Dirt midget car organizations have made their final preparations for the discipline’s most prestigious event. The 2024 Chili Bowl Nationals are here.
Ever since 1987, many of the best dirt racing competitors have descended upon the Tulsa Expo Center in Oklahoma with the goal of taking home a famous Golden Driller trophy. The Chili Bowl regularly attracts several hundred drivers, resulting in a grueling week of qualifiers and heats that help narrow the field down to 24 for the 55-lap main event.
NASCAR drivers have enjoyed plenty of success in Tulsa during the Chili Bowl’s three decades of history. Christopher Bell holds three Chili Bowl victories on his resume, with Kyle Larson, Tony Stewart and Dave Blaney being among the others who have hoisted the Golden Driller at least once.
RELATED: Everything to know about the 2024 Chili Bowl
The 2023 edition of the event will see four active NASCAR drivers mix it up with elite midget racing competitors like Tanner Thorson, Sammy Swindell and defending winner Logan Seavey for an opportunity to join an elite list of Chili Bowl winners.
Below is a guide on the NASCAR drivers competing in the Chili Bowl.
NASCAR drivers at the Chili Bowl in 2024
- Chase Briscoe (No. 5 Chase Briscoe Racing)
Before embarking on his fourth full-time NASCAR Cup Series campaign with Stewart-Haas Racing, Chase Briscoe will once again return to his dirt track roots driving his own No. 5 dirt midget alongside teammates Karter Sarff and Kyle Strickler.
The 2016 ARCA Menards Series champion has previously attempted the Chili Bowl eight times during his career but only advanced to the A-Main once, in 2017.
Briscoe’s bid for a Golden Driller that night ended after 15 laps due to a flip, so he is looking to improve upon that performance with a solid week in Tulsa.
RELATED: Briscoe explains why the Chili Bowl keeps him coming back
- Jesse Love (No. 84 CB Industries)
An incredible 2023 season for Jesse Love saw him claim 10 victories and a championship in the ARCA Menards Series, which he parlayed into a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series ride with Richard Childress Racing for the upcoming year.
Boasting a solid dirt racing background that includes multiple USAC titles, Love has only made two Chili Bowl appearances and failed to make the A-Main in each one.
With plenty of momentum on his side, Love seeks to make the big show for the first time and kickstart 2024 on a positive note.
RELATED: Watch all 2024 Chili Bowl action live on FloRacing
- J.J. Yeley (No. 15 Petty Performance Racing)
A mainstay in NASCAR’s top divisions since the mid-2000s, J.J. Yeley has long been familiar with the rigorous nature of Chili Bowl week, as he made his first trip to the Tulsa Expo Center back in 1994 and has attempted every event since 2001.
The closest Yeley came to bringing home a Golden Driller was back in 2007, when he finished runner-up to his then-Joe Gibbs Racing teammate in three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Tony Stewart.
Yeley last made a Chili Bowl A-Main in 2015 but will look to break that dry spell in his 28th appearance.
- Josh Bilicki (No. 7D RAMCO Speed Group)
With his only prior dirt experience being the NASCAR Cup Series’ visit to Bristol Motor Speedway in 2021, Josh Bilicki entered his maiden Chili Bowl last year determined to fulfill a lifelong dream and gain as much knowledge as possible in a dirt midget car.
Bilicki committed himself to dirt racing following his first Chili Bowl attempt by running several more events that included the BC39 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Now with more track time on his side, Bilicki is returning to the Tulsa Expo Center with the RAMCO Speed Group in pursuit of a starting spot inside the A-Main.