The 40th annual Chili Bowl Nationals is set to start on Monday, 12 Jan., at the SageNet Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This indoor dirt midget race is one of the most followed short-track events in the country, and multiple NASCAR drivers are returning and debuting to chase the famous Golden Driller trophy with about 400 other entries this week.
The qualifying nights schedule for the weeklong midget car festival, according to Fox Sports’ Bob Pockrass, is as follows:
- Monday, January 12: Three-time winner and defending Chili Bowl champion Kyle Larson in the 1K car will qualify and compete in the first day feature, Race of Champions. Part-time driver and announcer for Motor Racing Network, Dillon Welch, will also take part in the first qualifying night’s heat races.
- Tuesday, January 13: The Warren Cat Qualifying Night will include J.J. Yeley, Ty Gibbs, and Sheldon Creed, who is making his Chili Bowl debut.
- Wednesday, January 14: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series drivers Jesse Love and Corey Day will compete on the third night.
- Thursday, January 15: Three-time champion Christopher Bell will join Josh Bilicki and Ryan Roulette for the fourth qualifying night.
- Friday, January 16: The final qualifying night, called the Hard Rock Casino Qualifying Night, will feature Santino Ferrucci and others finishing their runs before the big Saturday event.
The Race of Champions will kick the week off with a stacked 24-car field. Meanwhile, drivers will compete in heat races, dash events, and a main feature each night to set the lineup for Championship Saturday. Those who finish well on their qualifying night earn better starting spots for the final A-main race. Championship Saturday will wrap up the week with a 40-lap A-main on January 17.
2026 Chili Bowl Nationals New Rule For One On One Fights
ARCA Menards Series driver Brayton Laster will also debut at the Chili Bowl Nationals with Zach Boden Racing this year. “The Pizza Man” commented on the guideline that lets drivers settle disputes on the track and invited fellow drivers for a fight in a post on X:
“I just learned that the Chili Bowl Nationals allows drivers to fight one on one, as long as it doesn’t leave the track and it stops once you’re on the ground. With that being said, if any of my fellow drivers want to duke it out after a race, let me know and we’ll settle it right then and there and eat pizza afterwards,” Brayton Laster wrote.
The new rules were put in place to keep crews and fans safe and to avoid fights moving into crowded areas.
FloRacing will stream every qualifying night and the 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals live on its app with on-demand replays for subscribers. Ticketing and box office details are on the official Chili Bowl site.
Also Read:
Tony Stewart candidly explains what makes the Chili Bowl brutal than the Daytona 500 race
Chili Bowl Nationals hits a new record as 400 entries confirmed for the 2026 event
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