How Drivers And Their Crews Prepare For Racing At Chili Bowl Nationals In Tulsa

Buckle up, it is day two of the Chili Bowl Nationals. The six-night event is considered to be the biggest Midget car race of the year.

Off the track, it takes a team of people to propel the drivers to success. CB Industries, owned by Chad Boat, is one of those teams out of North Carolina.

"It is no different than any other sport, there is a lot of stuff behind the scenes," he said. "We are here early in the mornings working on the cars, prepping them, getting them ready, doing any mechanical service that needs to be done."

Five drivers are racing CB Industries cars; Chris Windom, Tanner Holmes, Jesse Love, Daison Pursley, and Bryant Wiedeman.

The Chili Bowl Nationals features a new roster of drivers each night leading up to Saturday's final race for the Golden Driller.

"The Chili Bowl Nationals has gone from a sport that spans the United States to North America and now the world," said Chili Bowl announcer Bryan Hulbert. "We have five different countries represented here this weekend. I have more drivers from England, Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand, than probably we have had in years to go along with drivers from over 40 states."

Hulbert said the event is like a family reunion for the racing community. Boat certainly feels that way as he has grown up in the pit.

"My dad raced at the Chili Bowl. He was lucky enough to win it in 1997, so the Chili Bowl and the event have deep ties to my family," he said.

Boat no longer races, but enjoys being an owner where he can now help other drivers achieve their goals.

"As a driver, you are out there, you are winning the event, but we are here trying to help multiple guys achieve their goal of winning a race or whatever it may be, so we still get that same satisfaction as if we were in the car," he said.

Whether someone is behind the wheel, in the pit, or watching from the stands, the atmosphere is what he and Hulbert said makes it memorable for all.

"There is no event really like it," said Boat. "The way the building just captures all the electricity, it is awesome."

Pit passes to the Chili Bowl Nationals are still available. For more information CLICK HERE.