(Image Credit: Michael Fry)
Bryan Hulbert – TULSA, Okla. (January 9, 2024) Picking up his second career Warren CAT Qualifying night feature win during the 38th annual Chili Bowl Nationals powered by NOS Energy, Michael “Buddy” Kofoid led start-to-finish to lock into his fourth championship feature event since 2020.
Back-to-back preliminary wins for car owner, Keith Kunz, Tuesday’s triumph brings his total to 36th victories as a car owner at the Chili Bowl Nationals.
Asked what the key to winning was, Kofoid responded, “With how the format is here, you want to try and put yourself in a position all day to be starting up front. I feel like we did a really good job all day with Heat Races, extremely good in the Qualifier, and still even felt like I could have been a little bit better for how tricky the track was.”
Taking off from the pole of Tuesday’s 30-lap event, Buddy dashed into the lead from the word go and quickly put distance over 2023 prelim night winner, Hank Davis. Finding traffic working Lap 13, a quick hold-up trying to pass a slower car the following lap allowed Davis to close rapidly but would not present the chance to overtake.
Caution on Lap 17, the leaders shot to the cushion, with Buddy again using a clean racetrack to his advantage. Coming down to a four-lap shootout as the field returned to green, Kofoid went on two wheels entering the first turn, but was able to recover, and hold on over Hank Davis by 1.457-seconds.
Chase McDermand crossed third, followed by David Gravel, who moved through the field from 11th. Kameron Key made up the top five. Thomas Meseraull was sixth, with Landon Brooks moving 14th to seventh. Kevin Thomas, Jr. went 13th to eighth, while Zach Daum hard charged to ninth from 18th. Colorado’s Jake Bubak rounded out the top ten.
Tuesday’s field consisted of 70 drivers out of a scheduled 73, for a running week total of 138 drivers so far. Nine flips among eight drivers have occurred, with everyone able to walk away. Another 74 are set for Wednesday’s York Plumbing Qualifying Night. The SageNet Center will open at 9:00 A.M. with cars on track at 4:00 P.M. (CT).
The 38th annual Chili Bowl Nationals takes place January 8-13, 2024, under the giant roof of the SageNet Center in Tulsa, Okla. Fans unable to attend the Chili Bowl Nationals can watch every lap live at http://www.floracing.com.
The General Admission Pit Pass is sold at the event and never sells out. They are $60 per weekday and $75 on Saturday.
For continued updates on the Chili Bowl Nationals, fans can follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with @CBNationals. All official press, updates, and results on the Chili Bowl Nationals can be found online at http://www.chilibowl.com.