Kyle Larson Chili Bowl win headlines the Monday Night Prelim as the defending NASCAR Cup Series champion captured his ninth preliminary victory at the Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on January 13, 2026. Larson’s impressive performance not only secures his place in Saturday’s prestigious A-Main, but also highlights his ongoing dominance at this famed dirt racing event.
Larson’s Determined Drive Secures Ninth Preliminary Win
Returning to Oklahoma hoping for a fourth overall Chili Bowl Nationals title, Kyle Larson delivered another outstanding drive at the Tulsa Expo Center. Hailing from Elk Grove, California, Larson achieved back-to-back Monday Night Prelim wins, once again showing his competitive form in this iconic indoor midget car race. The event draws in top drivers from across the racing world, and Larson’s result locks him into Saturday’s main feature—an achievement he has now repeated for the ninth time in his career.
Race Highlights: Larson Battles Through the Field
Starting from the fourth position, Larson skillfully piloted his No. 1K car by finding speed along the top groove in the early laps. Progressing through the field, he stayed clear of threats from Shane Golobic before making crucial moves past Cannon MacIntosh and Briggs Danner by the one-third mark of the race. Larson’s expertise became crucial as lapped traffic intensified, leading to a dramatic sequence where Gage Wheldon, a lapped car, unexpectedly switched lanes in Turn 3. Contact ensued, resulting in Wheldon being spun by Larson and prompting a rare caution flag during the 30-lap feature.
Dramatic Finish Involving Key Competitors
After the restart, the action escalated as both Larson and Danner navigated tightly packed traffic. Briggs Danner, piloting the No. 55 car owned by Alex Bowman, Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, challenged for the lead in the closing laps. Despite Danner’s aggressive maneuvers, Larson held on to win the intense duel.
“Back-to-back Monday victories for @KyleLarsonRacin after a great duel with @BriggsDanner78!
Both drivers lock into the Saturday A-Main for the 40th #ChiliBowl powered by @NosEnergyDrink. pic.twitter.com/Ng7j3poQQg” — FloRacing (@FloRacing)
Danner ultimately crossed the line in second place, ensuring his own A-Main starting spot. Meanwhile, Cannon McIntosh, who began from pole position, slipped back to finish third and now faces a tougher path to a possible Golden Driller trophy, needing to race his way in through the B-Main.
Rounding Out the Top Finishers and NASCAR Driver Performances
Shane Golobic earned a fourth-place finish, while Jerry Coons, Jr. completed the top five. Other notable finishers included Justin Peck, Kameron Key, Tanner Carrick, Jakeb Boxell, and Nick Hoffman, who filled positions six through ten by the end of the A-Main. NASCAR National Series veterans Tanner Berryhill and Todd Kleuever finished back-to-back in the final A-Main standings, with Berryhill taking 24th after previously claiming the B-Main win, and Kleuever placing 23rd.
Monday proved to be a successful outing for the NASCAR contingent overall. Christopher Bell, another regular in the NASCAR Cup Series and frequent Chili Bowl competitor, won the Race of Champions earlier in the evening. This victory grants Bell a provisional spot in Saturday’s A-Main Feature if he requires it.
What Larson’s Prelim Win Means for Saturday’s Main Event
Kyle Larson’s Chili Bowl win on Monday cements his reputation as one of the most accomplished drivers in the history of this event, demonstrating the skill and resilience that have made him such a formidable figure both in NASCAR and on dirt. With a record-tying ninth preliminary victory now in the books, Larson heads into Saturday’s main event with confidence and momentum, facing fierce competition from rivals like Briggs Danner, Cannon McIntosh, and Christopher Bell. The stage is set for an electrifying finale at the Tulsa Expo Center, where Larson and the rest of the field will battle for the coveted Golden Driller trophy in one of motorsport’s premier indoor racing showcases.
Back-to-back Monday victories for @KyleLarsonRacin after a great duel with @BriggsDanner78!
Both drivers lock into the Saturday A-Main for the 40th #ChiliBowl powered by @NosEnergyDrink. pic.twitter.com/Ng7j3poQQg
— FloRacing (@FloRacing) January 13, 2026
