Racing Fans From Across The U.S. Headed To Tulsa

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Starting this week and running through New Year's Day and then again in the middle of January, racing fans will be at Tulsa Expo Square's QuikTrip Center for two big events.

The first is the 26th Annual Tulsa Shootout.

The shootout features six classes of Micro Sprint Cars along with the 1200cc Mini Sprints and the Chevy ECOTech Midgets.

According to a news release, the current Tulsa Shootout entry count stands at approximately 600 from 22 different states as well as Canada and New Zealand, with the final number expected to be approximately 700.

Following practice on Thursday, the Non-Wing Outlaw and "A" Class divisions will take to the 1/5-mile clay oval for heat race action beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. The remaining six divisions will take to the track for heat races on Friday beginning at 9:00 a.m. Semi-mains in all classes get under way at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, with the championship feature events set for Saturday night at approximately 6:45 p.m.

Officials say grandstand tickets are still available for Friday at $15, with Saturday's grandstands tickets at $20. Children ages 6-11 are $5 each day.

After Thursday night's Non-Wing Outlaw and "A" Class heat races, approximately 80-90 more heat races and qualifiers on Friday will set the stage for Saturday's semi-mains and main events.

And then, January 11 through the 15th it's the 25th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals at the QuikTrip Center.

In a news release, Chili Bowl officials say they have 258 entries from 29 different states as well as Australia and New Zealand.

Officials say the top three finishers from each night's main event will be locked into the Saturday night, January 15, 2011, 50-lap Chili Bowl championship main event with the balance of Saturday's lineups determined by qualifying night finishing positions.

Past winners of the Chili Bowl include last year's winner Kevin Swindell, NASCAR great Tony Stewart in 2002 and 2007 and Andy Hillenburg in 1994.