2025 Tulsa Shootout

10 Notable Storylines From The 2024 Tulsa Shootout

10 Notable Storylines From The 2024 Tulsa Shootout

As the end of the year comes back around and the 2025 Tulsa Shootout approaches, we've put together a list of 10 notable storylines from last year's event.

Dec 23, 2024 by FloRacing Staff
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As the end of the year comes back around and the 2025 Tulsa Shootout approaches, we've put together a list of 10 notable storylines from last year's event.

The Tulsa Shootout is one of the most anticipated and thrilling indoor racing events of the year and fans worldwide are gearing up for another unforgettable weekend of high-octane dirt racing action this Dec. 31-Jan. 4.

With more than 1,400 entries filed for 2025, the event held at the SageNet Center in Tulsa, OK has rightly earned the nickname "Mecca of Micros."

Whether you're a die-hard racing fan or a newcomer to the sport, watching this prestigious race live on FloRacing is the best way to experience all the action, drama, and excitement as it unfolds. 

Last season, fans were left with plenty to talk about following Sunday’s finale of the 39th annual Tulsa Shootout on FloRacing. 

EARNHARDT LEGACY IN GOOD HANDS

Arguably the most iconic family in American Motorsports, the Earnhardt’s added a Golden Driller to their legacy as 13-year-old Wyatt Miller dominated the Restricted A-Main from start-to-finish driving for CB Industries. The grandson of Dale Earnhardt Sr., nephew of Dale Earnhardt Jr., and son of Kelley Earnhardt-Miller & L.W. Miller, Wyatt ran a flawless race and still found time midway through to produce a classic Earnhardt interview on FloRacing.

TORGERSON’S COMEBACK STORY 

It was January 11, 2023 when the world watched that harrowing moment as Ashton Torgerson was ejected from his midget while battling for a Chili Bowl preliminary win. After living to tell the tale, Torgerson spent his final day of the year back at the scene of that scary moment and he capped off the ultimate comeback in doing so. Leading all 30 laps and holding off Daison Pursley at the end, Torgerson scored an emotional win as he topped the A-Class division to earn his first Golden Driller.

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VIDEO: Ashton Torgerson discusses Chili Bowl crash and recovery. 

THE FINAL LAP FOR HAGOPIAN

Jake Hagopian took his final lap around the Tulsa Expo Raceway, marking the culmination of a hall of fame career. The Clovis, CA native concluded his driving career as a three-time Tulsa Shootout champion and spent his last race pursuing what he wanted most - an elusive Winged Outlaw Golden Driller. Although he fell short with a second-place finish, the D1 Chassis boss will most certainly be back as an owner / crew chief in the future as he continues to chase more Shootout success in other fulfilling roles.

RTJ CONTINUES TO SHINE 

After 2023 -- when he ran second to Hagopian in A-Class -- the racing community realized that Ricky Thornton Jr. was serious about this micro sprint stuff. He came back to the Tulsa Shootout in 2024, following one of the greatest Dirt Late Model seasons of all-time, and showcased again to the world that he’s one of the most talented drivers in the world. Going from sixth-to-first, RTJ brought fans to their feet as he rocketed to the lead in Stock Non-Wing after going slider-for-slider with Kris Carroll and Frank Flud. It looked as if he was bound for Golden Driller glory, but a blown motor deterred his dreams and sent the No. 20RT to the infield in heartbreaking fashion.

EMERSON DOES IT AGAIN 

It’s kind of silly to think of a 19-year-old kid as one of the greats in Tulsa Shootout history, but how can you argue against what Emerson Axsom has done? Again, he’s 19-years-old and he now owns four Golden Drillers -- three of them from the premier Winged Outlaw division, making him the winningest driver in the toughest class of the event. Going back-to-back with Ten-J Chassis, the Franklin, IN native pounced on Cody Key in lapped traffic and never gave the field a chance for the rest of the 55-lapper.

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VIDEO: Highlights from the Winged Outlaw feature at the Tulsa Shootout. 

HAHN’S DRILLER FARM GROWS 

The record for most open-wheel titles in Tulsa Shootout history was expanded when Blake Hahn topped an Outlaw Non-Wing barnburner, collecting his ninth-career Golden Driller. Driving for the Yantis family, the Sapulpa, OK native battled Pennsylvanian Tommy Kunsman for his first Outlaw Non-Wing title since 2011. It was a special one for the grandson of Tulsa Shootout founder, Emmett Hahn, because this was the first Golden Driller won with Blake’s daughter Lennix able to be in victory lane. 

FLUD GETS ONE FOR THE THUMB

Frank Flud’s Stock Non-Wing win added another Golden Driller to what is already one of the most legendary careers in all of micro sprint racing history. Becoming the third different leader after going toe-to-toe with Ricky Thornton Jr. and Kris Carroll, the Pryor, OK native held on to earn his fifth Tulsa Shootout title, fourth in micro sprints, and third in the Stock Non-Wing division. He joined icons like Donnie Ray Crawford, Brady Bacon, Kevin Bayer, and Jerrod Wilson as the only four-time micro champs in Tulsa.

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VIDEO: Frank Flud reacts after claiming his fifth Golden Driller. 

JR. SPRINTS ALWAYS DELIVER 

Year-in and year-out, the little guys deliver some of the most memorable moments from the Tulsa Shootout. Between the on-track product, the always-unpredictable interviews, and the pure emotion from little kids doing what they love, it’s a recipe for fun every time. Last year, Braxton Flatt took the Golden Driller back to Illinois after the CB Industries driver fiercely battled local favorite J.J. Beason, son of Tulsa Shootout and Chili Bowl legend, Jonathan Beason. It came down to the very end and Flatt showed the world what the Golden Driller meant to him in victory lane.

PURSLEY PASSES THE MOST 

Nobody raced more and nobody passed more than Daison Pursley did. The Keith Kunz Motorsports pilot contested eight races on the day and qualified for three main events for the third time in his young career. His impressive +38 positions gained is second all-time in a Tulsa Shootout finale, behind only Riley Adair’s +52 run in 2009. Pursley’s performance started with an 18th-to-4th charge in Stock Non-Wing, then went 24th-to-7th in Outlaw Non-Wing, and ended his night with career-best 9th-to-2nd bid in A-Class as he nearly won his first-career Golden Driller.

KJ’S ELITE QUADRUPLE DUTY RUN 

There were 500+ drivers among 1,700 entries at the 2024 Tulsa Shootout, yet only one man achieved the rare feat of qualifying for all four Stock/Outlaw A-Mains. That was Kingsburg, CA native KJ Snow, who became the 17th driver in event history to pull quadruple duty during the Championship A-Mains. After a blown motor in Stock Non-Wing, Snow drove from 23rd-to-12th in Outlaw Non-Wing then finished 10th in A-Class after falling to 24th, and finally finished it all with a 16th-to-6th run in Winged Outlaw.

How To Watch The 2025 Tulsa Shootout

The 2025 Tulsa Shootout will stream live on FloRacing. You can follow the action as it happens and watch the replays and exclusive content on-demand after it's all over on FloRacing. The 2025 Tulsa Shootout starts on Dec 31, 2024 and runs until Jan 4, 2025.

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When Does The 2025 Tulsa Shootout Start?

The 2025 Tulsa Shootout starts on Dec 31 at 9:00 a.m. ET and runs through Jan 4, 2025.

2025 Tulsa Shootout Schedule

View the schedule for the 2025 Tulsa Shootout below. All times are in Eastern Time.

Tuesday, December 31

  • 9 a.m. - Practice Begins
  • 8 p.m. - Racing Begins

Wednesday, January 1

  • 10 a.m. - Racing Begins

Thursday, January 2

  • 10 a.m. - Racing Begins

Friday, January 3

  • 10 a.m. - Racing Begins

Saturday, January 4

  • 10 a.m. - Racing Begins
  • 6 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies
  • All LCQ's & A Features Following Opening Ceremonies

2025 Tulsa Shootout Entry List

The entry list for the 2025 Tulsa Shootout features more than 1,400 entries across the six classifications and features a star-studded line-up at the SageNet Center. Among the entries are NASCAR Cup Series drivers Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch in the Stock/Outlaw divisions, along with their sons Owen Larson and Brexton Busch. 

Read the full 2025 Tulsa Shootout entry list write-up here.

FloRacing Race Replays On-Demand

Video footage from the event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloRacing subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.

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