Swindell Sweeps the Bowl

Youngest winner in history of Chili Bowl

 Written By: Matt "Night" Rider

TULSA, OK.- Another action-packed weekend has drawn to an end after 20 year old Germantown, TN. racer Kevin Swindell took the checkers, to become the youngest racer to win the Chili Bowl A-Main. Alpine, CA. racer Cole Whitt took a strong second place showing, while last year's Chili Bowl Champion Sammy Swindell took third place honors.Tuscon racer Jerry Coons Jr. took the fourth place finishing spot, while Canton, Ill. native Chris Windom rounded out the top five finishers in the 24th annual Chili Bowl Nationals A-Main event.

Other notable finishers include Kokomo, IN. racer Shane Cottle in sixth, former Chili Bowl Champion Cory Kruseman finished eighth, while Grassland Valley, CA. native Brad Sweet took the checkers in nineth.

Riverside, CA racer Darren Hagan finished the A-Main in sixteenth. Brownsburg, IN. native Bobby East took a seventeenth place finish, while Enumclaw, WA. native and Nascar superstar Kasey Kahne took the checkers with an eighteenth place finish.

Here is how the qualifying broke down over the very exciting week of racing. The top three finishers in the A-Main from each Qualifying Night advanced to Saturday's A-Main. 

On Tuesday, January 12th, Zach Daum (Pocahontas, IL) took the checkers, winning the main event during Tuesday's Warren Cat "Qualifying" night. New Zealand racer Michael Pickens took second in Tuesday's A-Main Qualifier, while third went to Fremont, CA. native Shane Golobic.

Missouri racer Brad Loyet took the win in Tuesday evening's "Race of Champions". Avon, IN.'s Brad Kuhn finished in second, while California native Jay Drake took third place honors.

Eventual 2010 Chili Bowl Nationals Champion Kevin Swindell took the victory in Wednesday's "River Spirit Casino" Qualifying Night A-Main. Advancing onto Saturday night's A-Main were Alpine, CA racer Cole Whitt and Avon, IN. native Brad Kuhn.

Riverside, CA. racer Darren Hagan picked up the win in Thursday's "Bully Dog" Qualifying Night A-Main.  Advancing to Saturday's A-Main along with Hagan were Herculaneum, MO. racer Tony Roney and Auckland , New Zealand native Brad Mosen.


Multiple Chili Bowl Champion Cory Kruseman won the A-Main during Friday's "E-3 Spark Plugs" Qualifying Night. Advancing to Saturday's A-Main with Kruseman were Tuczon, Arizona's Jerry Coons Jr. and Indianapolis, IN. native Danny Stratton.

Racers to Watch For During the 2010 Chili Bowl Nationals

Many racers to watch for in 2010
Written By: Matt "Night" Rider

TULSA, OK.- There are many racers to watch for in the 24th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals. Here are some of the few drivers you should have an eye on this week.

No.1 Sammy Swindell: "Sammy is the defending Champion of the Chili Bowl Nationals. Momentum is definitely on Sammy's side, and he knows what it takes to win at the Chili Bowl. Sammy will look to hit his marks and take another trip to victory lane at this year's Chili Bowl Nationals."

Sammy will be racing for in Tuesday night's Vacuworx International Race of Champions. Then Swindell will race for a qualifying spot in the 2010 Chili Bowl Nationals on Thursday night, during the "Bully Dog Qualifying Night" activities.

   No. 39b Bryan Clauson: "Bryan won a lot in 2009 and he will be back to go after this year's Chili Bowl National's Championship. This former Nascar Nationwide racer is quickly making a name for himself. Last year, Bryan finished second (3 points behind) Levi Jones for the 2009 Indiana Sprint Week title. Then Clauson went on a tear, winning at almost everywhere he raced, including Gas City (I-69) Speedway and the Night before the 500 at O'reilly Raceway Park. Look for Bryan to be a strong competitor in his No. 39b midget during the 24th annual Chili Bowl Nationals.

Bryan will take part in the qualifying race during the "River Spirit Casino Qualifying Night" on Wednesday, January 13th.

No. 21k Cory Kruseman: "Cory will look to win the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals for the third time in recent years (2000, 2004 winner). Cory knows how to get around the Chili Bowl Nationals course, and knows the right set up it takes to win another Golden Drillers Trophy."

Cory is racing in the Vacuworx International Race of Champions on Tuesday night. Then Cory will look to put his No. 21k midget on Friday night during the "E3 Spark Plugs Qualifying Night."

No. 2b Levi Jones: "After an impressive 2009 season that saw him win the overall season USAC Sprint Car Championship. Jones won repeated as the Indiana Sprint Week Champion in 2009. Levi will go for the Golden Driller Trophy in 2010."

Levi will race in the qualifying race on Friday night's "E3 Spark Plugs Qualifying Night."

No. 1st Shane Cottle: Shane comes to the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals after winning the Gas City (I-69) Speedway overall track Championship.  This Kokomo native won the 2008 Little 500 Champion, and will look to take a trip to victory lane, and add the famous Drillers Trophy to his trophy case."

Cottle will race in Thursday night's "Bully Dog Qualifying Night" race for a spot in this year's Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals.

 No. 4x Dave Darland: "Dave is a legend in USAC Sprints and he is pretty much the same in midget. Dave is in some ways like Tony Stewart, in that Dave can race about anything. From dirt to asphalt, Dave can flat out race. Look for Darland to be a strong contender in the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals this week."

Dave will start his climb to the Driller's Trophy on Tuesday night during the "Warren CAT Qualifying Night."

No. 71 Cole Whitt: "Cole Whitt made his debut at the 2008 Chili Bowl Nationals. That race he finished 13th. The next year he came back and finished 8th in the Chili Bowl Nationals. This will be his third Chili Bowl Nationals, and Cole hopes it's third times a charm. Ever since his debut at the Chili Bowl, Whitt has been winning Sprint Car features all over. From Kokomo Speedway to the dirt tracks of California, Cole have traveled all over the country. Finishing third in the USAC Sprint Car series points standing last season, Whitt will look to take the Golden Drillers Trophy home with him to start the 2010 campaign."

Whitt will be on the starting grid for Tuesday night's Vacuworx International Race of Champions. Then Cole will race in the qualifying race during the "River Spirit Casino Qualifying Night" on Wednesday, January 13th.

No. 67k Kasey Kahne: "After an impressive season in the Nascar Sprint Cup Series, Kasey returns to the Chili Bowl Nationals with his eyes set on capturing the famous Golden Driller's Trophy."

Kasey will take his first steps toward the famous Golden Driller's Trophy on Thursday's
"Bully Dog Qualifying Night."

No. 9 Joey Saldana: "The Brownsburg Bullet" Joey Saldana makes his debut at the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals in his famous No. 9. In 2009, Saldana won an impressive 20 A-Main features in the No. 9 World of Outlaws for Kasey Kahne Racing. Saldana has shown he can turn on the after burners, so watch for Saldana to have a good debut in his first trip to the Chili Bowl Nationals."

Joey will race in the qualifying race on Friday, January 15th "E3 Spark Plugs Qualifying Night."

No. 49 Brad Sweet: "After a succesful 2009 campaign, Sweet returns to the Chili Bowl Nationals, hoping for a sweet showing that lands him in victory lane on Saturday, January 16th."

Sweet will compete in the qualifying race during the "River Spirit Casino Qualifying Night" on Wednesday, January 13th.

This will be one of the most completive Chili Bowl Nationals of late. Anyone can win, and everyone will be veying for the famous Driller's Trophy. Catch all the action and up to date information on the 24th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals on "Through the Gears."

The 2010 Chili Bowl Nationals Preview

Written By: Matt "Night" Rider

TULSA, OK.- The 2010 Chili Bowl Nationals are fastly approaching. Drivers are in Tulsa, tuning their midget sprints for the first big race week of the year.

Over 250 midget sprint entries have been collected over the past few weeks and month leading up to the 24th annual Chili Bowl Nationals presented by Lucas Oil and General Tire. The schedule breaks down like this. On Tuesday, January 12th, the qualifying starts with the Warren CAT Qualifying Night. Added to the mix on Tuesday night, the Vacuworx International Race of Champions will be run, to see where everyone stacks up qualifying wise. With the likes of Sammy Swindell, Cole Whitt, and Bryan Clauson, the Vacuworx International Race of Champions will be one to remember leading up to the 24th annual Chili Bowl Nationals next Saturday.

On Wedneday night, January 13th, it will be the "River Spirit Casino Qualifying Night". Kasey Kahne racer Brad Sweet is set to battle for a qualifying spot in Wednesday night's qualifying race. Qualifying continues on Thursday night, January 14th, with the "Bully Dog Qualfying Night." You won't want to miss Thursday night's qualifying action, as Kasey Kahne will try to put his No. 67k midget in Saturday night's A-Main feature. Darren Hagan, Tracy Hines and Shane "The Throttle" Cottle will also vey for a qualifying spot on Thursday night.

On Friday, January 15th, will be the "E3 Spark Plugs Qualfiying Night." USAC Sprint Champion Levi Jones will be racing for a spot in Saturday night's A-Main. Jerry Coons Jr. and World of Outlaws superstar Joey Saldana will be racing on Friday night for a qualifying slot in the 24th Chili Bowl Nationals.

On Saturday, January 16th, it will be the Rockstar Energy Drink Championship Satrday.

The best dirt racers in the world will put their talents on display for a shot to be crown as the 24th Chili Bowl Nationals Champion and walk away with the coveted Golden Driller Trophy. I wish all the drivers and crews the best of luck in their pursuit of the Golden Driller Trophy.

Schatz Takes Grand Prix Victory, Smoke Finishes 7th

Schatz, Stewart finish top 5 on Monday night
Written By: Matt "Night" Rider

SYNDEY, AUSTRALIA- After completing another impressive World of Outlaws Championship, his fourth of his career, Donny Schatz (Left in No. 15) accompanied Tony Stewart on a trip down under in Australia. The first race was the Valvoline Sprint Car Grand Prix, live from Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway in Syndey.


Schatz found victory lane, winning the Valvoline Sprint Car Grand Prix on Sunday night, while Tony Stewart worked his way up to finish seventh. On Monday night, Schatz came back with an impressive second place showing, while Smoke came home with a fourth place finish in the Hogs Breath Café International Sprint Car race.

Now, the two will head back to Parramatta City Raceway on to race the Scott Daley Memorial tonight and tomorrow night. Stewart and Schatz will race against great competition this weekend in Australia. American racers O'Reilly All Star racer Tim Shaffer will be on hand for the race, along with Jason Johnson. It's shaping up to be a good race field. Australian racing superstars  Robbie Farr, Brooke Tatnell, and Max Demesny will be on the starting line, when the green flag drops tonight.

Look for further coverage of Schatz and Stewart as they race in Australia. A recap of the 2010 Chili Bowl and the Polar Bear 150 from Rockingham is also on the agenda for coverage from "Through the Gears".