Chili Bowl Update - Vacuworx Race of Champions Field is Set! 

Limited Amount of Tickets Remain for Tuesday Night Card! 

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (December 22, 2009) – In just three short weeks, the dirt will be flying inside the Tulsa State Fairgrounds' QuikTrip Center when the 24^th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals fires off at Tulsa Expo Raceway.

On Tuesday night, January 12, the first of four Qualifying nights gets under way with one-quarter of the 250-plus entries battling it out to determine where they'll line up in the Saturday, January 16, championship feature events. 

There will be an added attraction on that Tuesday night card as well, as the Second Annual Vacuworx International Race of Champions simply adds to a full card of racing action that includes heat races, qualifying races, "C" Mains, "B" Mains and an "A" Main. 

Fifteen drivers have been tabbed to compete in the Vacuworx Race of Champions, a 20-lap affair that offers up $2,500 to the winner and a minimum of $300 to each starter. 

Among those slated for the Vacuworx Race of Champions are seven drivers that have captured the Golden Driller in the past, another four drivers that are piloting entries fielded by past winning car owners and another four at-large berths. 

The Second Annual Vacuworx International Race of Champions field will include the following: 

1 Sammy Swindell (Germantown, TN) – Five-time Chili Bowl winner (2009, 1998, 1996, 1992, 1989) 

21k Cory Kruseman (Ventura, CA) – Two-time Chili Bowl winner (2004, 2000) 

11w Tim McCreadie (Watertown, NY) – 2006 Chili Bowl winner 

11 Tracy Hines (New Castle, IN) – 2005 Chili Bowl winner 

71k Jay Drake (Val Verde, CA) – 2001 Chili Bowl winner 

57b Johnny Heydenreich (Indianapolis, IN) – 1991 Chili Bowl winner 

15h Scott Hatton (Roscoe, IL) – 1988 Chili Bowl winner 

40 Jason Leffler (Long Beach, CA) – Leffler owner 1998 winning car driven by Damion Gardner 

47 Garrett Hansen (Manhattan Beach, CA)  - Hansen drives for three-time Chili Bowl champion car owner Andy Bondio. 

71 Cole Whitt (Alpine, CA) – Whitt drives for past Chili Bowl champion car owner Keith Kunz Motorsports. 

1au Gary Taylor (Snohomish, WA) – Taylor drives for 2006 Chili Bowl champion car owner Steve Smith. 

17b Brad Kuhn (Avon, IN) – 2009 USAC National Midget Champion 

39b Bryan Clauson (Noblesville, IN) – 2009 National Midget Driver of the Year 

67k Kasey Kahne (Enumclaw, WA) – Past USAC Midget champion, two-time Belleville Midget Nationals winner, current NASCAR Sprint Cup contender 

05 Brad Loyet (Sunset Hills, MO) – Posted 21 Midget feature wins in 2009, the most in a single season since Billy Boat captured 21 wins in 1995. 

Should Damion Gardner or any other past Chili Bowl winner secure a ride for the upcoming 24^th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals, they will be added to the Vacuworx International Race of Champions field as well. 

The starting grid for the Second Annual Vacuworx Race of Champions will be determined by the fans.  Some lucky fans will be plucked from the massive Tuesday night crowd to select from some randomly marked Lucas Oil Products, in effect drawing for the starting position of the driver they've been paired with. 

A limited number of tickets are available for the Tuesday night, January 12, Warren CAT Chili Bowl Qualifier and Vacuworx Race of Champions for just $26 apiece.  Tickets may be obtained by calling the ticket office at 918-838-3777. 

Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Quick Facts:  

What:  24^th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals  

Where:  Tulsa Expo Raceway – ¼-mile clay oval inside the QuikTrip Center at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds  

When:  January 12-16, 2010

Tuesday – Warren CAT Qualifying Night plus Vacuworx Chili Bowl Race of Champions

Wednesday – River Spirit Casino Qualifying Night

Thursday – Bully Dog Qualifying Night

Friday – E3 Spark Plugs Qualifying Night

Saturday – Rockstar Energy Drink Championship Feature Events  

Past Winners:  Sammy Swindell (2009, 1998, 1996, 1992 and 1989), Damion Gardner (2008), Tony Stewart (2007 and 2002), Tim McCreadie (2006), Tracy Hines (2005), Cory Kruseman (2004 and 2000), Dan Boorse (2003 and 1999), Jay Drake (2001), Billy Boat (1997), Donnie Beechler (1995), Andy Hillenburg (1994), Dave Blaney (1993), Lealand McSpadden (1991), Jon Heydenreich (1990), Scott Hatton (1988), Rich Vogler (1987). 

Trade Show:  Always a popular attraction at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals is the Trade Show, which is open to the public each day (Tuesday through Saturday) free of charge.  All variety of racing products, apparel and more is available with well over 100 different vendors.  The Trade Show covers approximately 20,000 square feet.   

Tickets:  Four-night tickets for Wednesday through Saturday of the 24^th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals were depleted by the end of May.  A limited number of reserved seats for Tuesday night's Warren CAT Qualifying Event and the Second Annual Vacuworx International Chili Bowl Race of Champions are available for $26 per person and may be obtained by calling 918-838-3777 or at the gate.  Pit passes for all five nights are available at the gate as well.  

Chili Bowl on TV:  Portions of the 24^th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals will be broadcast on SPEED TV on a tape-delayed basis. 

Chili Bowl on the Net:  All official news pertaining to the 24^th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, including official entry lists, race results and recaps, is available first at www.chilibowl.com.  Also, all five nights of the Chili Bowl Nationals will be broadcast live (audio) on www.racinboys.com. 

Additional information regarding the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals is available at http://www.chilibowl.com/ or by calling 918-838-3777.