Len Hayward, TULSA, Okla. (January 15, 2011) - It took 25 years for a back-to-back winner to happen at the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Presented by General Tire, and it was only fitting that it was a Swindell to do it on the event’s Silver Anniversary.
Kevin Swindell added a Silver Driller to his trophy case that will likely sit beside the Golden Driller he won in 2010, as he held off a late charge from his father and five-time Chili Bowl champ, Sammy, on the final lap to take the victory in the 50-lap main event.
Sammy Swindell notched his third straight podium finish at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway, while hard-charging New Zealander Michael Pickens overcame an early incident to charge his way back into the third spot. Native Oklahoman Jonathan Beason finished fourth after starting Saturday night in the B Main, and Bryan Clauson, who led the race’s first 12 laps, finished fifth.
Saturday’s victory marked the seventh time in 25 Chili Bowls that a Swindell has stood in victory lane but it was the first time in the history of the historic event that a winner had won in consecutive years.
But it wasn’t easy for the younger Swindell, as he not only had to hold off a late charge from his father but he was helped by a total of six caution flags in the race’s final 15 laps. Those 15 laps, though produced some exciting racing. Kevin Swindell, driving the No. 39 Swindell Motorsports Spike Esslinger, moved into second on Lap 34 as he passed Clauson, who had been battling with Sammy Swindell through much of the first half of the race.
Then on a Lap 40 restart, Kevin found the opening he needed on a restart and passed Sammy for the lead with an inside move in Turn 1 for the lead. But two more cautions awaited on Lap 44 when Brad Loyet stopped and Loyet Motorsports teammate Damion Gardner stopped on the inside of Turn 2 on Lap 49
Kevin got a good jump on the the Lap 44 restart as Sammy stayed in second with both Pickens and Beason trying to work their way around the five-time Chili Bowl champ. The two Swindells stay in first and second over the next few laps as Pickens kept working to make a pass on Sammy Swindell but could never figure out a way to complete it. After the caution for Gardner on Lap 49, the stage was set for a two-lap showdown involving the two Swindells, Pickens, Beason and Clauson.
Kevin was able to get a good jump on the start but as the checkered flag was waving, he jumped the cushion in Turn 4 and that opened the door for Sammy to try for the win but Kevin gathered his mount and won by fractions of a second. Pickens was forced to stop when Shane Cottle slowed at the top of Turn 4 at the halfway point in the 50-lap race, but was able to restart.
Clauson, meanwhile, was able to keep going after he looked like his night might be done on two separate occasions in the final half of the race. Clauson broke loose on Lap 36 trying to make a pass and looked to have spun but he gathered the car up. Then on Lap 41, Clauson and Sammy Swindell make contact, which collects Nick Knepper and Cory Kruseman but Clauson again is able to continue.
Brad Kuhn finished sixth, with Bobby East seventh, Cole Whitt eighth, Jon Stanbrough ninth and Daryn Pittman rounding out the top 10.
Brad Loyet and Kuhn won the two 20-lap B Mains on Saturday, and Scott Weir and Casey Shuman split winning honors in the two C Mains. Californian Ronnie Gardner and Arizona’s R.J. Johnson won the two D Mains, and A.J. Fike and Rick Hendrix won the two E Mains.
F Main winners were Jody Rosenboom and Aaron Pierce, and Garrett Hansen and Brandon Waelti were winnings in the G Mains.
Austin Brown and Greg Bragg won the two H Main events, with Cameron Hagin and Kellen Conover were victors in the two I Mains. Troy Rutherford and Courtney Erfurth won the J Mains, and Donovan Peterson took the shortened K Main event.