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| Saturday, January 17 UPDATES |
FRIDAY RESULTS
SATURDAY FEATURE LINEUPS
SATURDAY RESULTS
3:00 PM
I'm not sure how Emmett and Lanny will fit any more people into this huge Expo Center! It
is absolutely packed today!
I remember when we were shocked that they scheduled double F Mains! Now we're up to
double L Mains, and they have to start racing in the early morning in order to make sure
everyone gets through the "alphabet soup." Many people hang out if the pit area until the
D's or C Mains, because that's when the top drivers start appearing. However, there's
always a few of the really good drivers who had a bad week and have to start way back in
the lower Features, but that's the fun part about today - hoping they can advance a few
races similar to what JJ Yeley did a few years ago when he had the entire Expo Center
rooting for him to get out of the F or E Mains (and he's still known for that).
Tim McCreadie is out of the hospital and is resting at his Tulsa-area hotel. He's been
fitted with a "vest." Greg Wilke said that Tim might visit the Expo Center later tonight, if he
feels up to it. It will be good to see him back here walking around!
World of Outlaws standout Donny Schatz is here at the Expo Center, but isn't driving - just
visiting the Tony Stewart Racing crew.
Brian Paulus, who has been a regular with the WoO in the past, was rumored to have
retired. He is visiting the Chili Bowl, and he emphatically said to me that he is NOT
retiring, just taking a break and will run some races later in the year.
12:00 PM
It is a little odd for me to see IWX plastered on the side of Jay Drake's car. I worked for
Danny Drinan - here this week promoting his latest creation - when IWX was a sponsor for
his team. Drinan famously announced his retirement on TV after running out of funds,
and the good IWX folks, including owner Steve Coulter and his wife Joan who are here in
Tulsa, saw the plea and came to his rescue. This was a highly polished operation, and we
had the best of everything. After leaving midget racing, IWX was seen regularly in the
NASCAR Truck Series, but now they are back with Keith Kunz's operation! Not sure of the
connection, but Pete Willougby, who used to own his own midget team but how helps
Kunz, has Willoughby Trucking, and maybe there's some cooperation there.
Speaking of Jay Drake, he and his wife Heidi own their own travel company called
GoDrake.net - see the ad on this page. By booking travel through them at GoDrake.net,
they get a commission. I'll eventually have that capacity through my GoRoadTripping.com
website, too.
Reporting again on the status of Billy Wease (because he and his dad Bill are sitting right
in front of me in the grandstands - so easy access to info): Billy actually came down with
the stomach flu at around 7:00 PM last night, but raced anyway and looked fine. I'll never
understand how drivers can get into a race car while they are sick, while the rest of us
mortals curl up in a ball on the couch and suffer through it for days.
10:00 AM
Welcome to the final day of the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals! What a week it's been! The
racing has been fantastic, but the camaraderie in the pit area has been the best! A
"Who's Who" of racing is here this week, as usual. From NASCAR to the NHRA to the IRL
to the World of Outlaws and USAC, this race attracts the best drivers and the key people
behind the scenes that make all of motorsports work.
Yesterday I heard a great explanation of how to describe this event to someone who has
not actually been here - and I agree. It's like trying to describe the Grand Canyon. You
can see all the pictures you want, watch it on TV, read the books, and hear details of what
it looks like, but until you actually stand on the rim of that national treasure, there's
nothing that can prepare you for what you are seeing and feeling. No one can put into
words how great that "Wonder" is, and no one can ever explain in a news article or blog
how amazing the Chili Bowl is. You just have to see it for yourself!
SATURDAY FEATURE LINEUPS
SATURDAY RESULTS
3:00 PM
I'm not sure how Emmett and Lanny will fit any more people into this huge Expo Center! It
is absolutely packed today!
I remember when we were shocked that they scheduled double F Mains! Now we're up to
double L Mains, and they have to start racing in the early morning in order to make sure
everyone gets through the "alphabet soup." Many people hang out if the pit area until the
D's or C Mains, because that's when the top drivers start appearing. However, there's
always a few of the really good drivers who had a bad week and have to start way back in
the lower Features, but that's the fun part about today - hoping they can advance a few
races similar to what JJ Yeley did a few years ago when he had the entire Expo Center
rooting for him to get out of the F or E Mains (and he's still known for that).
Tim McCreadie is out of the hospital and is resting at his Tulsa-area hotel. He's been
fitted with a "vest." Greg Wilke said that Tim might visit the Expo Center later tonight, if he
feels up to it. It will be good to see him back here walking around!
World of Outlaws standout Donny Schatz is here at the Expo Center, but isn't driving - just
visiting the Tony Stewart Racing crew.
Brian Paulus, who has been a regular with the WoO in the past, was rumored to have
retired. He is visiting the Chili Bowl, and he emphatically said to me that he is NOT
retiring, just taking a break and will run some races later in the year.
12:00 PM
It is a little odd for me to see IWX plastered on the side of Jay Drake's car. I worked for
Danny Drinan - here this week promoting his latest creation - when IWX was a sponsor for
his team. Drinan famously announced his retirement on TV after running out of funds,
and the good IWX folks, including owner Steve Coulter and his wife Joan who are here in
Tulsa, saw the plea and came to his rescue. This was a highly polished operation, and we
had the best of everything. After leaving midget racing, IWX was seen regularly in the
NASCAR Truck Series, but now they are back with Keith Kunz's operation! Not sure of the
connection, but Pete Willougby, who used to own his own midget team but how helps
Kunz, has Willoughby Trucking, and maybe there's some cooperation there.
Speaking of Jay Drake, he and his wife Heidi own their own travel company called
GoDrake.net - see the ad on this page. By booking travel through them at GoDrake.net,
they get a commission. I'll eventually have that capacity through my GoRoadTripping.com
website, too.
Reporting again on the status of Billy Wease (because he and his dad Bill are sitting right
in front of me in the grandstands - so easy access to info): Billy actually came down with
the stomach flu at around 7:00 PM last night, but raced anyway and looked fine. I'll never
understand how drivers can get into a race car while they are sick, while the rest of us
mortals curl up in a ball on the couch and suffer through it for days.
10:00 AM
Welcome to the final day of the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals! What a week it's been! The
racing has been fantastic, but the camaraderie in the pit area has been the best! A
"Who's Who" of racing is here this week, as usual. From NASCAR to the NHRA to the IRL
to the World of Outlaws and USAC, this race attracts the best drivers and the key people
behind the scenes that make all of motorsports work.
Yesterday I heard a great explanation of how to describe this event to someone who has
not actually been here - and I agree. It's like trying to describe the Grand Canyon. You
can see all the pictures you want, watch it on TV, read the books, and hear details of what
it looks like, but until you actually stand on the rim of that national treasure, there's
nothing that can prepare you for what you are seeing and feeling. No one can put into
words how great that "Wonder" is, and no one can ever explain in a news article or blog
how amazing the Chili Bowl is. You just have to see it for yourself!
| LIVE UPDATES from the 2009 "CHILI BOWL MIDGET NATIONALS" |