2024 Chili Bowl Nationals Event Guide
The Chili Bowl Race
When it comes to motorsports, many racers start where their racing skill and budget fall within a lower level series. For these up and coming racers this has been midget racing. Midgets are used by many as a “stepping stone” to other high profile racing series like NASCAR, IndyCar, and other open wheel racing bodies. Big name racers like Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Mario Andretti, Kyle Larson, and a host of others, have all raced midgets as they worked their way up to other forms of racing.
For these midget racers, the “big one” is the Chili Bowl Nationals. Officially known as the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, this huge indoor race is held each January in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the Expo Square grounds’ SageNet Center building. This Tulsa Expo Center facility is one of the largest clear span buildings in the world, allowing plenty of unencumbered racing surface access along with the Chili Bowl’s trade show, all under one roof.
The Chili Bowl schedule features five nights of qualifying through 10, 15, and 20 lap mains that lead up to the big 55-lap A-main feature on Saturday night, the 15,000 plus spectators are on the edge of their seats with all the action as they watch nearly 300 racers compete for a spot in that A-main on Saturday. This year expect to see top names like last year’s champion Logan Seavey, along with Sammy Swindell, Tanner Berryhill, Chase Briscoe, and many more battle it out for the win. It is a must do event if you have any interest in open wheel racing, or just racing in general. If you’ve never been not only is the race and trade show a huge draw, but there are plenty of wonderful things to see and places to eat in and around the Tulsa area.
Chili Bowl Race Schedule
Below is the main schedule for all racing events. You can find full schedules on trade show times, as well as facility open/close times, and much more on the Chili Bowl’s about tab on its website. All events are hosted at Tulsa Expo Raceway/SageNet Center in Tulsa, Ok January 8-13, 2024. While you won’t find a Chili Bowl seating chart on the Chili Bowl website, there are some ticket vendors online with a seating chart that may still have tickets available.
Places to Stay in Tulsa + Chili Bowl Event Camping
Tulsa is a destination in its own right, which means there are plenty of hotels, RV sites, and general campgrounds to accommodate race fans. So, whether you’re bringing the RV, pitching a tent, or looking for a hotel room, Tulsa has it. Most of the locations listed will have some sort of “Chili Bowl Nationals rate,” so be sure to ask when making reservations. Bookings happen far in advance, but if you’re lucky enough to get tickets you might want to call these properties and check for any cancellations.
Best Food in Tulsa - The Chili Bowl Experience
With a title that still references the original Chili Bowl restaurant, just the name of this race will make you hungry! But don’t worry, the Chili Bowl Tulsa area has some of the best spots to make that tummy happy. You don’t need to be a “foodie” to appreciate these Tulsa landmarks! And don’t forget to grab some famous chili at the Expo Center!
- Brownie’s Hamburger Stand (2130 S Harvard Ave, Tulsa, OK 74114)
- Albert G’s Bar-B-Q (2748 S. Harvard Ave., Tulsa, OK 74114)
- Tally’s Good Food Café (1102 S. Yale Ave., Tulsa, OK 74112)
- White River Fish Market (1708 N. Sheridan, Tulsa, OK 74115)
- Charleston’s Restaurant (6839 S. Yale Ave., Tulsa, OK 74136)
- Andolini’s Pizzeria (1552 E 15th St, Tulsa, OK 74120)
The Chili Bowl Race Live Stream
We know that it isn’t always within everyone’s reach to attend the Chili Bowl Nationals in person. Some are recovering from that big Christmas gift shopping rush, while others may not have the time off from work. Whatever the reason that you can’t attend Chili Bowl Tulsa in person this year, watching the Chili Bowl schedule via a live stream is certainly the next best option. You can watch the Chili Bowl Nationals live, including all the qualifying and race action on FloRacing available on Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast, and Apple TV. You can also download the FloSports app on iOS or Android for mobile streaming of the Chili Bowl live. Of course, you’ll also be able to catch some live and recap segments (including those famous Chili Bowl crash videos!) through the Chili Bowl’s social channels on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and others by searching the official hashtag at #chilibowl2024.
The History of the Chili Bowl Race
Nearly 40 years ago, Emmett Hahn, a racer and event promotor, was putting the final touches on his sprint car race called the STP Shootout (a race that precedes the Chili Bowl Nationals to this day) at the Tulsa Expo Raceway when Lanny Edwards, also an even promotor, discussed a modified race where sprint car drivers would race in midgets and race against the best midget drivers in the country. Thus, this “winter race” held indoors at the Tulsa Expo Center was born in 1987, making it one of the most anticipated and successful dirt track racing events of the season.
The Chili Bowl Nationals gets its title from its original sponsor, Bob Berryhill’s The Original Chili Bowl food company that sold chili seasonings and premixed chili. The Original Chili Bowl was also, at one time, a well known restaurant in Tulsa as well going back to the 1940s. Berryhill sponsored that first race in 1987, but four years later sold the business to Keebler, who opted to not continue the title sponsorship. All these years later, the name has stuck, and everyone still refers to this great race as “The Chili Bowl.”
Over the years some incredible drivers have taken home the Golden Driller statue, a scale version of the giant 76-foot statue of an oil drilling platform with oil worker outside the Expo Center (don’t forget your selfie with the Tulsa Golden Driller statue!). These include names like Sammy Swindell, Kevin Swindell, Tony Stewart, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and others.
Often you will find past winners attending the event as spectators, team owners, or even back behind the wheel for another go around the 1/4-mile clay track. Today, more than ever, sprint and midget cars are being made safer with the use of 3D modeling and FEM/FEA engineering studies, allowing current and future Chili Bowl participants to be as safe as possible.
Chili Bowl Race Results
The Chili Bowl winners list includes multiple event winners, including Sammy Swindell (five time winner), his son Kevin Swindell (four time winner), Christopher Bell (three time winner), Tony Stewart (two time winner), and more. Below is a list of Chili Bowl Winners from the first race in 1987 up to the 2023 race.
Chili Bowl Nationals Essentials
If you’re lucky enough to be a spectator at the 38th annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, come January 2024, here are a few tips on the essentials for attending. First and foremost is getting there. The address for GPS use is 4145 East 21st Street, Tulsa, OK 74114. The main entrance is one block west of the intersection of Yale and East 21st Street. Full facility maps and more details can be found at the Expo Square website. There is also the Visit Tulsa website for more ideas on things to do while in the area.
The Expo Center does not allow stadium seats (though small seat cushions can be used), outside food or drink, or coolers. However, you can bring blankets and you are allowed small bags. Don’t forget hearing protection for you and your family.
