The surprise of the week dropped on Tuesday when Kyle Larson filed an off-the-cuff entry to compete in this week’s Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, Okla., aboard a spare Keith Kunz-owned Midget car.

Before the logistics of that are fully explained, know that Larson is still fully committed to the six-race miniseries at Vado driving Kevin Rumley’s familiar Longhorn No. 6.

Larson’s Chili Bowl preliminary on Thursday comes on an off night at the Wild West Shootout, and should he lock into Saturday’s big show in Tulsa by virtue of a top-two finish, he figures to have enough time to race at Vado that day and then jet to SageNet Center to try and win a third Golden Driller.

“Excited to get to run with Keith Kunz again. Hoping everything can go good for us on Thursday and can lock in so we’ll have a chance to get back on Saturday night after the (Wild West Shootout),” Larson posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday. “That is my main priority this weekend folks so I will not miss any of the races with (Kevin Rumley) at (Vado).”

Excited to get to run with @KeithKunz again. Hoping everything can go good for us on Thursday and can lock in so we’ll have a chance to get back on Saturday night after the @WildWShootout. That is my main priority this weekend folks so I will not miss any of the races with…

— Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) January 10, 2024

The literal last-minute urge to participate in the Chili Bowl Nationals isn’t meant to take anything away from the Wild West Shootout. Larson’s love for the Chili Bowl Nationals doesn’t need hashed out. And Larson’s interest in Dirt Late Model racing, though his schedule will be quite limited this year because of Indianapolis 500 preparations and co-ownership of High Limit Racing, shouldn’t be questioned either.

Larson's spontaneous idea to race in the Chili Bowl all started on Tuesday morning at 8:13 a.m. when he called Kunz, his former Midget owner, to congratulate his Monday preliminary win with Tanner Carrick. Then he asked Kunz if he had another car available — and Kunz knew exactly what Larson had in mind. 

• Subscribe To FloRacing To Watch The Chili Bowl Nationals
• 2024 Chili Bowl Race Of Champions Results 
• #TweetYourFloSeat During Chili Bowl To Win NOS Energy Drink Prizes
• Watch Every Chili Bowl Nationals Main Event From 1987-2023

On Sunday night following his fourth-place finish at Vado and an evening where he spent majority the downtime between on-track activity watching Chili Bowl practice from his phone, Larson was asked if he has any FOMO — slang for fear of missing out — not being in Tulsa this week.

“Sure, I think when you’re not there, you’re like, ‘Man, I wish I was there.’ But then I think when you’re there, you’re like, ‘This is a long week,’” Larson said. “They are (only getting longer). Practice day is Sunday now. I think (before) practice day was Tuesday. The weeks are getting longer. They’re getting longer for the teams and all that.

“No, I mean, I’m happy I’m here right now. I never said I wouldn’t get back to the Chili Bowl either. Anybody who might think I’d never go back are crazy. Yeah, for right now, I’m having fun doing what I’m doing and racing other stuff that I want to do as well."

Thursday’s Chili Bowl Nationals Schedule, which is the fourth night of qualifying, begins at 9 a.m. CST when the Tulsa Expo and the SageNet Center opens. Hot Laps begin at 4 p.m. and the races start at 5 p.m. 

Qualifiers to the 11th Chili Bowl Championship A-Main will race in the Saturday at 6 p.m. CST.  

“I do love the Chili Bowl,” Larson added. “A lot of people think I don’t love the Chili Bowl, but I do. I love being at the Chili Bowl and Vado. Those were two really exciting races there (over the weekend at Vado). I just love racing.”

Both races Larson would compete in will be streamed exclusively on FloRacing.  If you’re not a FloRacing subscriber, click here to become one today.