Christopher Bell’s Chili Bowl victory electrified the crowd on Thursday night at the Tulsa Expo Raceway, confirming his reputation as one of the leading competitors at the 40th annual Chili Bowl Nationals. Hailing from Oklahoma, Bell’s determined performance, marked by a daring late move, left fans in Tulsa eagerly anticipating the remainder of this famed short-track racing festival.
Fierce Competition Sets the Stage at the SageNet Center
Arriving at Thursday’s Hasty Bake Qualifying Night, Christopher Bell, representing JST Motorsports in the Rheem No. 21cb machine, was already off to a strong start after success in Monday’s Race of Champions. The night’s marquee A-Feature attracted an impressive roster of 82 drivers beneath the roof of the SageNet Center, amplifying the pressure and excitement throughout the field. Bell took the green flag from the eighth starting position, navigating an early race led by Indiana’s C.J. Leary, while competitors such as Ryan Bernal, Spencer Bayston, and Chris Windom aggressively battled to claim the top slots. The fight for position intensified as racers negotiated the treacherous Tulsa dirt and close-quarters action.
As the main event unfolded, Ryan Bernal capitalized on traffic and the racing line, capturing the lead with only seven laps left on the board. A pivotal caution wave then bunched the field, leveling the playing field and offering drivers a crucial chance to adjust strategies before the closing laps. It was here that the complexion of the race changed, setting the stage for Bell’s late and decisive charge.
Decisive Late Surge Delivers the Win
When the race restarted with five circuits remaining, Christopher Bell had already gained ground and positioned himself as a real contender. Harnessing his short-track experience, Bell executed a meticulously timed slide job through the first pair of corners with only three laps to go. This bold move disrupted Bernal’s momentum, giving Bell the opening he needed to break free from the pack on the inside line.
Building a margin of 0.778 seconds by the finish, Bell’s poise and tactical acumen pushed him to his ninth preliminary A-Feature triumph for JST Motorsports at the Chili Bowl. Recalling the intensity and unpredictability of the final laps, Bell commented on the crucial moment that enabled his run to victory:
“I didn’t think I was going to get there,”
—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 Standouts and Qualifying for Saturday’s Main Event
C.J. Leary, racing in the NOS Energy Drink No. 87w, crossed the line in second, adding another prestigious Saturday A-Feature start to his record. Ryan Bernal, after briefly leading the closing laps, finished in third, fending off aggressive charges from Spencer Bayston and Kyle Cummins. With Bayston and Cummins completing the top five, drivers like Karter Sarff, Ashton Torgerson, and Chris Windom earned notice for persistent runs through the field.
Thursday’s turnout contributed to a surging attendance at the Chili Bowl Nationals, where over 300 drivers are slated to compete during the week. Enthusiasm was palpable with fans crowding the stands and a global audience following the action online, all looking ahead to Friday’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa Qualifying Night, which promises even more drama leading into the main event.
Intense Qualifying Rounds and Key Heat Race Winners
The journey to the A-Main demanded resilience as the evening’s program brought together heats, qualifiers, and feature races. In the JUGO Super Foods Heat competition, a range of familiar and emerging names—including Frank Flud, Brady Bacon, Kyle Cummins, and Kalib Henry—claimed wins, each earning valuable momentum. Bell not only won his heat but used it as a launchpad for his dominant showing later in the night.
The Toyota Racing Development Qualifiers then narrowed the field, determining which sixteen drivers would compete in the A-Feature. Here, contenders such as Ashton Torgerson, Spencer Bayston, and Ryan Bernal, along with Bell, established themselves as threats for the night’s crown jewel. For those confronting setbacks, the Smiley’s Racing Products D-Features and Creek County Speedway C-Features presented final opportunities to advance, ensuring only the most persistent could challenge for the main event victory.
A-Feature Results from an Action-Packed Night
As the final laps counted down, Bell’s composed driving altered the outcome, grabbing the lead just as the race reached its most critical stage. Leary controlled the pace for much of the race, but it was Bernal who took command for four laps late before Bell’s incisive maneuver changed everything. The official top five from the JST Motorsports 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]
Tanner Thorson, Chris Windom, Karter Sarff, Jacob Denney, and Ashton Torgerson rounded out other notable finishers, demonstrating the competitive mix of veterans and rising stars. The fast-changing dynamics, shaped by restarts and bold driving, highlighted the skill required to master an event as nuanced and unpredictable as the Chili Bowl Nationals. For Christopher Bell, this latest triumph marked yet another significant milestone on home soil, witnessed by a passionate audience.
Profiles of Leading Drivers and Future Stars
While Bell commanded much of the spotlight, the field’s depth was undeniable. C.J. Leary’s run illustrated his tenacity and skill in navigating the demanding Tulsa track, consistently earning A-Feature starts against formidable opponents. Ryan Bernal’s adaptability in shifting race conditions confirmed his place among the elite, while up-and-coming drivers like Karter Sarff and Ashton Torgerson impressed with their qualifying round heroics. Proven names such as Brady Bacon, Frank Flud, and Tanner Thorson, along with Spencer Bayston, maintained intense pace during both heats and features, helping push the competition to new heights.
Crucial to these performances are the teams behind the scenes. JST Motorsports, NOS Energy Drink, and Toyota Racing Development have each become integral to the unfolding story of the week, providing vital support and technical expertise required for a winning campaign at the Chili Bowl.
Building Anticipation for the Chili Bowl Showdown
With Thursday’s qualifying action concluded, the excitement for the remaining nights at the 40th Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa grows ever more intense. The path to Saturday’s main event, the A-Main, continues to heat up as attendance nears record levels and every starting spot carries enormous stakes. Friday’s Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa Qualifying Night promises nearly 85 hopefuls battling for a cherished opportunity to join the select group of main event contenders, including Bell, Leary, and other front-runners.
The SageNet Center in Tulsa, long considered synonymous with midget car competition, offers the perfect setting for this dramatic display of speed and strategy. While fans fill the grandstands, those unable to be on-site are able to catch all the high-stakes racing through live online streams and official updates, keeping the broader racing community closely connected to each turn and finish line.
Impact of Bell’s Triumph and Looking Forward
Christopher Bell’s Chili Bowl victory, his ninth with JST Motorsports at this event, not only boosts his status in the championship hunt but also energizes the Oklahoma racing scene at large. Bell’s courage in the face of challenge and his split-second decisions during the late caution period offered inspiration to a new generation of drivers, proving that resilience and smart tactics are just as essential as raw talent to succeed at this level.
As the Saturday A-Feature approaches, drivers across the roster are now preparing to seize their chance at the coveted Chili Bowl crown. The weeks’ climactic moments at the Tulsa Expo Raceway beckon, with fans and competitors alike eager to witness the unfolding of yet another chapter in this iconic midget car showdown.
