Thursday’s Chili Bowl Entries Led By Return Of Bell
Christopher Bell in action at Tulsa (Okla.) Expo Raceway. (Brendon Bauman photo)
TULSA, Okla. – Making his return to the Chili Bowl Nationals powered by NOS Energy Drink after two years away, three-time event champion Christopher Bell is the obvious star on Thursday’s Hasty-Bake Qualifying Night entry list.
After all, in addition to his trio of Golden Drillers from 2017-‘19, Bell has won the Thursday preliminary night in each of his last seven attempts dating back to 2016.
Add in his 2014 prelim-night score as well, and Bell has stood on the victory stage in eight of his nine career Thursday appearances. He’s in his 13th overall Chili Bowl since debuting as a rookie in 2011.
Bell will pilot the Rheem-sponsored No. 71W LynK-Speedway Toyota for Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports, the organization he’s been with for all but two of the times he’s entered the Super Bowl of Midget Racing. He’s already a winner on the week, too, after topping Monday’s Race of Champions.
As far as those who might challenge Bell’s dominance, 2022 Chili Bowl champion and 2023 Thursday night winner Tanner Thorson – driving his own No. 88 – could be the lead contender.
Thorson has raced on Thursday the past three years and locked into the finale via a top-two feature finish each time. He ran second to Bell during Bell’s most recent Chili Bowl prelim night in 2022.
Multi-time USAC sprint car champion Brady Bacon, driving for Kelly Hinck, and fellow USAC ace C.J. Leary in an Alex Bowman Racing entry will also be ones to watch toward the front of the field.
Other notable names competing Thursday include Bell’s KKM teammates Jacob Denney and Mariah Ede, USAC Triple Crown champion Chris Windom for CB Industries, Swindell Motorsports rookie Jordon Mallett, Matt Wood Racing’s Ryan Bernal, and young North Carolina owner-driver Ethan Mitchell.
Indy car and sports car star Katherine Legge will make her Chili Bowl debut Thursday in a Spike Chassis midget fielded by Abacus Racing, the USAC Triple Crown championship team which won the USAC midget title with two-time defending Chili Bowl winner Logan Seavey in 2023.
Each prelim night broadcast begins at 5 p.m. ET (4 p.m. local), with every lap of Chili Bowl week available to be streamed live with a FloRacing subscription.
The full Thursday night entry list can be found below.
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