Last year, I decided I wouldn't be a fair weather fan. I was willing to gamble on rain, thunderstorms (even with a couple tent camping excursions), snow, sleet, and ice. However, the weather forecast for this weekend tested my resolve. Mother Nature went all in with a huge ice storm forecasted to cover the entire road trip from here to Tulsa, Oklahoma with between 0.5 inch and 1.5 inches of ice. I folded, even though I had waited for tickets to the Chili Bowl since last February.
Why wait a year for tickets? Because the Chili Bowl is an indoor midget race run each January. The drivers list reads like a who's who of racing. Entered in the event are sprint car drivers like Steve Kinser, Danny Lasoski, Terry McCarl, and Daryn Pittman; Late Model drivers Tim McCreadie (last year's surprise Chili Bowl winner), Josh Richards, and Brian Birkhofer; Nascar stars Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, JJ Yeley, and Justin Allgaiter; IRL driver A.J. Foyt IV (his first Chili Bowl); USAC stars Josh Wise, Dave Darland, Levi Jones, Tracy Hines; and Knoxville locals Billy Alley and Wayne Johnson.
In all, there are over 280 entries. Emmett Hahn and Lanny Edwards are the legendary promoters of the annual event. This year, the 21st Chili Bowl will feature A.J. Foyt as the grand marshall on Saturday night.
The Chili Bowl added a pre-qualifying night on Tuesday for those drivers who had not competed in a Chili Bowl previously, or had limited experience. Then Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights were qualifying nights for the A Main on Saturday night. Starting Saturday at around noon will be a L Main. Following the alphabet backwards, the A Main should push off sometime around 9:30 - 10:30 p.m.
Instead of seeing the races in person this year, I'll have to listen on an internet radio. Hopefully, next year, I'll get my chance to see it in person. That is, if Mother Nature cooperates.
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