TULSA, Okla. - Kyle Larson scored his fourth Warren CAT Qualifying Night victory in as many years on Tuesday night to punch his ticket into Saturday’s A-Feature at the 35th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals at Oklahoma’s Tulsa Expo Raceway.
It marks his seventh overall preliminary night victory and his 10th trip to Saturday night’s main event.
Larson trailed Thomas Meseraull on the start, with the pair battling for the lead until the caution came on lap 4 when third place Jonathan Beason made a hard hit to the wall in the second turn.
On the restart, Meseraull and Larson were joined by Shane Golobic, as the three fought for the top spot before the caution again slowed the action on lap 10.
Keeping pace through several consecutive cautions, the leaders began working through lapped traffic on Lap 16. Larson held the lead, with Golobic and Meseraull in pursuit.
Larson was under pressure from Golobic as the field raced towards the white flag, with Larson having the edge after Golobic tangled with a slower car. But a late caution flag flew, setting up a final restart.
With the green flag back in the air, Larson faced a final challenge from Meseraull, but the Larson was up to the task, crossing the finish line with a scant 0.395-second advantage.
Meseraull’s second place finish also locks him into Saturday night’s A-Feature. Zach Daum came home in third, with Cole Bodine in fourth and Danny Stratton in fifth.
Derek Hagar, Chase Johnson, Hank Davis, Daison Pursley and Frank Flud rounded out the top 10.
Earlier in the night, Christopher Bell trailed early in the Vacuworx Invitational Race of Champions, only to blow the field away by 4.573-seconds. Cannon McIntosh, who led early, ended up second with Larson third on a last corner pass on Daum and Justin Grant.
The 35th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals continues on Wednesday, with Circle City Raceway Qualifying Night. For more information, visit ChiliBowl.com.
Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals
Tulsa Expo Raceway – Tulsa, OK
Warren CAT Qualifying Night – January 12, 2021
1. Kyle Larson
2. Thomas Meseraull
3. Zach Daum
4. Cole Bodine
5. Danny Stratton
6. Derek Hagar
7. Chase Johnson
8. Hank Davis
9. Daison Pursley
10. Frank Flud
11. Kyle Jones
12. Nick Drake
13. Michael Faccinto
14. Jonathan Beason
15. Noah Harris
16. Anton Hernandez
17. Mitchell Davis
18. Tanner Carrick
19. Aiden Purdue
20. Shane Cottle
21. Carson Kvapil
22. Shane Golobic
23. Brody Fuson
24. Curtis Jones
Vacuworx Invitational Race of Champions
1. Christopher Bell
2. Cannon McIntosh
3. Kyle Larson
4. Zach Daum
5. Justin Grant
6. Brady Bacon
7. Tanner Thorson
8. Brad Sweet
9. Daryn Pittman
10. Aaron Reutzel
11. Rico Abreu
12. Jake Neuman
13. Spencer Bayston
14. Chris Windom
http://accesswdun.com/article/2021/1/970805/kyle-larson-scores-tuesday-chili-bowl-qualifying-victory