With nearly 400 entries in Tulsa for the 38th annual Chili Bowl Nationals, the list of contenders runs wildly long. For the sake of time, we cut ourselves short at 30 of the top dogs to watch this week on FloRacing.

How To Watch: 2024 Chili Bowl Nationals

Everything You Need To Know: 2024 Chili Bowl Rosters, Schedule & More

Logan Seavey (Swindell SpeedLab #39)

Ten years after Kevin Swindell’s last Golden Driller as a driver, Logan Seavey took him back to the mountaintop at Chili Bowl last year as an owner. The Victory Fuel #39 was set on kill all week in the Expo, winning Friday’s prelim over Justin Grant and then Saturday’s 55-lapper over Tanner Thorson and Cannon McIntosh. Seavey will try to join Kevin himself, Rico Abreu, Christopher Bell & Kyle Larson as the only back-to-back champs in event history.

Tanner Thorson (Tanner Thorson Racing #88)

There were a few heads scratched when Tanner Thorson departed Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports to form his own operation last year, after all they had just won the 2022 Chili Bowl Nationals together. All doubters were quickly proven wrong once the TTR #88 hit the Tulsa Expo Raceway, dominating Thursday’s prelim and challenging Seavey down to the final few feet for another title. Expect the Nevadan to be contending for another win next week.

Cannon McIntosh (Keith Kunz Motorsports #71P)

After two years with Dave Mac Dalby Motorsports, Cannon returns to KKM next week hoping to rekindle the magic they shared when they won back-to-back prelims and put it on the podium. He’s the youngest prelim winner in history and youngest podium finisher in history, and this 21-year-old is far from done leaving his mark on the Chili Bowl Nationals. 

Justin Grant (RMS Racing #2J)

It’s not a matter of if, but when JG hoists the Golden Driller above his head. Winning five of the last seven years, Grant is Mr. Friday Night and always a sure-fire contender come Saturday at the Chili Bowl Nationals. The BC39 champion has extra momentum from another USAC National Sprint Car championship and he’s still in one of the most potent rides in the building with RMS Racing.

VIDEO: Justin Grant's 2022 Chili Bowl was well documented during the first two episodes of DIRT.  

Shane Golobic (Matt Wood Racing #17W)

A 10-time Chili Bowl Championship A-Main starter, Golobic set a new career-best finish last year when he drove the NOS Energy Drink ride to a P4 finish behind Seavey, Thorosn & McIntosh. He’ll look to punch his ticket into yet another big dance through Monday’s opening preliminary night.

Emerson Axsom (Keith Kunz Motorsports #68K)

You could argue that nobody is hotter inside the Tulsa Expo right now than Emerson Axsom, considering his four Golden Drillers from the Tulsa Shootout at only 19 years old. He qualified for his first Chili Bowl Championship A-Main last year and drove it straight to a top-five finish in his first try. Now he’s debuting in the building with Keith Kunz Motorsports in the Lynk Chassis #68K.

Tyler Courtney (Abacus Racing #57)

The FOMO during Chili Bowl last year when he was down under in Australia was too real, and “Sunshine” is now back in Tulsa to continue chasing his first Golden Driller. The full-time High Limit Racing star will debut with Abacus Racing in Wednesday’s program, the same team which dominated the 2023 USAC Midget trail with Logan Seavey. Courtney will be going for his second preliminary win and seventh Championship A-Main appearance.

Buddy Kofoid (Keith Kunz Motorsports #71W)

Buddy has been one of the best in Tulsa ever since he showed up, but the right things haven’t entirely fallen his way yet. He stopped Larson for a Tuesday preliminary score and he’s contended for a podium on Saturday before, but many feel he’s destined for a Golden Driller in the right circumstances. He’ll keep trying his luck in the KKM #71W this week.

VIDEO: On-board with Buddy Kofoid as he rides the wall during his prelim feature at the 2023 Chili Bowl. 

Jonathan Beason (Hard 8 Racing #8J)

It’s BZN SZN in Tulsa, but there are changes abroad for Jonathan Beason. After one year with Chad Boat, the Broken Arrow, OK native is back home with Hard 8 Racing, but he’s switching off Tuesday for the first time in 13 years - moving to Wednesday’s preliminary night as he continues to chase his first Golden Driller from the Chili Bowl.

David Gravel (Abacus Racing #58)

Gravel missed last year’s party following the birth of his son, Levi, but he’s back in town to pursue his second Chili Bowl Championship A-Main. The World of Outlaws superstar has a new home in Tulsa as he joins Courtney and Michael Pickens at Abacus Racing, who are bringing the big guns to battle for the Golden Driller.

Daison Pursley (CB Industries #86)

After advancing +39 positions in three main events at the Tulsa Shootout and nearly winning the A-Class Golden Driller, Pursley is feeling as confident as ever inside the Tulsa Expo. The Locust Grove, OK native is another driver with a new home this week at Chili Bowl, joining Chad Boat’s lineup at CB Industries.

Tim McCreadie (Hayward Motorsports #19)

The 2006 Chili Bowl Champion is never to be counted in Tulsa. He’s a perfect 14-for-14 when it comes to top-10 finishes during his preliminary night and he earned his seventh Championship A-Main start last year, driving forward to an 11th-place finish. T-Mac will have a new ride this time, though, as he joins Hayward Motorsports to wheel the #19.

Chris Windom (CB Industries #89)

The CB Industries lead man is back for Monday’s opening preliminary, where he’s finished top-four in each of the last four years. Windom will again wheel the NOS Energy Drink #89 as he looks to add an 11th Chili Bowl Championship A-Main appearance to his resume. His career-best entering this week is a 5th in Saturday’s finale.

Mitchel Moles (Reinbold/Underwood #19T)

Raisin City, California’s Mitchel Moles made his first Chili Bowl Championship A-Main last year and quickly rattled off his first top-10 finish with a P7 run. He’s back to try again with a different team, as he moves to Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports for his second go in Tulsa.

Kevin Thomas Jr. (Alex Bowman Racing #55X)

With Alex Bowman stepping out of the driver seat to solely be an owner this year, he’s tabbed KTJ to pilot the #55X alongside ABR regulars CJ Leary and Jake Swanson. The Alabama native has been in Saturday’s Chili Bowl Championship A-Main in back-to-back years now, finishing a career-best P8 in 2022.

Corey Day (Willie Kahne #41)

Before this high school senior goes on the road full-time with High Limit Racing, the Jason Meyers prodigy will again team up with the innovative Willie Kahne to drive his Bullet/Mopar #41 at Chili Bowl. He’s trying to get back into his first Chili Bowl Championship A-Main since he qualified during his rookie run with Clauson-Marshall Racing back in 2022.

Spencer Bayston (RMS Racing #1S)

The only driver with a ticket already punched to Saturday’s Championship A-Main - via his Race of Champions win last year - Spencer Bayston is back with RMS Racing this week in Tulsa. The full-time High Limit Racing star will move to Wednesday’s prelim as he chases his sixth career A-Main appearance.

Thomas Meseraull (Engler #7T)

With a four-year stint at RMS Racing now complete, T-Mez takes to Tulsa with a totally new whip this week. He’s in the Engler powered #7T as he pursues his 11th Chili Bowl Championship A-Main appearance, fresh off a successful New Zealand trip down under.

Ryan Timms (Keith Kunz Motorsports #67)

Timms was one of 10 drivers to make his first Chili Bowl Championship A-Main last year, thus making it nine consecutive years that KKM’s flagship #67 entry has competed for the Golden Driller. After another year of winning in all types of cars, the OKC native is back in the Mobil1 ride to try and make it a decade straight for the Kunz car.

Jade Avedisian (Keith Kunz Motorsports #71)

After her thrilling Tuesday night drive last year, Jade transferred through Saturday’s B-Main and became the second female in the Chili Bowl Championship A-Main - matching Kaylee Bryson’s record of 18th-place. She returns to Tulsa this week with even more momentum under her belt following an Xtreme Outlaw Midget championship in 2023.

Michael Pickens (Abacus Racing #59)

The Kiwi Michael Pickens will join Tyler Courtney and David Gravel as part of a brand new three-car lineup for USAC champions Abacus Racing. The former Chili Bowl podium finisher will be going for his seventh Championship A-Main appearance.

Zach Daum (Andy Bondio #47X)

Teamed up with New Zealander Brad Mosen, Zach Daum will once again drive for three-time Chili Bowl Champion car owner, Andy Bondio. The Dauminator will be going for his ninth Championship A-Main appearance this week, and his fifth top-10 finish to go along with it.

Brady Bacon (TKH Motorsports #21H)

TKH Motorsports is bringing back Brady Bacon and Kameron Key to Chili Bowl this week, after putting both cars in Saturday’s B-Main last year. “The Macho Man,” a four-time Golden Driller winner from the Tulsa Shootout,  is eyeing his sixth Championship A-Main appearance and potentially his first podium finish.

Kaylee Bryson (Swindell Motorsports #91K)

After becoming the first female to qualify for the Chili Bowl Championship A-Main in 2022, Bryson backed it up by making the big dance again in 2023. The Muskogee, OK native has a new ride this week as she tries to make it three consecutive years in the show, as she links up with the Chili Bowl GOAT, Sammy Swindell, to drive a #91K entry.

VIDEO: Kaylee Bryson made history in 2022 by becoming the first female to make the Chili Bowl A-Main. 

Brent Crews (Keith Kunz Motorsports #67K)

At 15-years-old, Crews became the youngest Championship A-Main starter in Chili Bowl history last year, while driving for Paul May. The North Carolina kid has moved to the front of the building this week as he joins a young, but loaded roster at Keith Kunz Motorsports.

Jason McDougal (Travis White #38)

Since making his first Chili Bowl Championship A-Main back in 2020, J-Mac has been on a warpath to try and make it back into the big dance. He’s another notable name in a new ride this week, bringing one of the most fun Australians in the countryside across the pond as he drives Travis White’s #38 in Tulsa. 

Chase McDermand (Trifecta Motorsports #7U)

McDermand’s fourth Chili Bowl brings him a new home as the Illinois native moves to Trifecta Motorsports to pilot the #7U, which Kyle Jones piloted to a near top-five finish last year. McDermand himself made his first Chili Bowl Championship A-Main last year and looks to improve that result with a career-best effort this week, teamed up with Pickens and Michael Faccinto.

Hank Davis (Matt Seymour Racing #29S)

Hank Davis stunned the world last year on Tuesday when the local runner topped Spencer Bayston for a preliminary win, and locked in to his first Chili Bowl Championship A-Main, where he started on the outside pole. The Sand Springs, OK native is back with Matt Seymour Racing to prove it was no fluke, and that they’re here to stay as Chili Bowl contenders.

Daryn Pittman (Matt Wood Racing #21)

The 2017 Chili Bowl runner-up - to Christopher Bell - this Owasso, OK native is always a threat when he comes back inside to race a midget at the Chili Bowl. The 2013 World of Outlaws champion is back with Matt Wood Racing this week piloting a Spike/Stanton SR-11X #21 as he goes for his ninth Chili Bowl A-Main appearance.

Ricky Thornton Jr. (Reinbold/Underwood #19R)

If it weren’t for a blown motor last weekend, RTJ would already have one Golden Driller in hand from a sensational Stock Non-Wing A-Main at the Tulsa Shootout. After missing the Chili Bowl Championship A-Main by only two spots in his rookie run last year, the Arizonan has found an Arizona team to try things with this year. He’s in the Reinbold/Underwood Motorsports #19R, two years after they won the Golden Driller with Tanner Thorson.