Tulsa, Oklahoma is the gathering spot for the motorsports world this week with the 26th Annual Chili Bowl Nationals Presented by General Tire opener set for Tuesday, January 10th followed by four nights of action at the ¼-mile Tulsa Expo Raceway. More than 250 drivers will be in town competing for the coveted Golden Driller trophy, including 2011 NASCAR champions Tony Stewart and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.

Stewart is returning to Tulsa for the first time since 2008 after spending the past three winters racing Sprint Cars in Australia. The reigning Sprint Cup champion is seeking his third Chili Bowl title. 

“Having taken a few years off from competing in the Chili Bowl, I’m really looking forward to returning to Tulsa and the event in 2012,” said Stewart. “It’s one of the biggest Midget races of the year and it’s just a lot of fun to compete in the Chili Bowl.”

The entry list also includes two-time and defending Chili Bowl champion Kevin Swindell, 2011 USAC champions Bryan Clauson, Levi Jones, Cory Kruseman, Mike Spencer and Richard VanderWeerd as well as World of Outlaws Late Model champion Rick Eckert. Twenty-one of last year's twenty-four feature starters have filed entries.

A practice session is set for Monday night, January 9th with qualifying on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. The top-three from each night will lock into Saturday night's 50-lap A-Main.

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