Young Chili Bowl Driver Is On His Way To Winning The Golden Driller

Some drivers dream of having the success that Michael Buddy Kofoid has had.

The 20 year old is on his way to bringing home his first Golden Driller on January 15.

If you blinked, you might just miss the tiny town of Penn Grove, California, with a population 2,522.

That is where young Michael Buddy Kofoid got his start racing go-karts, while watching one of his idols, two-time Chili Bowl Winner, Kyle Larson.

"You know we come from kind of the same area and starting in outlaw carts. We moved across country to race midgets and sprint cars and now that he is in NASCAR, I have always dreamed of going too. And everything he has done, it's hard not to be a fan," said Chili Bowl Driver, Michael Buddy Kofoid.

From the go-kart tracks, to becoming last year’s USAC National Midget Series champion in 2021, the California kid has teamed up with Keith Kunz Motorsports.

Keith Kunz Motorsports has produced eight Chili Bowl titles.

"I'm definitely living my dream right now getting to race my cars professionally for a living. And when I can I come from wing sprint cars so I'm always passionate about that. And trying to get back in those when I can. I ran 20 sprint car races last year so I had about 90 to 100 race season and this year's is shaping up to be just as much or more," said Kofoid.

Kofoid has a lot to offer in this years Chili Bowl.

Not only is he a first generation driver, but he also has over 90 races under his belt this past season.

He hopes those races will propel him into the winners circle on January 15, with a Golden Driller.

"You know you are competing against 390 plus other cars that want the same thing. This place brings a lot of talent, of all walks of racing. So if you can beat the guy that beats them all, it's a pretty good feather in your cap," said Kofoid.

The A Main Finale is January 15 at the Chili Bowl.