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More Racing
CHILI BOWL: Boat Wins Friday Night’s A Main
Chad Boat delivered one of the best drives of his young career Friday night at the Tulsa Expo Center.
Chad Boat took home all the spoils Friday night at the Chili Bowl. (Photo: Boyd Adams)
Bill Boat’s last wish was that his grandson got to run the Chili Bowl.
And Chad Boat delivered one of the best drives of his young career Friday night at the Tulsa Expo Center.
Starting on the pole, Boat led all 25 laps and held off a furious charge from veterans Cory Kruseman and Dave Darland to win the A Main and transfer into Saturday night’s 27th annual midget racing classic.
“This is a racing family and that was pretty special,” exclaimed Chad Boat while hugging his grandmother, Velda, in victory lane just six days after his grandfather died of cancer.
Billy Boat, a longtime USAC midget front-runner who spent seven years in the Indy Racing League, was introduced into racing by his father at a very young age and he’s spent the past few years helping his son try to break into the big time.
“My mom said the last thing dad told her was that no matter what happens, make sure Chad goes to the Chili Bowl,” said Billy Boat, who owns and maintains his son’s car. “It’s been a tough week but this made it a little better and Chad did a fantastic job.”
The fourth and final preliminary feature was easily the best of the week as Kruseman charged from eighth to second and Darland held off Billy Wease for the third and final transfer spot to the main event.
“I drove like a bonehead in the heat race and tore up my car but my crew did a good job and got it back together,” said Kruseman, a two-time (2000 and 2004) Chili Bowl champion. “That was a lot of fun and it gives you motivation when you have to start in the fourth row because this is a tough place to pass sometimes.
“But I found something up top and made it work.”
Darland, the ageless USAC star who still drives as hard as anybody on four wheels, stormed from fourth to second by running the cushion and was closing in on Boat when the first of five yellow flags waved.
Boat, who had been running the low groove, moved up to the top groove on the restart and managed to keep Darland at bay the rest of the way.
“I knew the bottom was going away and I saw Dave coming so I moved up and took away his groove,” said little Boat, who is driving for Kenny Schrader in the ARCA race at Daytona next month but still looking for a fulltime ride in 2013.
Kruseman passed Darland for second on the last lap.
But the euphoria of the moment was quickly tempered by the reality of the week and the draw for Saturday night’s grid positions. Previous winners from this week Kyle Larson, Sammy Swindell, Kevin Swindell and Boat drew for the top four spots and the Swindells, who have dominated the past three years, will start first and second.
“The Swindells are doing a great job and they’ve got everybody covered,” said Kruseman, who lines up sixth on Saturday. “Beating them is going to be very difficult, if not impossible.”
Robin Miller brings 40 years of experience to his role as SPEED.com's senior open-wheel reporter, and serves as a frequent contributor to SPEED Center and Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain.
And Chad Boat delivered one of the best drives of his young career Friday night at the Tulsa Expo Center.
Starting on the pole, Boat led all 25 laps and held off a furious charge from veterans Cory Kruseman and Dave Darland to win the A Main and transfer into Saturday night’s 27th annual midget racing classic.
“This is a racing family and that was pretty special,” exclaimed Chad Boat while hugging his grandmother, Velda, in victory lane just six days after his grandfather died of cancer.
Billy Boat, a longtime USAC midget front-runner who spent seven years in the Indy Racing League, was introduced into racing by his father at a very young age and he’s spent the past few years helping his son try to break into the big time.
“My mom said the last thing dad told her was that no matter what happens, make sure Chad goes to the Chili Bowl,” said Billy Boat, who owns and maintains his son’s car. “It’s been a tough week but this made it a little better and Chad did a fantastic job.”
The fourth and final preliminary feature was easily the best of the week as Kruseman charged from eighth to second and Darland held off Billy Wease for the third and final transfer spot to the main event.
“I drove like a bonehead in the heat race and tore up my car but my crew did a good job and got it back together,” said Kruseman, a two-time (2000 and 2004) Chili Bowl champion. “That was a lot of fun and it gives you motivation when you have to start in the fourth row because this is a tough place to pass sometimes.
“But I found something up top and made it work.”
Darland, the ageless USAC star who still drives as hard as anybody on four wheels, stormed from fourth to second by running the cushion and was closing in on Boat when the first of five yellow flags waved.
Boat, who had been running the low groove, moved up to the top groove on the restart and managed to keep Darland at bay the rest of the way.
“I knew the bottom was going away and I saw Dave coming so I moved up and took away his groove,” said little Boat, who is driving for Kenny Schrader in the ARCA race at Daytona next month but still looking for a fulltime ride in 2013.
Kruseman passed Darland for second on the last lap.
But the euphoria of the moment was quickly tempered by the reality of the week and the draw for Saturday night’s grid positions. Previous winners from this week Kyle Larson, Sammy Swindell, Kevin Swindell and Boat drew for the top four spots and the Swindells, who have dominated the past three years, will start first and second.
“The Swindells are doing a great job and they’ve got everybody covered,” said Kruseman, who lines up sixth on Saturday. “Beating them is going to be very difficult, if not impossible.”
Robin Miller brings 40 years of experience to his role as SPEED.com's senior open-wheel reporter, and serves as a frequent contributor to SPEED Center and Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain.
DTM Zandvoort
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