Oklahoma native Christopher Bell surged to a hard-fought win during Thursday’s Hasty Bake Qualifying Night at the 40th annual Chili Bowl Nationals, delivering a thrilling performance at the Tulsa Expo Raceway. Bell’s Chili Bowl victory came after a dramatic late-race caution, cementing his status among the event’s top contenders and keeping fans on edge in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Race Unfolds with Intense Competition at Expo Raceway
Christopher Bell, driving the Rheem No. 21cb for JST Motorsports, entered Thursday night having already claimed a win during Monday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Invitational Race of Champions. The strong start to the week set the tone for Bell’s determined run in Thursday’s A-Feature, where a deep field of 82 drivers took to the track under the roof of the SageNet Center in Tulsa.
Bell began the 30-lap A-Feature from eighth position, facing early dominance from Indiana’s C.J. Leary. As the laps clicked by, Leary held off challenges from Ryan Bernal, Spencer Bayston, and Chris Windom, each looking to secure their place up front. The mix of experience and aggression was clear as competitors traded positions and pushed the limits on the Tulsa dirt.
Ryan Bernal eventually broke through to lead with only seven laps remaining, overtaking Leary as the two negotiated heavy lapped traffic and a demanding cushion. However, a timely caution bunched the field once again, providing Bell and others an opportunity to recalibrate their strategies and make a final attempt at victory.
Bell’s Tactical Move Delivers Winning Edge
As the race resumed with five laps left, Christopher Bell had advanced two positions since the previous restart and began stalking those ahead. Seizing opportunity, Bell made a daring move along the inside line with three laps to go, executing a slide job through turns one and two that broke Bernal’s rhythm and allowed Bell to capitalize.
Pushing hard on the hub, Bell accelerated away from the competition, building a 0.778-second advantage by the checkered flag. His decisive tactics gave him his ninth preliminary A-Feature win in JST Motorsports’ Chili Bowl competition, a testament to both talent and poise under pressure. Reflecting on the event, Bell described the uncertainty and split-second decision making that shaped his run:
“I didn’t think I was going to get there,”
said Bell, addressing the effort required for the win—Christopher Bell, Driver.
“When the yellow came out, I didn’t know how far away those guys were, but I really just didn’t have the pace, and everyone was really committed to the top, and I wasn’t able to keep up, so when the yellow came out, I knew I was going to have to do something different.”
—Christopher Bell, Driver.
Podium Finishers and Saturday’s Stakes
C.J. Leary, piloting the NOS Energy Drink No. 87w, managed an impressive runner-up finish, ensuring his fifth start in the Saturday A-Feature main event. Ryan Bernal, who briefly controlled the closing laps, secured third place, holding off fierce challenges from Spencer Bayston and Kyle Cummins, who rounded out the top five positions.
With over 300 drivers participating across the opening nights, Thursday’s competition contributed to a rising attendance tally, drawing closer to the 2022 record of 381 with Friday’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa Qualifying Night set to add further drama. As the week continues, anticipation is building for the grand finale, with general admission fans filling the stands and action streaming live for those unable to attend.
Notable Results from Hasty Bake Qualifying Night
The night was packed with action across various heats, qualifiers, and features as drivers fought for limited spots in the coveted Saturday A-Main. JUGO Super Foods Heat races whittled down the large field, with key names like Frank Flud, Brady Bacon, Kyle Cummins, and Kalib Henry taking victories in their respective heats. Bell himself claimed his heat, building momentum toward the night’s crown jewel event.
After the heats, competitors moved through Toyota Racing Development Qualifiers, which determined the top sixteen advancing to the A-Feature. Here again, Bell and contenders like Ashton Torgerson, Spencer Bayston, and Ryan Bernal showed their prowess by winning their respective qualifiers, signaling they would be threats in the main event.
For drivers who faced adversity earlier in the evening, Smiley’s Racing Products D-Features and Creek County Speedway C-Features offered one last chance to advance up the ladder, ensuring that only the most capable and resilient would reach the evening’s final.
Detailed A-Feature Results
The JST Motorsports A-Feature capped off a marathon night of racing, with Bell’s late-race heroics the central storyline. Leary led from laps 1 to 22 before Bernal assumed the point from laps 23 to 26. Bell’s daring charge locked him into the lead for the final four laps, sealing his thrilling Chili Bowl victory. The top finishers in the A-Feature were:
1. Christopher Bell (No. 21CB) [Started 8th]
2. C.J. Leary (No. 55X) [Started 1st]
3. Ryan Bernal (No. 87W) [Started 5th]
4. Spencer Bayston (No. 1S) [Started 3rd]
5. Kyle Cummins (No. 39G) [Started 7th]
Other notable finishers included Tanner Thorson, Chris Windom, Karter Sarff, Jacob Denney, and Ashton Torgerson. The results reflected a night of both caution and aggression, as race dynamics shifted dramatically through restarts and daring on-track moves. For Bell, the Chili Bowl win was yet another career highlight achieved in front of a passionate local and national audience.
Spotlight on Key Drivers and Emerging Talents
While Christopher Bell’s performance drew the spotlight, the event underscored the remarkable talent and depth within the field. C.J. Leary’s run to the Saturday A-Feature highlights his consistency at Tulsa, while Bernal’s strength in traffic confirmed his competitive edge. Up-and-comers such as Karter Sarff and Ashton Torgerson made their presence felt with impressive advances through the evening’s tough qualifier rounds. Veterans like Brady Bacon, Frank Flud, Tanner Thorson, and Spencer Bayston sustained the pressure in their heats and features, ensuring the pace never faltered.
The Chili Bowl is also renowned for its community of passionate teams, with JST Motorsports, NOS Energy Drink, and Toyota Racing Development each playing significant roles in the evolving championship narrative. Their support and technical expertise have become pivotal to success during this iconic week of short-track racing.
Momentum Builds Towards Chili Bowl Main Event
Thursday’s Hasty Bake Qualifying Night marks a pivotal stage in the 40th annual Chili Bowl Nationals, setting up an electrifying path to the Saturday A-Main. With the attendance closing in on previous records and each prize spot fiercely contested, all eyes are now fixed on Friday’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa Qualifying Night. Nearly 85 drivers are on the docket, promising another evening of unpredictable racing as hopefuls aim to join Bell, Leary, and company in the signature main event.
The entire tournament, running January 12-17, 2026, is held at Tulsa’s SageNet Center, a setting that has become synonymous with midget car racing’s high drama. Fans unable to witness the action in person can follow every lap live, while official event updates and results continue to be posted on the Chili Bowl Nationals’ social media channels and website.
Significance of Bell’s Win and What Lies Ahead
Christopher Bell’s ninth JST Motorsports Chili Bowl preliminary victory delivers momentum to both his own championship ambitions and the larger Oklahoma racing community. The drive through adversity, especially his dynamic response to the late-race caution, elevates the stature of this year’s competition and sets a high bar for the final nights ahead. Bell’s accomplishment further inspires emerging talents, showing that strategic thinking and perseverance are as critical as speed in securing victory in one of short-track racing’s most prestigious events.
With Saturday’s A-Feature looming, the focus now turns to which drivers will join Bell among the elite group vying for the Chili Bowl crown. As competition intensifies, fans and competitors alike await the crowning moments yet to unfold beneath the lights of the Tulsa Expo Raceway.
