How do the Chili Bowl Nationals work? All you need to know

The Chili Bowl Nationals, one of the most popular Dirt Midget racing events in the US, is scheduled to take place in the third week of this month. The indoor event started in 1987 on a special quarter-mile dirt track, which is created every year just for this race and over 350 drivers compete for the prestigious Golden Driller trophy.

The event takes place over six days where drivers race in qualifying rounds during the week to earn a spot in this final 55-lap race.

Drivers have to compete in heat races to earn "passing points" for passing other cars. The top 40 drivers then move on to qualifying races and the best 16 later advance to the main race, A-Main on Saturday. However, the drivers who don’t make it to the A-Main get another shot via C and B-Mains.

On the final day, races start with lower rounds (like P-Mains or O-Mains) and move up as drivers reach the A-Main. The final 24 drivers battle it out in the 55-lap feature race, with starting positions decided in the Pole Dash.

The Chili Bowl Midget Nationals rulebook covers details about body parts, fuel, and wheel covers. It bans the use of Gyros or driving assist devices in any class and also lays out the battery requirements with a maximum voltage limit.

Moreover, it requires all cars to pass inspection before they can race. Inspections for the upcoming edition of the event will start on January 11, 2025. The full updated rules for this year are available on the Chili Bowl website.

Which NASCAR Cup Series drivers will be competing in the 39th Chili Bowl Nationals?

Kyle Busch during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. - Source: Imagn

The list of entries for this year's Chili Bowl Nationals is still growing but the NASCAR Cup drivers competing in the race are Kyle Busch, Ty Gibbs, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kyle Larson, Chase Briscoe, and Christopher Bell.

Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, Kyle Busch will make his debut this year and join his nine-year-old son, Brexton at the event.

"The Chili Bowl is a legendary event and has always been on my wish-list. To be able to compete there, and then alongside my son Brexton at the Tulsa Shootout, is making this year one to remember," Busch said (via NASCAR.com).

Joe Gibbs Racing's Ty Gibbs, who grew up racing Outlaw Karts, will compete this year after the team decided to allow JGR drivers to compete in non-NASCAR events. Bell is a three-time Chili Bowl Nationals winner while Larson has won the event two times. Chase Briscoe and 2023 Daytona 500 winner, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. also have their fair share of experience competing at the Chili Bowl.

The 39th Chili Bowl Nationals is scheduled for January 13-18, 2025, at the SageNet Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. All the action will be live-streamed on FloRacing.