2025 Chili Bowl Nationals

Which NASCAR Drivers Are Racing At Chili Bowl Nationals In 2025?

Which NASCAR Drivers Are Racing At Chili Bowl Nationals In 2025?

Chili Bowl Nationals attracts drivers from all over the globe and all corners of the racing world, including NASCAR. Who’s headed to Tulsa in 2025?

Jan 10, 2025 by Matt Cannizzaro
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The Chili Bowl Nationals may feature Midget cars, but there’s nothing small about the annual event, which regularly brings more than 300 drivers to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for a week of high-speed racing at the Tulsa Expo Raceway inside the SageNet Center at Expo Square.

Now in its 39th year, the Chili Bowl attracts racers from around the globe and from across the world of motorsports, and that includes NASCAR. 

At least a half-dozen NASCAR stars will be among the entrants at the 2025 race, scheduled for Jan. 13-18, and all of the action will be broadcast live on FloRacing. 

Currently, seven drivers with NASCAR Cup Series experience are registered for the Chili Bowl:

Despite making up just a small percentage of the nearly 400 entries in recent years, NASCAR drivers have found success in this prestigious indoor Midget race.

Bell won three consecutive times (2017-2019) and is one of only three drivers in history to win three or more times. However, he was forced to miss the race in 2023 and 2024 due to restrictions put in place by his Joe Gibbs Racing team.

Larson, one of the 75 greatest drivers in NASCAR history, is a two-time champion at Chili Bowl Nationals. He made his debut in 2008 at age 15, and he picked up victories in 2020 and 2021.

Stenhouse also is a veteran at the event, and 2025 will mark his 18th appearance at the Chili Bowl. His best finish was a seventh-place performance in 2021.

Busch will be making his Chili Bowl National debut this year. 

Former driver and owner Tony Stewart found the winner’s circle at the Chili Bowl, too, taking home the Golden Driller Trophy in 2002 and 2007.

Did You Know: Kyle Busch Is All-In On Dirt Racing

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Who Has The Most Wins At Chili Bowl Nationals?

Career sprint car driver Sammy Swindell tops the all-time wins list at Chili Bowl Nationals, having collected five victories – 1989, 1992, 1996, 1998 and 2009 – and he’ll be looking to extend his record as part of the field in 2025.

The Swindell success in Tulsa extended to a second generation, as Swindell’s son, Kevin, went on to claim four Chili Bowl wins of his own and is second among those with multiple victories. He won in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The other drivers with more than one victory are Christopher Bell (2017, 2018, 2019), Dan Boorse (1999, 2003), Tony Stewart (2002, 2007), Cory Kruseman (2000, 2004), Rico Abreu (2015, 2016), Kyle Larson (2020, 2021) and Seavey (2023, 2024).

The drivers mentioned above account for 24 win in 38 previous editions of the Chili Bowl, which means 14 other competitors have enjoyed victory at the Chili Bowl, including Rich Vogler, who won the inaugural race.

Read more about who’s racing in 2025: 2025 Chili Bowl Entry List Keeps Growing In Numbers And Star Power

How To Watch The 2025 Chili Bowl Nationals

Chili Bowl Nationals is streaming on FloRacing and the FloSports app. 

Replays of the event, breaking news and every qualifying race also will be on both platforms. 

39th Annual Chili Bowl Nationals Event Schedule

All Times Listed Are Central Standard Time

Sunday, Jan. 12

7 a.m. - Building/Pit Pass Booth Open

9 a.m. - Practice

Monday, Jan. 13

9 am. - Building Opens

11 a.m. - Pit Pass Booth Open

1 p.m. - Building Secured

2 p.m. - Draw For Lineups

3 p.m. - Drivers’ Meeting

4 p.m. - Hot Laps

5 p.m. - Races

Tuesday, Jan. 14

9 a.m. - Building Opens

11 a.m. - Pit Pass Booth Open

1 p.m. - Building Secured

2 p.m. - Draw For Lineups

3 p.m. - Drivers’ Meeting

4 p.m. - Hot Laps

5 p.m. - Races

Wednesday, Jan. 15

9 a.m. - Building Opens

11 a.m. - Pit Pass Booth Open

1 p.m. - Building Secured

2 p.m. - Draw For Lineups

3 p.m. - Drivers’ Meeting

4 p.m. - Hot Laps

5 p.m. - Races

Thursday, Jan. 16

9 a.m. - Building Opens

11 a.m. - Pit Pass Booth Open

1 p.m. - Building Secured

2 p.m. - Draw for Lineups

3 p.m. - Drivers’ Meeting

4 p.m. - Hot Laps

5 p.m. - Races

Friday, Jan. 17

9 a.m. - Building Secured/Pit Pass Booth Open

2 p.m. - Draw for Lineups

3 p.m. - Drivers’ Meeting

4 p.m. - Hot Laps

5 p.m. - Races

Saturday, Jan. 18

8 a.m. - Building Secured/Trade Show

8 a.m. - Pit Pass Booth/Pit Gate Open

8:15 a.m. - Racers For Christ Service

9 a.m. - Feature Hot Laps

6 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies

What Kind Of Cars Race At Chili Bowl Nationals?

Chili Bowl Nationals features Midget cars, which are small vehicles with a high power-to-weight ratio and open wheels, all of which results in speedy and physical racing with banging wheels and flipping cars. 

The cars, sometimes mistaken for go-karts, weigh less than 1,000 pounds, including the driver, and while they're small, they're also mighty, featuring four-cylinder engines and 300-400 horsepower. They can accelerate quickly and reach speeds up to 100 miles per hour. 

How To Watch Every Chili Bowl

With the help of MAVTV and Greg Stephen’s Motorsports Video, FloRacing has assembled every championship feature event replay from the inception of the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in 1987!

Fans can watch all 38 main events from the Chili Bowl Nationals (1987-2024) on FloRacing by clicking here.  

Archived Footage On FloRacing

Video footage from all events will be archived and stored in a video library for FloRacing subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

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