Chili Bowl Announces Roster Of Drivers For 15th Annual Race Of Champions
Chili Bowl Announces Roster Of Drivers For 15th Annual Race Of Champions
The Lucas Oil Chili Bowl has released the roster and eligibility requirements for the 15th annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Invitational Race of Champions.
TULSA, OK - The list of drivers invited to compete in the 15th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Invitational Race of Champions has been set, with drivers from all walks of life invited to join in the annual exhibition of talent.
Combining Chili Bowl winners, both Saturday and Prelim, as well as past Race of Champions winners, series champions, and drivers invited by the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire, the number of drivers slated to compete currently numbers nineteen.
"This is a neat part of the Chili Bowl, where we can showcase champions and drivers across the sport in a race that some, otherwise, would not have the chance to go head-to-head. It's become something that teams and fans look forward to," said Event Director Matt Ward.
Taking place during Monday’s Cummins Qualifying Night, and the list of invites is as follows.
2023 O’Reilly Auto Parts Invitational Race Of Champions Roster:
• Tanner Thorson – 2022 Chili Bowl Champion
• Justin Grant – 2022 Race of Champions Winner / USAC Sprint Car Champion
• Tanner Carrick – 2022 Prelim Night Winner
• Rico Abreu – 2022 Prelim Night Winner / 2015-2016 Chili Bowl Champion
• Buddy Kofoid – 2022 USAC Midget Champion
• Chad Boat – 2018 Race of Champions Winner
• Blake Hahn – 2022 Lucas Oil ASCS Champion
• Brenham Crouch – 2022 POWRi Midget Champion
• Zach Daum – 2022 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Champion
• Spencer Bayston – 2018 Saturday Podium Finish
• Cannon McIntosh – 2020 Saturday Podium Finish
• Kody Swanson – 2022 USAC Silver Crown Champion
• Logan Seavey – Invite, Owner Champion - Kevin Swindell
• Sammy Swindell – The GOAT In This Building
• Tim McCreadie – 2006 Chili Bowl Champion, 2022 Lucas Oil Late Model Champion
• Damion Gardner – 2008 Chili Bowl Champion
• Michael Pickens – International Champion, Invited by the Chili Bowl
• Chase Briscoe – Invited by the Chili Bowl
• Alex Bowman – Invited by the Chili Bowl
The standards for an invitation are:
• Drivers finishing in the Top 3 of Saturday night’s A-Feature during the previous five Chili Bowls will be eligible.
• Drivers finishing in the Top 2 of the past five Race of Champions events will be eligible.
• Preliminary Night Winners from the most recent Chili Bowl will be eligible.
• Series Champions from the most recent calendar year in the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, American Sprint Car Series National Tour, All-Star Circuit of Champions, USAC National Midgets, USAC National Sprint Cars, and POWRi National Midget League, Xtreme Outlaw Midgets will be invited to compete.
• Champions and Drivers of other Tours and Series may be added at the Chili Bowl’s discretion.
• No Driver substitutions or alternates from a sanctioning body will be allowed.
• Starting Lineup for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Invitational Race Of Champions will be set by Group Qualifying. Drivers will draw for their qualifying position, then qualify in groups of three to four. Drivers will get two warmup laps, then three green flap laps to set their time. The Top 8 fastest will be inverted, with the ninth fastest on back lined up straight up by their time.
• O’Reilly Auto Parts Invitational Race Of Champions Feature will be 25 Laps.
Subject to change without notice, the list of nights will be updated as soon as possible at https://www.chilibowl.com/entries/manual.aspx. The new website layout has a dropdown menu that you will need to click to access the nightly breakdowns.
Entry for the 2023 event is still being accepted and can be taken by phone at (918) 838-3777, by fax to (918) 836-5517, and via email at chilibowlentries@gmail.com. The entry form can be downloaded at https://www.chilibowl.com/downloads/get.aspx?i=72453.
If entering by phone, the Chili Bowl office is open Monday-Friday, 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. (CT). Each entry must include a W9 to indicate who will receive payment. Entries that do not have a completed W9 on file will not be added to a qualifying night.
Changed just prior to the 2022 event, competitors under the age of 16 will be allowed to enter. All entries received by drivers under 16 years of age will go before an advisory committee. Only after being approved by the committee will a driver under 16 years of age be allowed to compete. A copy of a Birth Certificate will still be required to confirm the driver’s age.
The 2023 Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire, takes place January 9-14, 2023, atop the clay of the Tulsa Expo Raceway. The event is contested under the massive roof of the SageNet Center in Tulsa, Okla.
Monday and Tuesday Reserved Seats are on sale by calling (918) 838-3777. The offices of the Chili Bowl Nationals are open Monday-Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. (CT). Pit Passes are sold at the event and can be purchased for single or consecutive nights.
Practice will be Sunday, January 8, 2023, starting at 9:00 A.M. Groups will run through twice. Grandstands on Sunday are free to the general public. Weekdays open at 9:00 A.M. with cars on track at 4:00 P.M. for Hot Laps. Saturday opens at 8:00 A.M. with cars on track at 9:00 A.M. (CT). A complete rundown of times can be found at https://www.chilibowl.com/about.
Fans not able to attend the 37th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire will be able to watch every lap live on http://www.floracing.com.
For continued updates on the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire, fans can follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with @CBNationals. All official press, updates, and results on the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire can be found online at http://www.chilibowl.com.