Christopher Bell Wires Chili Bowl Race Of Champions

TULSA, Okla. – In his return to the SageNet Center this month, Christopher Bell has looked every bit like the driver who won three straight Chili Bowl Golden Drillers from 2017-’19, and that reminder was especially true Monday during the O’Reilly Auto Parts Invitational Race of Champions.

After starting from the pole in the annual invitation-only exhibition race, Bell easily led all 25 laps around Tulsa Expo Raceway for his third Race of Champions title, following prior wins in 2020 and 2021.

He pulled away from the rest of the 19-car field early and then held off Daison Pursley following a late restart, ultimately taking the checkered flag in front by 1.294 seconds.

It was a dominant tune-up ahead of Bell’s preliminary night on Thursday, when he’ll begin his quest for a fourth Chili Bowl Nationals powered by NOS Energy Drink victory in the event’s 39th edition.

“I freaking love this place, man!” said a jubilant Bell after climbing from his No. 71W Rheem-sponsored, Keith Kunz Motorsports-prepared Lynk Chassis. “It is the greatest place to race, and I’m so glad I get to be here with a ton of great race fans, a home crowd.”

Since Bell’s NASCAR team owner – Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs – lifted the moratorium on dirt racing for his drivers in November, Bell has taken full advantage. He won the 55-lap Non-Winged Outlaw headliner during the Tulsa Shootout for micro sprints two weeks ago before adding Monday’s spoils as well.

It’s the first January that the Norman, Okla., has been able to race in Tulsa since finishing second to Tanner Thorson in the 2022 Chili Bowl, and his excitement at being back inside the building that first ignited his passion for motorsports has been palpable since practice day on Sunday.

“This is just so much fun; it’s so much fun to be able to come back and run these dirt cars,” Bell said, a huge grin lighting up his face. “I can’t thank Pete Willoughby (KKM co-owner), Keith Kunz, and Beau (Binder, crew chief) enough for doing such an amazing job at getting me comfortable.

“It’s taken me a little bit to get my midget shoes underneath me, but I’m really glad I had that race to help better myself going into Thursday.”

Though Bell did earn a cash prize for winning the Race of Champions, the more coveted reward is a provisional into Saturday’s championship A-main, should he fail to make the show through either his prelim night or the alphabet soup features that precede the grand finale.

It’s likely Bell won’t need that, however, considering he’s won his preliminary feature a record eight times – including his last seven tries from 2016-’22.

“I’ve been down this road many times now, but it’s funny, because I was looking at the stats and it’s so rare that the Race of Champions winner ends up winning it all here on Saturday night,” Bell noted. “I haven’t done it, and I’ve been here before … where I’ve run really well early in the week, but the track gets so different when it comes Saturday A-main time that you really have to keep up with it all week.

“It’s a great start for sure, but I’m going to have to be on my game and do everything right in order to win this race on Saturday.”

Monday’s Race of Champions was slowed twice by caution, both times for the stopped car of Brad Sweet in turns one and two. Sweet battled power issues all evening and stalled on laps 22 and 25 before taking his car to the infield.

Pursley started third, after fast qualifier Tanner Thorson pulled a four for the feature inversion, and chased Bell most of the way after moving into the runner-up spot by lap six.

He stayed with Bell briefly on the final restart, but could never get close enough to challenge and had to settle for second in his CB Industries-prepared No. 86.

“(Christopher) got through lap traffic before that caution really well, like he always does,” said the reigning USAC National Midget Series champion. “When you get to traffic here, you’re either going to catch someone or they’re going to put a lot of cars between you, and sure enough he did the latter.

“I can’t complain at all. We had a bit of a scary moment in hot laps, biking up the front end, but were able to tame it down after that,” Pursley continued. “I felt like I just messed up the last few laps (while) running the cushion and trying to keep up. We’ll just try to get a little bit better before we’re back here on Wednesday to try and qualify into the big show.”

Thorson completed the podium ahead of Justin Grant and Cannon McIntosh. Buddy Kofoid, Kyle Larson, Corey Day, Spencer Bayston, and Tyler Courtney closed the top 10.

McIntosh and Larson went on from the Race of Champions to secure podium finishes in Monday’s preliminary night feature, with Larson winning the nightcap in thrilling fashion on a green-white-checkered finish and McIntosh ending up third.

Action from the Chili Bowl Nationals powered by NOS Energy Drink continues Tuesday night with Warren CAT Qualifying Night from Tulsa Expo Raceway.

Broadcast coverage begins at 4 p.m. CT, with every lap of Chili Bowl week available through FloRacing.

Race Face Digital’s Chili Bowl coverage is supported by DPC Media, home of longtime motorsports and automotive photographer Dave Campbell. To purchase DPC apparel or order photos from Chili Bowl 2025, visit www.seemymind.com for more information.

RESULTS: O’Reilly Auto Parts Invitational Race of Champions; Tulsa (Okla.) Expo Raceway; Jan. 13, 2025

Qualifying (group setting, best of three laps): 1. 88-Tanner Thorson, 11.763; 2. 86-Daison Pursley, 11.820; 3. 39-Logan Seavey, 11.841; 4. 71W-Christopher Bell, 11.862; 5. 41-Corey Day, 11.871; 6. 71K-Cannon McIntosh, 11.919; 7. 1K-Kyle Larson, 11.987; 8. 3T-Brad Sweet, 12.016; 9. 71-Buddy Kofoid, 12.028; 10. 87-Justin Grant, 12.090; 11. 1S-Spencer Bayston, 12.149; 12. 23C-Tyler Courtney, 12.202; 13. 21H-Brady Bacon, 12.232; 14. 4P-Kody Swanson, 12.291; 15. 19R-Ricky Thornton Jr., 12.330; 16. 67-Ryan Timms, 12.348; 17. 1-Sammy Swindell, 12.387; 18. 98-Tanner Carrick, 12.403; 19. 57-Kaylee Bryson, 12.431.

O’Reilly Auto Parts Invitational Race of Champions (25 laps): 1. 71W-Christopher Bell [1]; 2. 86-Daison Pursley [3]; 3. 88-Tanner Thorson [4]; 4. 87-Justin Grant [10]; 5. 71K-Cannon McIntosh [6]; 6. 71-Michael Kofoid [9]; 7. 1K-Kyle Larson [7]; 8. 41-Corey Day [5]; 9. 1S-Spencer Bayston [11]; 10. 23C-Tyler Courtney [12]; 11. 67-Ryan Timms [16]; 12. 21H-Brady Bacon [13]; 13. 1-Sammy Swindell [17]; 14. 19R-Ricky Thornton Jr. [15]; 15. 4P-Kody Swanson [14]; 16. 57-Kaylee Bryson [19]; 17. 39-Logan Seavey [2]; 18. 3T-Brad Sweet [8]; 19. 98-Tanner Carrick [18].

Lap Leader(s): Christopher Bell 1-25.

Hard Charger: 87-Justin Grant (+6)