Racers To Watch for in the 2011 Chili Bowl Nationals

Written By: Matt "Night" Rider
25th Annual Chili Bowl Racer Entry credited to: http://www.chilibowl.com/2011chilibowlentries.asp
25th Annual Chili Bowl Logo credited to: http://www.boltedspinedesigns.com/BOAT_LETTERING.php

TULSA, OK- Well race fans, it's that time again. The haulers have made their way to Tulsa, OK. for the always exciting week leading up to the running of the 25th annual Chili Bowl Nationals (Presented by General Tire) this coming Saturday night! The racers still have to qualify, but here is a few names to look for, heading into the 2011 Chili Bowl Nationals.

The first racer to look for this week is #0 Jerry Coons Jr. This Tucson, AZ. driver is always a front runner on dirt. He knows his way around dirt ovals. I expect Coons Jr. (Pictured Right) to be up with the front runners very race he's in during the 2011 Chili Bowl Nationals.

My next racer to watch out for is a dirt track legend. He is the best, if not one of the best to ever strap into a sprint car. #1 "Slammin" Sammy Swindell (Pictured Left), from Germantown, TN. will be on the move. Last year, he made a charge from 6th all the way up to 2nd place to seal up a Son-Father 1,2 finish in last year's Chili Bowl A-Main. Look for the same, as "Slammin'" Sammy Swindell looks to add another win to an already Hall-of-Fame dirt track career!

Kokomo, IN. native Shane "The Throttle" Cottle returns to the Chili Bowl with his eyes still set on the prize. He races the famous red #10E 410 sprint car locally at the Gas City Speedway and the Kokomo Speedway. Shane (Pictured Right) is always a favorite coming in. He is a past champion of the Little 500. He can race almost any type of sprint on dirt, and is always competitive. Look for Shane to pilot the #1st midget to his first Chili Bowl A-Main victory in 2011!

This Brownsburg, IN. racer is no stranger to being up front in big races. Bobby East is always racing with the front runners. He has a solid dirt track racing career, coming into the 2011 Chili Bowl Nationals! He is very good, when racing in the USAC Silver Crown and Midget divisions. Look for Bobby East (Pictured Left) to take his #4e up to the front of the charts, and battle for another big win this week at the Chili Bowl Nationals!

Lincoln, IN. native Dave Darland is another USAC legend to watch out for during the 25th Chili Bowl Nationals. He is a 4-time Indiana Sprint Week Champion. He is always a favorite, coming into the big races. It doesn't matter where you race, if it is a dirt track, "Double D" will be up front battling for the win. Look for "Double D" (Pictured Right) to try and take the #4x to victory lane, and add a Chili Bowl Nationals Champion to his Hall-of-Fame resume!

This Campbell, CA. native has always been around racing. Having had 13 family members in and around the Major Leagues of dirt track, #8b Bud Kaeding (Pictured Lower Left) is a strong favorite coming into the Chili Bowl Nationals. If there's a will, there's a way. Kaeding is no stranger to big time racing. He has the crew and the motor to get to the front and stay there. Look for Kaeding to make his way to the front during the 2011 Chili Bowl Nationals!

Canton, IL. racer #17 Chris Windom is coming off his 2010 Championship season at the Kokomo Speedway in the 410 sprint car division. He has a lot of experience, coming into this year's Chili Bowl Nationals. Look for "The Bear" (Pictured Right) to be up front this week at the Chili Bowl!

"The Cruiser" Cory Kruseman is a legend in dirt track racing. He is a 3-time Champion of the Chili Bowl, so he knows when to take his racing to another level. Look for the #21k to make a big impact this week at the 2011 Chili Bowl Nationals! Kruseman (Pictured Left) is no stranger to the spotlight of big races. Kruseman is just one of the many dirt track legends that will be in the hunt for this year's Chili Bowl Nationals crown!

Last year, Germantown, TN. native Kevin Swindell made history, becoming the youngest to ever win the Chili Bowl Nationals. The Swindell family is very familiar with the Chili Bowl Nationals dirt track. Look for Kevin (Pictured Right) to build on his Chili Bowl success from last year. Swindell will try to make it two-in-a-row at this year's Chili Bowl Nationals!

Noblesville, IN. native "The Bullet" Bryan Clauson is almost unstoppable on dirt. I have had the awesome privilege of covering Clauson. He reminds me of Tony Stewart, when he races dirt. Clauson has a next level, when he races on dirt in the big races around the country. Clauson (Pictured Left) can drop the hammer, and make his way to the front in a hurry. He is a favorite heading into any dirt track venue.  Look for #39c Clauson to set the quick time, and stay up front in the 2011 Chili Bowl Nationals!

Grassland Valley, CA. racer Brad Sweet (Pictured Right) is no stranger to big time racing. Sweet has had major success, racing in the USAC midget divisions. He knows his way around the Chili Bowl Nationals track. With the backing from Kasey Kahne Racing, look for #49x Sweet to have another great showing this year in Tulsa.

Avon, IN. racer Jon Stanbrough is a local legend. Stanbrough is coming off an impressive showing at the 2010 Indiana Sprint Week. He dominated the 2010 ISW, winning three times en route to his 2010 ISW crown.  He knows how to get to the front fast, and stay there. Look for #51x Stanbrough (Pictured Left) to add another mark to an already remarkable dirt track career in this year's running of the 2011 Chili Bowl Nationals!

Alpine, CA. racer Cole Whitt made a major impact, during his time racing 410 sprints and midgets in the differing USAC divisions. Whitt put together a solid run,  finishing 3rd last year at the Chili Bowl Nationals. Now, Whitt has made his jump to the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He will run the Nationwide Series next year. Whitt (Pictured Right) has returned to the Chili Bowl Nationals, in search of his first win. Look for #71 Cole Whitt to make an impact this week in the 2011 Chili Bowl Nationals!

The final racer I want to focus on is Phoenix, AZ. native Chad Boat. Boat is the son of former IRL star Billy Boat. Chad has had success in both the USAC 410 Sprint and Midget divisions. Boat is set to make his return to the Chili Bowl Nationals, in search of his first crown! Look for Boat (Pictured Left) to make his way to the front and stay there this week in the 2011 Chili Bowl!

I want to wish all the competitors running in the 2011 Chili Bowl Nationals good luck on behalf of "Through The Gears". You guys be safe out there in Tulsa! You can catch all the action from the 2011 Chili Bowl Nationals right here on "Through The Gears"! Look for an update from Tulsa, each night, starting tomorrow (Tuesday) night from the 2011 Chili Bowl Nationals, only on "Through The Gears"! Thank you and God Bless!