Humble beginnings: Origins of the legendary Chili Bowl

The Chili Bowl series is like the crown jewel in motorsport and NASCAR history. You can tell just how big a deal it is by the caliber of drivers lining up at the starting line. Recently, Matthew Dillner gave us a sneak peek into the Oklahoma abode of Bob Berryhill, the first sponsor of the Chili Bowl, unraveling the story behind the Original Chili Bowl.

This year’s Chili Bowl? It’s shaping up to be a real barn burner! The engines start roaring on January 7, 2024. But before the rubber hits the road, aren’t you curious about what makes this event so special, and why it’s dubbed the kingmaker of the track?

Chili Bowl got its name after a local company that sponsored the first event

The Chili Bowl’s name comes from a pretty down-to-earth story. One might think there’s a fancy tale behind the “Chili Bowl” name, but it’s really quite straightforward. It all boils down to sponsorship. It all started with Bobby Berryhill, a Tulsa businessman who ran a food service company called the “Original Chili Bowl.” He sponsored the 1987 Midget Nationals, and the event got its name from his company, known for its pre-mix and pre-made chili distributed all over the country. Four years later, Keebler bought the Original Chili Bowl and ended the sponsorship, but the name had already made its mark.

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Dreamed up by Emmett Hahn and Lanny Edwards, the first Chili Bowl kicked off in 1987. It started small – just 52 cars and a winner’s purse of $4,000. Even though they lost money on that first run, Hahn and Edwards didn’t throw in the towel. Now, it’s the biggest indoor race around, with over 300 entries and a $10,000 prize for first place. Winning the Golden Driller trophy is a huge deal in racing circles.

The track itself is something special, too. Built in 1966 for the International Petroleum Exposition, it’s one of the largest clearspan structures out there, with a whopping 448,500 square feet. The Chili Bowl Midget Nationals is where racing stars are born – it’s a true kingmaker. Bell and Larson have dominated the last four Chili Bowls, making it their own battleground.

When Bell stepped into Larson’s shoes as the lead driver for Keith Kunz in 2013, he quickly proved his mettle with 15 wins and a third-place finish at the 2014 Chili Bowl at just 18. That year, he also became a Toyota Racing Development driver, showing just how much this race can shape a career.

While racing legends like Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, and Tony Stewart have all been part of the Chili Bowl magic, Kyle Busch seems to think he’s “too big” to join in on such an event.

NASCAR star Kyle Busch has made it clear he won’t be hitting the track for the Chili Bowl

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Chatting with Flo Racing after the Tulsa Shootout, when asked about the Chili Bowl Nationals, Busch was pretty upfront, saying, “No, I’m too big. I’m 200 pounds. Like you come here with no weight rule, and you have to build a bigger car. Being in a bigger car and all the stuff, you can’t keep up with those lightweight kids.”

Busch is still all in for NASCAR and doesn’t seem ready to park his career just yet. He even shared his ideal scenario for stepping away from racing. For Kyle, age is just a number and not something that’ll put the brakes on his racing passion.

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He’s still on the hunt for his golden years on the track and hasn’t eased up on the throttle one bit. Sure, retirement’s on the horizon for everyone, but Busch has his own vision of how and when he’ll wave the checkered flag on his racing days.