The 39th annual Chili Bowl Nationals continues to deliver excitement and drama as drivers from across the motorsports spectrum compete for glory on dirt’s biggest stage. Familiar names from NASCAR, IndyCar, and ARCA have made their mark throughout the week, battling through the grueling “alphabet soup” of features. Here’s a breakdown of where some of the most recognizable stars currently stand, along with their chances of making it to the coveted A-Main.
Still in the Hunt
A-Main: Kyle Larson
Two-time Chili Bowl champion Kyle Larson is proving once again why he’s a dirt racing legend. Already locked into Saturday night’s A-Main, Larson remains one of the favorites to take home the Golden Driller. His performance during qualifying night was dominant, setting him up for another potential victory.
B-Main: Tanner Carrick, Chase Crews, Christopher Bell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
• Christopher Bell: The three-time Chili Bowl winner continues to show his prowess on dirt, advancing to the B-Main. While he’ll need to race his way into the A-Main, Bell is a strong contender to make the leap.
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: A former Chili Bowl regular, Stenhouse has looked solid this week and will compete in the B-Main. His dirt racing experience gives him a fighting chance to advance.
• Tanner Carrick & Chase Crews: Both young drivers have impressed, making it to the B-Main. They’ll have to step up against a stacked field to earn a spot in the main event.
C-Main: J.J. Yeley, Chris Windom, Brandon Welch
• J.J. Yeley: A versatile veteran with a history in NASCAR and open-wheel racing, Yeley remains in the hunt in the C-Main.
• Chris Windom: The USAC champion is still alive but has work to do to climb the ladder.
• Brandon Welch: The lesser-known driver has put together a solid week, showing he can hold his own.
E-Main: Brad Sweet, Tyler Berryhill, Gavan Reimer, Kyle Busch (1 Advance)
• Brad Sweet: The World of Outlaws champion is a fan favorite and still fighting to make a deep run, starting in the E-Main.
• Kyle Busch: The NASCAR Cup champion, with one alphabet soup advancement so far, has a steep hill to climb starting in the E-Main.
Eliminated
F-Main: Ty Gibbs (1 Advance)
• Ty Gibbs’ Chili Bowl debut ended in the F-Main. Despite advancing one round earlier in the week, the NASCAR Xfinity champion’s lack of dirt experience showed in a field stacked with specialists.
G-Main: Josh Bilicki (1 Advance)
• Josh Bilicki gave a strong effort but saw his Chili Bowl come to an end in the G-Main after advancing through one feature earlier in the week.
H-Main: Santino Ferrucci (3 Advances)
• The IndyCar regular and part-time NASCAR driver impressed by climbing three spots through the features before his run ended in the H-Main.
K-Main: Todd Kluever (1 Advance)
• Former NASCAR prospect Todd Kluever advanced through one round but was eliminated in the K-Main.
O-Main: Katherine Legge (0 Advances)
• IndyCar veteran Katherine Legge had a tough outing, unable to advance past her opening feature and bowing out in the O-Main.
With Larson already locked into the A-Main and stars like Bell, Stenhouse, and Busch still battling in the lower features, the final day of the Chili Bowl promises plenty of action. The alphabet soup format will test the endurance, skill, and determination of every driver as they fight to join the elite 24-car field for the A-Main.
Stay tuned as the Chili Bowl Nationals continue, streaming live on FloRacing (subscription required).
