The Chili Bowl Nationals, renowned as the premier midget car racing event globally, attracted widespread attention in 2026, with top NASCAR drivers returning to Tulsa‘s SageNet Center aiming for standout Chili Bowl results. This year’s competition featured several NASCAR champions and emerging talents, underscoring the growing significance of the event for the stock car racing community.
NASCAR Stars Lead the Field at the 2026 Chili Bowl
Defending Chili Bowl and NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson entered the 2026 event as the racer to watch, aiming to claim his fourth Golden Driller trophy. Larson, making his 18th Chili Bowl appearance, sought to add another victory to his already impressive resume, having won the championship feature three times and appeared in the championship race more than a dozen times. Besides his main event pursuit, Larson also entered the prestigious O’Reilly Auto Parts Race of Champions on Monday night.
Christopher Bell, a three-time Chili Bowl champion from Norman, Oklahoma, also returned, making his 13th attempt. Bell’s history at the event is notable, having claimed titles consecutively from 2017 through 2019. Last year, he returned after a pause and finished 10th in the Saturday night finale, eager to reach the podium again in his home state. Bell was also among those competing in Monday’s Race of Champions.
Fresh off his 2025 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship, Jesse Love returned to the Tulsa dirt for the first time since 2024. Love, driving a car prepared by Blake Harris, best remembered his 13th-place B-Main finish in 2021 and set his sights higher for 2026. He too was slated for the Monday night Race of Champions, joining other NASCAR frontrunners.
Ty Gibbs, the 2022 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion, marked his second Chili Bowl start after placing sixth in an F-Main during last year’s event. Eager to improve on his previous performance, Gibbs was scheduled to race on Tuesday’s qualifying night.
NASCAR veteran J.J. Yeley reached a remarkable milestone in Tulsa, making his 30th attempt at the Chili Bowl Nationals. Known for his endurance and legendary run in 2004—where he gained 69 positions to finish third—Yeley continued to chase the elusive Golden Driller, with past achievements including eight championship feature starts and a runner-up finish in 2007.
For Sheldon Creed, 2026 marked his Chili Bowl debut. Competing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for the Haas Factory Team and no stranger to the dirt circuit, Creed brought considerable short-track experience from North Carolina’s Millbridge Speedway and previous Tulsa Shootout events to his inaugural Chili Bowl campaign.
Emerging star Corey Day, now racing his first full NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season with Hendrick Motorsports, made his fifth Chili Bowl appearance. Day’s record inside the SageNet Center includes three championship feature starts, highlighted by a third-place finish in 2024. He also participated in the Race of Champions on Monday night.
NASCAR Regional and Development Drivers Compete
Beyond the national NASCAR names, the Chili Bowl also drew athletes from NASCAR’s developmental and regional circuits. Gavan Boschele, set for an ARCA Menards Series campaign with Nitro Motorsports, returned for his fourth Chili Bowl effort in a Midget car owned by NASCAR Cup champion Kyle Busch. Boschele’s best showing was a 14th-place B-Main result in 2022.
Jake Johnson, a NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race winner, prepared for his Chili Bowl debut in a car fielded by Cory Kruseman, himself a two-time event winner. Johnson’s jump into the field brought further NASCAR Modified flavor to the Tulsa showpiece.
Brayton Laster, known for his ARCA Menards Series runs and dirt racing background, made his first-ever appearance at the Chili Bowl, driving for car owner Zach Boden. Laster joined a cohort of rookies aiming to impress on the national stage.
Ryan Roulette, serving as a U.S. Air Force pilot and ARCA competitor, traded in cockpit controls for a Midget car, pursuing his own Chili Bowl debut thanks to Brian Buckwalter’s team support.
Other notable NASCAR drivers in the field included Sheldon Creed, Ty Gibbs, J.J. Yeley, and Josh Bilicki, each bringing diverse experiences and goals to the week’s racing action in Tulsa.
Highlights from Tulsa: Key Performances and Schedule
The qualifying heats spread across Monday through Friday determined which drivers would advance to Saturday’s climactic championship features. Notably, established veterans like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell anchored attention early in the week, while newer names such as Jesse Love and Corey Day continued to solidify their growing reputations in both NASCAR and midget racing circles. Legendary performances from the likes of J.J. Yeley underscored the deep history and competitive spirit of the event.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Race of Champions, held Monday, featured a select group of elite drivers, offering fans an additional spectacle beyond the primary championship pursuit. This popular exhibition set the competitive tone and allowed drivers to showcase their skills in high-stakes, head-to-head matchups.
How Fans Can Follow the 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals
Spectators looking to watch the 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals accessed every round live via FloRacing, the exclusive streaming partner for NASCAR’s regional content. The event was not broadcast through traditional television networks. FloRacing’s live coverage encompassed all five qualifying nights, beginning Monday, January 13, and concluded with the championship finale on Saturday, January 18. This partnership exemplified the growing shift toward digital streaming for marquee motorsports events.
What the Results Mean for NASCAR and Midget Racing
The 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa once again showcased not only the cross-discipline talent of NASCAR’s top drivers but also their commitment to grassroots racing. For competitors like Larson, Bell, Love, and rising talents including Corey Day and Jake Johnson, success at the Chili Bowl affirms both their versatility and their passion for short-track competition. The annual convergence of national stars and developmental drivers on Tulsa’s dirt continues to amplify the prestige of the Chili Bowl within the racing world, promising continued excitement for fans and competitors as future seasons approach.
