Chili Bowl Nationals Expected To Boost Tulsa's Economy

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- The 24th Annual Chili Bowl Nationals is in Tulsa and it's expected to boost the local economy.

Practice got underway Monday in the QuikTrip Center at Expo Square.

In past years, the Chili Bowl has pumped $10 million into the local economy.

The competition runs all week, ending with the 50-lap championship race on Saturday. 

Organizers are expecting sold-out crowds -- as many as 16,000 fans this weekend.

"I don't know of another race in the country that's as big as this. NASCAR - it don't matter. To have this many entries, and to have this many seats, and to have this many seats and sold out in advance, that's just unheard of in our sports," said Emmett Hahn, Chili Bowl organizer.

Drivers are coming in from 27 states and from as far away as Australia and New Zealand.