Bell wins Chili Bowl Nationals for a second consecutive year
For the Tulsa World
TULSA — Christoper Bell gave car owner Keith Kunz his fourth straight and seventh overall Golden Driller trophy with a second consecutive victory in the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals before a sold-out crowd late Saturday at the River Spirit Expo Center at Expo Square.
Bell, of Norman, led a Kunz 1-2-3 sweep, beating teammate and 201516 Chili Bowl winner Rico Abreu and Spencer Bayston.
Thanks to Bell, the championship belongs to an Oklahoma driver for the second-straight year. The only other Oklahoman to win the Chili Bowl was now-retired Andy Hillenburg in 1994. Hillenburg drove for Kunz, too.
Bell started the indoor dirt car race outside front row next to pole sitter and teammate Kyle Larson. The NASCAR Cup star roared into the early with Bell giving chase for the first nine laps.
“I was not to worried about him driving away,” said Bell. “I was just kind of taking my own time and ran my own race.”
The yellow flag waved on lap 10, and on the restart Bell shot around Larson to take the lead.
“When we were rolling around there on the yellow I started looking at the track and thought the track might be (right) in (turns) 3 and 4,” said Bell, the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck champion.
Bell set the pace with Larson close behind. As the two encountered lapped traffic, Larson saw an opportunity and slipped around Bell for the lead on lap 26.
“I was just trying to pace myself not to run too hard, then I got to lapped traffic and took it way to easy,” Bell said. “Kyle was able to get by me.
“He was getting through lapped traffic great. Seemed like every time he got around someone he was able to put them a lap down. I just got in behind Kyle.”
Larson stayed in command until smoke poured from his midget’s motor on lap 42 and he pulled to the infield. Bell regained the lead and led the final 14 laps to victory by a 3 second margin over Abreu.
Bell felt bad for Larson.
“I wanted to race it out, and I know the fans wanted us to race it out, too, so I’m disappointed we didn’t get to do that, but I’d rather be lucky than good any day,” Bell said.
Drivers from 10 states and the United Kingdom started the 55-lap feature. Tanner Thorson of Minden, Nevada, put on a show working his way to a fourth-place finish.
Thorson, the 2016 USAC National Midget champion, won the first C main. He then finished third in the first B main to earn the 17th spot start in the A feature.
CHILI BOWL MIDGET NATIONALS
A Main: 1. Christopher Bell, Norman. 2. Rico Abreu, Rutherford, Calif.; 3. Spencer Bayston, Lebanon, Ind.;
4. Tanner Thorson, Minden, Nev.; 5. Ryan Bernal, Hollister, Calif.; 6. Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, Calif.; 7, Justin Grant, Ione, Calif.; 8. Chase Johnson, Penngrove, Calif.; 9, Kevin Thomas, Jr., Cullman, Ala.; 10. Chad Boat, Phoenix, Ariz.
11. Ryan Robinson, Foresthill, Calif.; 12. Tyler Courtney, Noblesville, Ind.,;
13. Chris Windom, Canton, Ill.; 14. Logan Seavey, Sutter, Calif.; 15. Shane Golobic, Fremont, Calif.;
16. Tom Harris, Banbury Oxford, UK; 17. Caleb Armstrong, New Castle, Ind.; 18, Billy Pauch, Jr.; Frenchtown, N.J.; 19. Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, Calif.; 20. Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, Mo. 21, Tyler Thomas, Collinsville; 22. Tracy Hines, Wilkinson, Ind.; 23. Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tenn.; 24. Giovanni Sceizi, Fresno, Calif.