Peoria, AZ; 12. #35T Tyler Robbins, Collinsville, IL; 13. #14C Shane Cockrum, Benton, IL; 14. #05S Casey Shuman, Tempe, AZ; 15. #15H Scott Hatton, Roscoe, IL; 16. #73 Josh Ford, Oxnard, CA; 17. #56 Shane Hmiel, Pleasant Grove, NC; 18. #91K Kevin Bayer, Bixby, OK; 19. #14W Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 20. #7B Joe Boyles, Greenwood, MO; 21. #91AU Brad Cox, Gunnedah, AUS; 22. #75Z Dusty Zomer, Brandon, SD; 23. #12K Tyler Edwards, Ventura, CA; 24. #2 Davey Ray, Rockford, IL

-end-

Crew members go to work on Brad Mosen and Michael Pickens midget in the pits at the Chili Bowl. Photo Copyright Greg Mosen.

Daum Edges Pickens in Tuesday’s Chili Bowl Opener!
 
Brad Loyet Wins Race of Champions…

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 12, 2010) – Eighteen-year-old Zach Daum of Pocahontas, IL, put the finishing touches on a spicy Chili Bowl opener with a dramatic last-corner pass of New Zealand’s Michael Pickens to win Tuesday night’s 25-lap Warren CAT Qualifying “A” Main event at the QuikTrip Center's Tulsa Expo Raceway.

Daum and Pickens swapped the point several times along the way before “The Dauminator” crossed underneath the Kiwi shoe exiting turn four and surged into the lead to take the checkered flag that closed out the first of four qualifying nights at the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals.

Also on Tuesday night, Missouri’s Brad Loyet backed up a 21-win season in 2009 by wiring the field in the 20-lap Vacuworx Race of Champions that featured past event winners and perennial contenders.

While Daum and the 27-year-old Pickens took the top two positions in the nightcap, California teen Shane Golobic snared the third and final lock-in position to Saturday night’s 50-lap Chili Bowl championship main event.

It marks the first time for both Daum and Golobic to crack the Saturday night main event, while Pickens placed sixth in his only previous Chili Bowl outing in 2005.

Just missing out on a guaranteed starting position in Saturday’s finale was Brent Beauchamp, who rallied from 16th to fourth, with Bob East rounding out the top five.

Piloting his father’s (Dan Daum) Esslinger-powered Daum Insurance No. 5d Midget, Daum earned the pole position for the main event by accumulating the most passing points through heat race and qualifying action.

However, it was front row outside starter Cale Conley from West Virginia gunning into the lead at the outset and pacing the opening circuit before a caution flew for second-row starter Dustin Morgan, who looped it in turn two.

Twenty-one laps of wild green flag racing action followed, with Daum racing into the lead on the second round and then Conley finally succumbing to the advances of both sixth-starter Pickens and third-starter Tyler Walker by the seventh lap.

Piloting Simon Longdill’s Synergy V8-powered CRC/Transitainer No. 88nz Aggressor-chassis, Pickens reeled in Daum and began pressuring for the lead as traffic came into play at the midway point.

Pickens raced into the lead to complete the 15th lap only to bobble in turns one and two, allowing Daum to reclaim the point as California’s Walker entered the fray.

The trio diced for the top position over the next several rounds, with Pickens back in front on the 21st lap.  Two laps later, the race’s second and final caution appeared when Walker’s move for the lead resulted in a spin that sent him to the tail along with Dave Darland, who had advanced to sixth after starting 17th.

With just three laps remaining, Pickens continued to work the high side of the track as Daum kept the pressure on.  And, when Pickens got the slightest bit loose exiting turn four with the checkered flag in sight, Daum pounced on the opportunity to snare the win.

Holding down fourth until Walker’s spin, Golobic crossed the stripe a close third in the Gaerte-powered Corey Tucker Racing-BCI Country Builders No. 39c Spike.

Beauchamp’s rally from eight rows deep aboard Cruz Pedregon’s Esslinger-powered Snap-On/Sioux City Truck No. 75b Spike came up one position short in fourth, with Bobby East advancing a handful of positions in the Klatt Enterprises Ford-powered No. 4 Beast.

Steve Buckwalter rebounded from a wild qualifying race flip in turn two to race from 19th to sixth in the main event, with Oklahoma’s Brady Bacon climbing from 15th to seventh.  Matt Streeter was eighth, with Chili Bowl veteran David Camfield, Jr., and 20th-starting Missouri teen Andrew Felker completing the top ten.

Pickens, Buckwalter, Darland, Walker, Greg Bragg, Streeter, Kevin Ramey and Tim Crawley topped heat race action for Tuesday night’s 63 competitors, with Billy Wease, Conley, Joey Moughan and East winning the qualifying races.

Jon Stanbrough and Ray Allen Kulhanek won the twin “C” Mains, with Darland and R.J. Johnson victorious in the twin “B” Mains.  Stanbrough had rallied through his “B” Main to a transfer position in third only to be sent to the tail of the field after hitting the cone on a lap 13 restart in the 15-lapper. 

Ricky Williams flipped in heat race action, with Curtis Bailey and Zach Cougill both getting upside down in the “C” Mains.  Cole Smith, Buckwalter and Felker each flipped on consecutive attempts to start the second qualifying race, with Chad Frewaldt taking a wild turn two tumble in the third qualifier.  Sean-Mikael Dodenhoff, Harris Brooks, Danny Burke and Kevin Ramey all flipped in “B” Main action.

California’s Keith Bloom was the only Chili Bowl rookie contender to make Tuesday night’s feature cut.  Bloom took the checkered flag 16th in a race that had 22 of 24 starters completing the distance.  Wease was unable to make the call due to mechanical issues, while Conley’s front row start was overshadowed by a DNF.

Fifteen drivers drew for position in the Vacuworx Race of Champions before Brad Loyet, leaving him with the number one position for the start.  It was all the 21-year-old from Sunset Hills, MO, needed, as he gunned into the lead at the outset and led all the way in the Esslinger-powered Beaver Stripes & Graphics No. 05 Spike.

USAC Midget champion Brad Kuhn closed the gap in the final rounds but fell just short of mounting a serious charge, with Jay Drake, Cole Whitt and Garrett Hansen rounding out the top five.

Sammy Swindell’s Chili Bowl began on a somewhat inauspicious note after sweeping the 2009 edition of the event.  Last year’s Race of Champions winner drew the 14th starting position among the 16-car field and then got upside down in turn four on the third lap after Gary Taylor and Tracy Hines got together.

Action at the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals continues with Wednesday night’s River Spirit Casino Qualifying Showdown firing off at 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday Night’s Warren CAT Qualifier Results from the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals:

Heat Races (Top 40 in passing points to A Qualifiers; Balance to twin C Mains)

Heat 1: 1. #88NZ Michael Pickens, Auckland, NZ; 2. #86c David Camfield Jr., Decatur, IL; 3. #16 Jimmy Winkler, Parkville, MO; 4. #1TX Paul White, Temple, TX; 5. #99 Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK; 6. #99K Kyle Rayburn, Pueblo, CO; 7. #5M Zach Cougill, Greenwood, IN; 8. #7RS Matt Gilbert, Shawnee, KS

Heat 2: 1. #25 Steve Buckwalter, Royersford, PA; 2. #5D Zach Daum, Pocahontas, IL; 3. #39C Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA; 4. #13X Andrew Elson, Carmel, IN; 5. #8 Randi Pankratz, Atascadero, CA; 6. #97 Jon Stanbrough, Avon, IN; 7. #67H Harris Brooks, Houston, TX; 8. #15J Jeff Wimmenauer, New Whiteland, IN

Heat 3: 1. #4X Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN; 2. #78 Nick Wean, Phillipsburg, NJ; 3. #27S Andy Shouse, Oklahoma City, OK; 4. #15B Danny Burke, Houston, TX; 5. #75B Brent Beauchamp, Fairland, IN; 6. #5* Ray Allen Kulhanek, Magnolia, TX; 7. #10X Alissa Geving, Penngrove, CA; 8. #27 Brock Lemley, Bellingham, WA

Heat 4: 1. #32 Tyler Walker, Encino, CA; 2. #92W Billy Wease, Noblesville, IN; 3. #3C Cale Conley, Vienna, WV; 4. #11S Chris Sheil, Englewood, CO; 5. #6D Lex Burritt, Redding, CT; 6. #16F Aaron Fiscus, Sun Prairie, WI; 7. #40H Andy Huston, Roseville, IL DNS – #85 Matt Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK

Heat 5: 1. #0X Gregg Bragg, Visalia, CA; 2. #76 Kellen Conover, Sumner, IL; 3. #51J R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, AZ; 4. #73S Cole Smith, Plainfield, IN; 5. #54 Evan Pardo, Gatesville, TX; 6. #82 Eric Johnson, Rockford, IL; 7. #35M Matt Sherrell, Owasso, OK: 8. #11X Ricky Williams, Clinton, OH

Heat 6: 1. #14JR Matt Streeter, Galt, CA; 2. #6B Keith Bloom, Anderson, CA; 3. #19 Colby Copeland, Roseville, CA; 4. #7S Shannon McQueen, Bakersfield, CA; 5. #4 Bobby East, Brownsburg, IN; 6. #6E Rafe Essary, Stillwell, OK: 7. #60 Eric Sandage, Alexander, AR; 8. #36F Frank Flud, Broken Arrow, OK

Heat 7: 1. #7M Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 2. #4F Chad Frewaldt, Kansas City, KS; 3. #24 Rick Eckert, York, PA; 4. #11A Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, MO; 5. #05L Danny Lasoski, Higginsville, MO; 6. #11H Garrett Hood, Concordia, KS; 7. #17K Austin Mero, Kingsburg, CA; 8. #73X Greg Edenholm, Malibu, CA

Heat 8: 1. #05C Tim Crawley, Benton, AR; 2. #55B Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL; 3. #U1 Dustin Morgan, Tulsa, OK; 4. #15D Andrew Deal, Caney, KS; 5. #23 Tadd Holliman, Beaver Lake, NE; 6. #9D Sean-Mikael Dodenhoff, Bakersfield, CA; 7. #56X Curtis Bailey, Bartlesville, OK

C Mains (Top 4 in each transfer to back of corresponding B Main)

C Main 1: 1. #97 Jon Stanbrough, Avon, IN; 2. #16F Aaron Fiscus, Sun Prairie, WI; 3. #9D Sean-Mikael Dodenhoff, Bakersfield, CA; 4. #67H Harris Brooks, Houston, TX; 5. #11H Garrett Hood, Concordia, KS; 6. #36F Frank Flud, Broken Arrow, OK; 7. #17K Austin Mero, Kingsburg, CA; 8. #85J Matt Johnston, Oklahoma City, OK; 9. #15J Jeff Wimmenauer, New Whiteland, IN; 10. #82 Eric Johnson, Rockford, IL; 11. #56X Curtis Bailey, Bartlesville, OK. DNS -- #40H Andy Huston, Roseville, IL

C Main 2: 1. #5* Ray Allen Kulhanek, Magnolia, TX; 2. #35M Matt Sherrell, Owasso, OK; 3. #6D Lex Burritt, Redding, CT; 4. #10X Alissa Geving, Penngrove, CA; 5. #60 Eric Sandage, Alexander, AR; 6. #73X Greg Edenholm, Malibu, CA; 7. #7RS Matt Gilbert, Shawnee, KS; 8. #5M Zach Cougill, Greenwood, IN; 9. #6E Rafe Essary, Stillwell, OK: 10. #11X Ricky Williams, Clifton, OH; 11. #27 Brock Lemley, Bellingham, WA

A Qualifiers (Top 16 in combined passing points to A Main; Balance to twin B Mains)

A Qualifier 1: 1. #92W Billy Wease, Noblesville, IN; 2. #5D Zach Daum, Pocahontas, IL; 3. #14JR Matt Streeter, Galt, CA; 4. #15B Danny Burke, Houston, TX; 5. #4X Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN; 6. #51J R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, AZ; 7. #16 Jimmy Winkler, Parkville, MO; 8. #11S Chris Sheil, Englewood, CO; 9. #99K Kyle Rayburn, Pueblo, CO; 10. #15D Andrew Deal, Caney, KS

A Qualifier 2: 1. #3C Cale Conley, Vienna, WV; 2. #76 Kellen Conover, Sumner, IL; 3. #39C Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA; 4. #99 Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK; 5, #7M Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 6. #0X Greg Bragg, Visalia, CA; 7. #8 Randi Pankratz, Atascadero, CA; 8. #11A Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, MO; 9. #25 Steve Buckwalter, Royersford, PA; 10. #73S Cole Smith, Plainfield, IN

A Qualifier 3: 1. #55B Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL; 2. #86C David Camfield, Jr., Decatur, IL; 3. #32 Tyler Walker, Encino, CA; 4. #75B Brent Beauchamp, Fairland, IN; 5. #05C Tim Crawley, Benton, AR; 6. #24 Rick Eckert, York, PA; 7. #27S Andy Shouse, Oklahoma, City, OK; 8. #7S Shannon McQueen, Bakersfield, CA; 9. #54 Evan Pardo, Gatesville, TX; 10. #4F Chad Frewaldt, Kansas City, KS

A Qualifier 4: 1. #4 Bobby East, Brownsburg, IN; 2. #U1 Dustin Morgan, Tulsa, OK; 3. #88NZ Michael Pickens, Auckland, NZ; 4. #78 Nick Wean, Phillipsburg, NJ; 5. #6B Keith Bloom, Anderson, CA; 6. #19 Colby Copeland, Roseville, CA; 7. #1TX Paul White, Temple, TX; 8. #05L Danny Lasoski, Higginsville, MO; 9. #13X Andrew Elson, Carmel, IN; 10. #23 Tadd Holliman, Beaver Lake, NE

B Mains (Top 4 in each transfer to A Main)

B Main 1: 1. #4X Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN; 2. #25 Steve Buckwalter, Royersford, PA; 3. #19 Colby Copeland, Roseville, CA; 4. #0X Greg Bragg, Visalia, CA; 5. #1TX Paul White, Temple, TX; 6. #05L Danny Lasoski, Higginsville, MO; 7. #78 Nick Wean, Phillipsburg, NJ; 8. #16 Jimmy Winkler, Parkville, MO; 9. #16F Aaron Fiscus, Sun Prairie, WI; 10. #11S Chris Sheil, Englewood, CO; 11. #99K Kyle Rayburn, Pueblo, CO; 12. #97 Jon Stanbrough, Avon, IN; 13. #67H Harris Brooks, Houston, TX; 14. #9D Sean-Mikael Dodenhoff, Bakersfield, CA; 15. #13X Andrew Elson, Carmel, IN; 16. #23 Tadd Holliman, Beaver Lake, NE

B Main 2: 1. #51J R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, AZ; 2. #11A Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, MO; 3. #8 Randi Pankratz, Atascadero, CA; 4. #24 Rick Eckert, York, PA; 5. #27 Andy Shouse, Oklahoma City, OK; 6. #5* Ray Allen Kulhanek; 7. #54 Evan Pardo, Gatesville, TX; 8. #7S Shannon McQueen, Bakersfield, CA; 9. #73S Cole Smith, Plainfield, IN; 10. #15D Andrew Deal, Caney, KS; 11. #35M Matt Sherrell, Owasso, OK; 12. #10X Alissa Geving, Penngrove, CA; 13. #6D Lex Burritt, Redding, CT; 14. #7M Kevin Ramey, Fort Worth, TX; 15. #15B Danny Burke, Houston, TX; DNS – Chad Frewaldt, Kansas City, KS

Vacuworx Chili Bowl Race of Champions (20 Laps): 1. #05 Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO; 2. #17B Brad Kuhn, Avon, IN; 3. #71K Jay Drake, Val Verde, CA; 4. #71 Cole Whitt, Alpine, CA; 5. #47 Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA; 6. #15H Scott Hatton, Roscoe, IL; 7. #91X Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, WA; 8. #21K Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA; 9. #57B Johnny Heydenreich, Indianapolis, IN; 10. #1AU Gary Taylor, Snohomish, WA; 11. #44D Damion Gardner, Concord, CA; 12. #39B Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN; 13. #11W Tim McCreadie, Watertown, NY; 14. #40 Jason Leffler, Long Beach, CA; 15. #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN; 16. #11 Tracy Hines, New Castle, IN

A Main (25 laps – Top 3 advance to Saturday Night's Main Event): 1. #5D Zach Daum, Pocahontas, IL; 2. #88NZ Michael Pickens, Auckland, NZ; 3. #39C Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA; 4. #75B Brent Beauchamp, Fairland, IN; 5. #4 Bobby East, Brownsburg, IN; 6. #25 Steve Buckwalter, Royersford, PA; 7. #99 Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK; 8. #14JR Matt Streeter, Galt, CA; 9. #86C David Camfield Jr., Decatur, IL; 10. #11A Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, MO; 11. #05C Tim Crawley, Benton, AR; 12. #24 Rick Eckert, York, PA; 13. #8 Randi Pankratz, Atascadero, CA; 14. #51J R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, AZ; 15. #4X Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN; 16. #6B Keith Bloom, Anderson, CA; 17. #32 Tyler Walker, Encino, CA; 18. #55B Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL; 19. #U1 Dustin Morgan, Tulsa, OK; 20. #19 Colby Copeland, Roseville, CA; 21. #76 Kellen Conover, Sumner, IL; 22. #0X Greg Bragg, Visalia, CA; 23. #3C Cale Conley, Vienna, WV; DNS — #92W Billy Wease, Noblesville, IN

-end-