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CHILI BOWL: Robin Miller’s Saturday Night Race Report
"He's 53, all gray and walks even slower than he speaks. But there's still a fire of desire burning inside Sammy Swindell," says Robin Miller.
Robin Miller  |  Posted January 18, 2009   Tulsa, OK
Sammy Swindell moved Tracy Hines over to take the lead and motor towards his 5th Chili Bowl win. (Boyd Adams)


He's 53, all gray and walks even slower than he speaks. But there's still a fire of desire burning inside Sammy Swindell.

The consummate professional driver, who eats and sleeps racing like few others, Swindell drew on his 35 years of experience and magic behind the wheel to blow away his younger competition in Saturday night's 23rd annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.

It was the fifth time in his checkered career Swindell pulled into victory lane here but, considering he doesn't run full-time anymore and he only drives a midget once a year, it may have been his most impressive.

Starting third in car he helped design and build, Swindell fell to fourth before moving to the high side of this three-eights mile dirt track. He blasted past leader Tracy Hines on Lap 33 and was unchallenged the final 17 laps despite four late restarts following yellow flags.

"I knew after the very first lap I turned in practice on Tuesday night I had something special and this was just a perfect week," said the World of Outlaws legend whose last win came in 1998 after victories in 1989-92-96.
Jerry Coons and Tracy Hines also engaged in a dogged fight in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Boyd Adams)

"You know I'm not a midget guy and I don't things most of these other guys do with their cars and I struggled a little early but then she came to life."

Asked if it was one of the most rewarding wins of his career, he smiled and said: "Yeah because I'm not sure I could this again or anybody could, I didn't lose a race." He captured Tuesday's Race of Champions, Wednesday night's A Main, his heat race and Saturday's 50-lap finale.

"That should show some of these car owners that us old guys can still get it done," said Hines, who started on the pole and finished second for Tony Stewart's squad. "We missed just a little on our setup and that was the difference.

"I had everybody covered but Sammy."

Brad Kuhn, who nipped Jerry Coons Jr. for third place on the last lap, could only shake his head at Swindell's effort.
Swindell has plenty of experience hoisting chili Bowl trophies. (Boyd Adams)

"I watched him growing up, he's always been one of the best and tonight that old man kicked our ass," said Kuhn. "I mean, if it would have been winged sprint cars that's understandable, but he only runs midgets once a year and he flat blew us away."

J.J. Yeley came home fifth, followed by Dave Darland, Chris Windom and Cole Whitt.

NOTES

Tim McCreadie, the 2006 Chili Bowl winner, suffered a broken back in Thursday night's action and Stewart flew him to Indianapolis after the race to see Dr. Terry Trammell. McCreadie has no personal insurance and more than $15,000 was donated by fans the racing fraternity to help with his bills. The Chili Bowl promoters have a $25,000 policy on injured drivers....... Stewart did not participate because of sponsorship commitments with Office Depot but vowed to return in 2010.......Kasey Kahne, who is running Brad Sweet out of his own pocket this season in USAC, crashed out of the C Main going for the transfer spot ....Darland is the only driver to have qualified for the A Main in every race this decade.....There were a record 295 entries,
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