At the 2024 Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Christopher Bell is making headlines not only as a driver but as a car owner, taking his career in Midget car racing to a new level. The event, known as the premier gathering for Midget car competition, has seen a notable shift this year as more NASCAR personalities, including Bell, step into ownership roles—a trend reshaping the landscape of this iconic offseason race.
NASCAR Drivers Step Beyond the Wheel at the Chili Bowl
This season, the SageNet Center hosts a mix of top-tier racing talent, attracting no fewer than eight drivers from last year’s NASCAR national divisions. Among those taking to the dirt are reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion Jesse Love, Joe Gibbs Racing representatives Christopher Bell and Ty Gibbs, plus other well-known names. The Chili Bowl Nationals is renowned for drawing both established stars and ambitious newcomers, all chasing the coveted Golden Driller trophy.
But the competition goes beyond the racetrack. Five active NASCAR Cup Series drivers are participating as car owners this year. Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Alex Bowman, Chase Briscoe, and Kyle Busch have each entered cars, alongside Hendrick Motorsports crew chief Blake Harris, who is fielding an entry for Jesse Love. This increased involvement signals a growing trend of drivers transitioning into leadership and ownership roles, bringing new perspectives to team management and preparation.
Many of these owners began their journeys at the Chili Bowl as young drivers, a tradition that shapes their current passion and investment in the event.
Alex Bowman’s Transition from Driver to Car Owner
Alex Bowman exemplifies the career evolution seen at the Chili Bowl. After over a decade traveling to Tulsa to race, Bowman now finds himself on the sidelines as a car owner and crew chief. He currently manages cars for C.J. Leary and Briggs Danner, turning his attention to the complex, behind-the-scenes aspects of Midget car competition.
“I think this is like the 11th year I’ve brought a car to the Chili Bowl, and I’ve driven five or six times out of those 11 years,”
said Bowman, reflecting on his extensive involvement with the race. Throughout his time as a driver, Bowman made ten attempts to qualify for the Saturday championship feature but was never able to make the starting lineup. His transition to owner and setup decision-maker brings its own set of pressures.
“I’m making all the setup calls on these cars,”
Bowman said.
“Trying to get those calls right is probably the most stressful part of the week, but it’s a lot of fun, and I really enjoy this event.”
On Monday night, his decisions paid off, with Briggs Danner finishing second to Larson in the preliminary feature and earning a spot in Saturday’s main event. C.J. Leary is set to compete in Thursday’s highly competitive session.
“Briggs has been really fast both years he’s driving for me,”
shared Bowman.
“I think he probably could have, should have, would have won last year. He made some really conservative decisions there at the end (of Monday’s feature) to take the locked in spot, which I’m all good with. That was a good night for us.”
Discussing Leary’s forthcoming effort, Bowman added,
“With C.J., we’re such close friends that it is probably the more stressful one of the week for me. Thursday is inherently always the hardest night of the week. In my opinion it is the most stacked night.”
While Bowman’s driving days at the Chili Bowl are mostly in the past, his competitive edge remains sharp.
“I want to win this event, and my best chance is to do it with not me in the seat probably,”
he admitted.
“I’m definitely having fun with it.”
Christopher Bell Builds His Legacy as Owner and Champion
Christopher Bell, a three-time winner at the Chili Bowl Nationals, has deepened his involvement this year by fielding his own Midget cars. After prior stints with Keith Kunz Motorsports and CB Industries, Bell decided to create his own team for the 2026 event. This week, he’s racing alongside Australian driver Kaidon Brown, both representing Bell’s newly founded operation.
“Last year I drove for KKM, and when I left the event, it just kind of really hit me. I felt like that chapter of my career was behind me,”
said Bell, explaining his career pivot.
“I said, ‘I wanna try something else.’ My goal isn’t to drive for myself. Honestly, my goal was to have two drivers I enjoy being around.”
Although he hoped to step back entirely, scheduling conflicts left Bell in the driver’s seat for one car.
“Kaidon was always part of the plan, but unfortunately the guys that were on my list (for the second car) already had commitments. So, I was then like, ‘Well, I guess I’ll just drive it.’”
Since the conclusion of last season’s NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Raceway, Bell has focused his offseason energies on building his Chili Bowl presence from the ground up. For Bell, who attended the event as a fan before becoming a popular driver, the change to owner has offered new challenges and rewards.
“From the car owner side, I just enjoyed the prep process and the shop work and assembling the cars,”
Bell said.
“Thinking of how we’re going to setup our pit area, the handling of the food, all that stuff. I think I just enjoyed all the extracurriculars of it.”
Bell finds rejuvenation in returning each offseason to the Chili Bowl and its companion event, the Tulsa Shootout.
“The Chili Bowl and the Tulsa Shootout is literally the perfect event for me to spend my offseason. I don’t have to put much into it during my regular day job, then when the offseason comes, I’ve been full-time working on these things and preparing for this week.”
Bell’s Racing Triumphs as Owner and the Importance of the Offseason
This year, Christopher Bell’s transition to ownership began with immediate success. He claimed the O’Reilly Auto Parts Race of Champions title on Monday, marking his fourth victory in that contest, and giving his new team a significant boost heading into the main event.
Bell acknowledged the personal importance of winning as an owner, especially when surrounded by family and close friends.
“I think it’s definitely going to be more special,”
he said.
“Even the Race of Champions just felt very rewarding to win with myself crew chiefing, my father-in-law helping working on the cars, my best friend working on the cars, it definitely meant more.”
Looking ahead, Bell aspires to see this success shared with others.
“Certainly if I could do it with another person driving, it would be icing on the cake.”
The Impact of Driver-Owners on the Chili Bowl’s Future
The presence of figures like Christopher Bell at the Chili Bowl Nationals underlines a broader transformation within the event. As more top-flight NASCAR drivers become owners, they bring fresh strategies, technical expertise, and heightened visibility to the competition. Enthusiasts and aspiring drivers at SageNet Center this week feel the influence of these veteran competitors as they pave new paths for success beyond the driver’s seat.
For Bell, the Chili Bowl represents both a cherished tradition and an opportunity to shape his own legacy—not just as a racer, but as a leader helping to guide the next generation of champions in the world of Midget car racing.
