The Chili Bowl Midget Nationals will begin on Monday night but the first feature will once again be the invitational Race of Champions.
Race officials released the roster for Monday’s race with the reason for their invite. For the second year in a row, five-time race winner Sammy Swindell has been invited purely because he is the greatest of all-time in the Tulsa Expo Center, after he was not invited to much criticism in the 2021 event.
Generally speaking, the Race of Champions invites previous championship Saturday winners, prelim night winners, national touring series champions or special invitees determined by the promoters.
The starting lineup for the 25-lap showdown will be based on qualifying and with the fastest qualifier drawing an inversion of no more than eight cars.
1 — Sammy Swindell — The greatest of all-time on the Tulsa Expo Center Raceway
1s — Spencer Bayston — In last year, through a 2018 podium finish, Spencer secured his spot by winning the 2023 O’Reilly Auto Parts Invitational Race of Champions.
2J — Justin Grant — Winner of the 2022 O’Reilly Auto Parts Invitational Race of Champions.
5 — Chase Briscoe — The Stewart-Hass driver will race via a Chili Bowl invitation
5CB — Karter Sarff — Winner of the 2023 POWRi Midget Championship, the 2024 event marks the first time Sarff will compete in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Invitational Race of Champions.
19 — Tim McCreadie — Recently added to the roster, the 2006 Chili Bowl Nationals champion will wheel the Hayward Motorsports No. 19.
19R — Ricky Thorton, Jr. — Possibly the best driver in late model competition right now, the former Arizona resident nearly walked out of the Tulsa Shootout with a Golden Driller for the second year in a row.
29S — Hank Davis — Grabbing his first career preliminary night win in 2023, the Sand Springs, Okla. shoe will take the Matt Seymour Racing No. 29 into his first O’Reilly Auto Parts Invitational Race of Champions.
39 — Logan Seavey — In last year by way of car owner credentials, Logan Seavey punched his own card into the O’Reilly Auto Parts Invitational Race of Champions by winning the 2023 Chili Bowl Nationals powered by NOS Energy.
41 — Corey Day — Invited by the Chili Bowl, one of the most challenging areas of the country to win in sprint car racing, has been and continues to be California and 17-year-old Corey Day wins a lot, including the 2023 Northern Auto Racing Club (NARC) title.
47X — Zach Daum — Xtreme Outlaw Midgets paved the way last year, this year, Andy Bondio credentials will put Daum into the O’Reilly Auto Parts Invitational Race of Champions.
66K — Brent Crews — Invited by the Chili Bowl Nationals, Brent captured the 2023 SCCA Trans-Am TA2 title.
71 — Jade Avedisian — The 2023 Chili Bowl Rookie of the Year and highest finishing woman in event history, forged a season long legacy by being the first woman to win a national midget title with the Xtreme Outlaw Series.
71P — Cannon McIntosh — Winning on Monday has become a common theme for Cannon, putting him back into the O’Reilly Auto Parts Invitational Race of Champions.
84 — Jesse Love — Invited by the Chili Bowl, Jesse Love got the nod via his 2023 ARCA Menards Series Championship.
88 — Tanner Thorson — The 2022 event champion is back in search of a third win in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Invitational Race of Champions.
2024 is winning season for Kaylee Bryson
Matt Weaver is a Motorsports Insider for Sportsnaut. Follow him on Twitter.