Thursday March 28th, 2024 8:12PM

Kyle Larson wins on Chili Bowl Nationals opening night

By Bryan Hulbert

TULSA, Okla. - In a car owned by his father, California’s Kyle Larson picked up his fourth career Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals preliminary victory Tuesday night at Oklahoma’s Tulsa Expo Raceway.

The win ties the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver with the late Bryan Clauson for third on the all-time preliminary night win list.

“It’s great to get a win for my dad. I haven’t been in a car he’s owned since I was in Karts,” said Larson who will take the green in his sixth Lucas Oil Chili Bowl championship event on Saturday night.

Larson gave chase early to pole sitter Zach Daum, taking several shots at the lead throughout the opening laps. Larson utilized a lap 5 restart to jump to the cushion and build his run on Daum. With momentum off the fourth turn, Larson charged to the lead through the first and second turns.

On getting the lead, Larson stated, “I knew if I could get some momentum built up, I could get by Daum on the top and I was just hoping he didn’t move up, but he left me a lane and I was able to get the lead. After that, I just ran a decent pace, but I knew I could run harder.”

With Larson putting distance on the field, focus turned to the race for the final two transfer spots into Saturday’s A-Feature, as Daum came under fire from Brad Sweet. Swapping lines and position numerous times through the race’s mid-point, the battle came to a close on lap 20 as Daum hit the brakes to avoid the flipped car of Travis Rilat. That stalled Daum’s engine out in the second turn.

Meanwhile, Larson went on to cross the finish line 1.170 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor.

Brad Sweet grabbed second, with Tyler Courtney making his second consecutive appearance with his third place finish. The top three finishers locked themselves into Saturday night’s Chili Bowl Nationals A-Feature.

Tom Harris advanced nine spots to fourth with Logan Seavey in fifth.

Giovani Scelzi, Jake Neuman, Brad Loyet, Scott Evans and Justin Peck rounded out the top ten.

Also on tap during Tuesday’s opener, the Vacuworx Invitational Race of Champions found its sixth different winner with Arizona’s Chad Boat picking up the victory. Drawing the pole, Boat led every lap, holding off a hard charge from Kyle Larson to secure the win.

The Lucas Oil Chili Bowl National continues on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, with the night sponsored by Hard Rock Casino Tulsa. For more information, visit ChiliBowl.com.

Chili Bowl Nationals
Tulsa Expo Raceway – Tulsa, OK
A-Feature Results – Jan. 9, 2018

1. 01-Kyle Larson
2. 63D-Brad Sweet
3. 7BC-Tyler Courtney
4. 4-Tom Harris
5. 67-Logan Seavey
6. 57BC-Giovanni Scelzi
7. 3N-Jake Neuman
8. 05-Brad Loyet
9. 118-Scott Evans
10. 7K-Justin Peck
11. 77-Alex Bright
12. 7A-Justin Allgaier
13. 7U-Joe B. Miller
14. 51-R.J. Johnson
15. 11J-Justin Melton
16. 5D-Zach Daum
17. 15J-Kyle Jones
18. 17G-Dustin Golobic
19. 73K-Kyle Hirst
20. (DNF) 87C-David Camfield
21. (DNF) 1B-Travis Rilat
22. (DNF) 2A-Joe Stornetta
23. (DNF) 99P-Dillon Welch
24. (DNF) 91A-Chris Andrews

VIROC X
1. 84X-Chad Boat
2. 01-Kyle Larson
3. 63-Tanner Thorson
4. 24-Tracy Hines
5. 63D-Brad Sweet
6. 39-Michael Pickens
7. 97K-Spencer Bayston
8. 47X-Tim McCreadie
9. 71G-Damion Gardner
10. 97-Rico Abreu
11. 71W-Christopher Bell
12. 1R-Thomas Meseraull
13. 47-Danny Stratton
14. 67Z-Kasey Kahne
15. 5-Jerry Coons, Jr.
16. 05-Brad Loyet
17. 21K-Cory Kruseman
18. 1-Sammy Swindell
19. (DNF) 2R-J.J. Yeley

  • Associated Categories: Sports, NASCAR News, Other Motorsports
  • Associated Tags: motorsports, Open Wheel, Auto Racing, Dirt Track, Midgets, Chili Bowl
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