2007 Chili Bowl adds Tuesday pre-qualifier

[rebelracewriter]

Tuesday Night Pre-Qualifier Added to Chili Bowl Midget Nationals

 

 

 

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (November 2, 2006) – With a record 260 competitors taking part in the 20th Annual O'Reilly Chili Bowl Midget Nationals to kick off the 2006 racing season and even more expected this coming January, a Tuesday night "Pre-Qualifier" event has been added to the 21st Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals at Tulsa Expo Raceway.

 

 

 

The Tuesday night Pre-Qualifier will take place after the Tuesday afternoon practice on January 9, 2007. The traditional O'Reilly Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Qualifying nights will follow on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with the Chili Bowl championship features set for Saturday, January 13, 2007.

 

 

 

"To maintain the quality of the O'Reilly Chili Bowl Nationals Qualifying Night events and do so within our given time constraints, we can only run about 65 to 75 cars maximum per night to provide the quality of show our paying fans are accustomed to," commented Chili Bowl co-promoter Emmett Hahn. "With the entry count continuing to increase, the only way we can accommodate all the racers and give each of them their due time on the track is to add the Tuesday night Pre-Qualifier."

 

 

 

Competitors tabbed for the Tuesday night Pre-Qualifier will consist primarily of newcomers, or relative newcomers, to the Chili Bowl Nationals or auto racing in general.

 

 

 

Several guidelines have been established to determine who will be required to compete in the Pre-Qualifier. Those exempt from the Pre-Qualifier will include drivers that qualified for an "F" Feature or better in the 2006 Chili Bowl Nationals, drivers with five or more years of Chili Bowl racing experience and drivers that rank among the top ten with a major, recognized sanctioning body or with equivalent experience.

 

 

 

It is anticipated that approximately 200 entries will be assigned to one of three Qualifying nights, with the balance of the entries battling for a Qualifying night berth by way of the Pre-Qualifier. The top 15 finishers in the Pre-Qualifier "A" Feature will transfer to the traditional Qualifying night events. The balance of the Pre-Qualifier field will fill out Saturday afternoon's early championship feature events.

 

 

 

"This will actually give some of the lesser-known drivers and newcomers a chance to enjoy some of the spotlight at the Chili Bowl Nationals instead of being completely overshadowed among the Tony Stewart's and Kasey Kahne's of the event," Chili Bowl co-promoter Lanny Edwards commented.

 

 

 

Open seating will be available for the Tuesday night Pre-Qualifier at just $20 per person.

 

 

 

On January 14, 2006, New York's Tim McCreadie added his name to the elite list of O'Reilly Chili Bowl champions by taking the final checkered flag in the 20th running of the prestigious event at Tulsa Expo Raceway, becoming the first winner in Chili Bowl history to come from a racing background outside the open wheel Sprint Car or Midget ranks.

 

 

 

McCreadie joined a prestigious list of Chili Bowl Nationals winners that includes Sammy Swindell (1998, 1996, 1992 and 1989), Cory Kruseman (2004 and 2000), Dan Boorse (2003 and 1999), Tracy Hines (2005), Tony Stewart (2002), Jay Drake (2001), Billy Boat (1997), Donnie Beechler (1995), Andy Hillenburg (1994), Dave Blaney (1993), Lealand McSpadden (1991), Jon Heydenreich (1990), Scott Hatton (1988) and Rich Vogler (1987).

 

 

 

While no tickets remain for the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday night portions of the 21st Annual O'Reilly Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, advance discount pit vouchers are available for all for nights for just $150.

 

 

 

Additional information regarding the O’Reilly Chili Bowl Midget Nationals is available at www.chilibowl.com or by calling 918-838-3777.