Early Chili Bowl Entry List Highlighted by Many West Coast Teams and Drivers

By Robert Haugh

Though early, the initial pre-entry list for the 2013 Chili Bowl has been released. Of the 124 entries thus far, approximately one third of those have West Coast connections. Several additional entries are expected to be announced soon, with the entry list likely to be updated daily. Visit www.chilibowl.com for updated entry lists and more information on the 2013  Lucal Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals presented by General Tire.

 Among the early entries include an array of champions and feature winners including 2012 USAC-National Midget champion Darren Hagen of Riverside, CA in the RFMS Racing DCR/Esslinger, 2012 USAC-Western States champion Shannon McQueen of Bakersfield aboard the McQueen Racing #7 Lucas Oil-Simpson-ButlerBuilt-Murfdogg RC Cars-K&N Filters Spike/Esslinger by Duane McQueen and 2012 USAC-Western States Midget Dirt champion David Prickett of Fresno in his #015 Neverlift Motorsports Crysalli-Mt. Rose Mixers-K&N-Simpson-Western Performance Parts Spike/Chevrolet.

 Former BCRA Midget champion and multi-time Midget and Sprint car victor Matt Streeter of Galt campaigns his own #14JR T&T Trucking-ART Speed Equipment-Chuck Cypret Racing-Bobby Brown Racing Spike/S&S Automotive Chevy while former USAC-Western States Midget champion Alex Schutte of Rohnert Park pilots the Sean Dodenhoff #9d EMC/Fontana.

 The Josh Ford Motorsports team has a stellar lineup, with Hollister young gun and 2012 Turkey Night rookie-of-the-year Ryan Bernal in the #73 King Racing Products Ellis/Bob Wirth Fontana, World of Outlaws veteran Tyler Walker of Hermoso Beach, CA in the #73F Spike/Bob Wirth Chevy, Oklahoma's Tyler Edwards in the #72 Spike/Bob Wirth Fontana and Malibu's Greg Edenholm in the #73x Ellis/Esslinger.

 Hans Lein fields a potent two-car tandem with Arizona young gun Casey Shuman in the #2h Mid-State Equipment-G&G Spraying-Lein Acres-T&T Stone Spike/Esslinger and multiple-time Midget victor Danny Stratton of Riverside, CA in the #2s Spike/Esslinger.

 Former BCRA Midget champion and now Indiana Sprint ace "T-Mez" Thomas Meseraull will be manning the Ecker-Reisdorf #57 Spike/Esslinger. Thomas is a native of San Jose. Multiple-time 2012 feature winner Ronnie Gardner of Corona, CA will chauffer the Six 8 Motorsports Stewart/Esslinger with Fresno area open wheel ace Tanner Swanson manning Ted Finkenbinder's #3F Bullet/Chevy.

 Former A-main starter Bobby Michnowicz returns in Ron Bach's #49KR Spike/Esslinger while NASCAR young gun and former open wheel star Brad Sweet of Grass Valley, CA will pilot Willie Kahne's #67x Factory Kahne entry.

 Additional West Coast-related entries:

0K       Don O'Keefe, Jr.         Pittsboro, IN                           LOK Enterprises Spike/Esslinger

2B       Tyler Reddick                         Corning, CA                           2B Racing Beast/Gaerte

2R       Levi Roberts               Broomfield, CO                     David Roberts Spike/Esslinger

3B       Jayme Barnes              Everett, WA                           2B Racing Beast/Esslinger

3T        Tim Barber                  Fairfield, CA                          Chuck Cline Bullet/Chevrolet

7D       Michelle Decker         Guthrie, OK                            McQueen Racing Spike/Esslinger

7N       D.J. Netto                    Hanford, CA                           Frank Netto Stealth/Chevrolet

7T        Trey Marcham             Oklahoma City, OK     McQueen Racing Spike/Esslinger

8OK    TBD                                                                LOK Enterprises Spike/Esslinger

9D       Sean Dodenhoff           Bakersfield, CA          Dodenhoff Racing Spike/Fontana

11XC   Steve Newman           Steamboat Springs, CO           BRE/BRE Ford

17W    Cole Wood                  Elk Grove, CA            Matt Wood Spike/Esslinger

35D     Brett Felkins                Lodi, CA                    Felkins Spike/Fontana

44G     George Schubert          Calhan, CO      Schubert Racing Spike/Pontiac

44S      Clint Schubert Calhan, CO      Schubert Racing Spike/Fontana

55S      Trey Starks                  Puyallup, WA  Jim Ferns / Spike/Mopar

98        P.J. Jones                    Torrance, CA  RFMS Racing Spike/Esslinger

115      Conner Kassik             Lake Havasu, AZ         Neverlift Motorsports Spike/Chevrolet

151      Jesse Frazier               Tulsa, OK Neverlift Motorsports Spike/Chevrolet