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Kruseman Captures Second Chili Bowl Crown

Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla. (January 10, 2004) – Cory Kruseman battled past Danny Lasoski at the midway point then held off “The Dude” over the final rounds to win Saturday night’s 18th Annual O’Reilly Chili Bowl Midget Nationals 50-lap feature at Tulsa Expo Raceway. With the victory, Kruseman joins Sammy Swindell and Dan Boorse as the only multi-time winners of the nation’s most prestigious Midget racing event.

Piloting the second Andy Bondio entry as Kruseman’s teammate, USAC triple crown champion J.J. Yeley put the finishing touches on perhaps the most spectacular performance in Chili Bowl history by snaring the show position after swapping third with Tony Stewart a handful of times over the final rounds. Yeley’s incredible drive included 120 laps of intense action and 69 positions gained after starting the day in the second “F” Main.

After accepting his second Golden Driller trophy, an elated Kruseman exclaimed, “Man, that was fun. The main thing here is you’ve got to be there at the end. I knew as long as I ran the best part of the racetrack they weren’t going to beat me unless I made a mistake. If one of them beat me, it was going to be fair-and-square,” concluded Kruseman after giving car owner Andy Bondio his third Chili Bowl championship, the other coming with Lealand McSpadden in 1991.

Thursday’s Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores qualifying feature winner Jason Leffler led the 24-car feature field to the green flag with Wednesday winner Lasoski alongside. Leffler outgunned Lasoski to claim the early lead, only to have the caution fly after two rounds for Kasey Kahne’s disabled mount in turn two.

As action resumed, Lasoski wasted little time moving to the front, racing past Leffler to take command on the fourth round, with Friday’s preliminary winner Jerry Coons, Jr., charging past Leffler the next time around. Leffler jumped the cushion the next lap, allowing BMARA champion Davey Ray and fourth-starting Kruseman to move into third and fourth, respectively.

With the leaders sticking to the low line in the early stages, Lasoski set the pace with Coons, Ray, Kruseman, Leffler and former Chili Bowl winners Scott Hatton and Boorse in tow. Ray unsuccessfully tried the high line around Coons on the 13th round, with Kruseman taking quick advantage and advancing to third. Kruseman disposed of Coons for the runner-up slot two laps later and set his sights on Lasoski.

Kruseman closed on Lasoski’s rear bumper and began challenging for the lead on the 18th round. Kruseman used the bottom of the track to pressure Lasoski for several rounds as the leaders approached heavy traffic, ultimately taking command in turns three and four on the 25th circuit, with Ray dashing past Lasoski as well the next time around.

Ray was mounting a charge on Kruseman when the race’s second caution flag flew on the 27th lap when Steve Buckwalter came to a halt in turn three. Back under way, Kruseman fought off Ray and Lasoski until the caution flew again nine laps later when Jimmy Sills’ mount landed on its side in turn four.

During the ensuing caution, fourth-running Coons was forced to make a quick stop to change a flat left rear tire, relegating him to the rear. Kruseman led the way on the restart in front of Ray, Lasoski, Hatton and 11th-starter Stewart, who had begun his march toward the front. Directly behind Stewart was 16th-starter Yeley, who was making his charge to the front after running twelfth at the midway point.

Just one more lap was in the books when Josh Wise climbed the turn one wall, bringing out another caution. With Kruseman setting the pace on the restart, Lasoski ducked underneath Ray and regained second a lap later and set his sights on Kruseman, only to have action interrupted on lap 43 when Troy Rutherford looped his machine in turn four.

Running third behind Kruseman and Lasoski, Ray jumped the turn one cushion on the restart, collecting fourth-runner Hatton. Ray kept his machine going while Hatton came to a halt and restarted at the rear.

Apparently set for a wild eight-lap dash to the checkered flag, Kruseman led Lasoski, Ray, Stewart, Leffler and Yeley on the ensuing restart. Yeley made a tremendous charge as the green flag flew, blasting underneath Stewart and Leffler and mounting a charge on the leaders, only to have the move negated when 1995 Chili Bowl king Donnie Beechler slid to a halt in turn two.

The next attempt to complete the race would prove successful, with Ray once again slipping too high on the track and falling from contention. Lasoski attempted to make a bid for the lead in the final rounds aboard Jerry’s Russell’s Esslinger-powered Eagle, but Kruseman was up to the task and scored a narrow victory in front of a packed house in the Barnes-powered Kwik Change Bondio.

Just behind the lead duo, Stewart and Yeley traded slide jobs numerous times before Yeley finally secured the show position on the 48th round. “Racing with Tony Stewart is always fun,” Yeley stated afterward. “When they moved me back behind Leffler and Stewart on that last restart, that hurt me some. I spent four of five laps trying to get back by those guys. It’s always tough to say what would have happened though. Cory was super-fast tonight and getting around him wouldn’t have been easy.”

In the mix throughout, Leffler rounded out the top five behind Kruseman, Lasoski, Yeley and Stewart. Boorse took the checkered flag in sixth, while Danny Stratton capped a spectacular performance of his own by racing from 23rd to claim sixth after starting the day in the first “D” Main.

Ray settled for eighth, with Wilke-PAK Motorsports entries Tracy Hines and 19th-starter Dave Darland completing the top ten.

One year after passing 58 cars while advancing from “H” Main action to a “D” Feature, Yeley topped himself with his 2004 effort. After qualifying night difficulty on Thursday, Yeley gridded Saturday fourth in the second “F” Feature, where he needed just three laps to take command en route to the win.

From there, Yeley electrified the crowd by racing from 13th to second in one lap in the second “E” Main before overhauling Johnny Rodriguez two laps later for another checkered flag. The heroics continued as Yeley raced from 13th to second in his “D” Main, then from 17th to third in his “C” Main. Yeley completed his charge to the main event by slicing through his “B” Feature to finish second after starting 18th.

Relatively unheralded, Stratton’s stellar effort that culminated in a seventh place finish resulted in Chili Bowl Rookie honors after he advanced 45 positions from his “D” Main start. Stratton made a lap 10 pass to win the first 15-lap “D” Main after starting fifth, then blasted from 16th to make a late pass for the win in the first “C” Main. Stratton then advanced to the main event by racing from 16th to sixth in the first “B” Main.

While Ryan Kaplan kicked off the day’s racing action by winning the first “I” Feature in Chili Bowl history, it was Jon Stanbrough who provided Saturday’s early excitement, dashing past Josh Ford on the eighth round to win the first “H” Main. Stanbrough went on to overtake Brian Gard on lap nine of the first “G” Feature, then finish second to Rich Camfield in the first “F” Feature. Stanbrough’s first Chili Bowl effort came to an end with a ninth place finish in the first “E” Feature.

Dean Franklin wired the field in the second “H” Feature in front of Wally McDuffey and Late Model ace Bart Hartman, with Hartman racing from 15th to win the second “G” Main. Hartman advanced once again with a third place run behind Yeley and young Bryan Clauson in the second “F” Main.

Dale Howard topped the first “E” Feature, with Yeley leading Rodriguez, Clauson and Hartman in the second “E” Main. After Stratton kicked off his show in the first “D” Main, Mike Hess checked out on the field and beat Yeley to the line in the second “D” Main. Stratton continued his impressive effort in the first “C” Main, with Don Droud, Jr., edging Boston Reid after a race-long battle in the second “C” Main.

Kahne slipped around Beechler on the fifth round en route to winning the first 20-lap “B” Feature, with Chad DeSelle making a late charge to win the second “B” Main in front of Yeley. After advancing from the second “C” Feature, Reid made a late charge to claim fifth in the second “B” Main then finished twelfth in the main event in his initial Chili Bowl effort.

There were ten flips on the day, with Ron Capps, Butch Middleton and Tracy Miller among flip victims. All drivers walked away without injury.

A record total of 206 drivers competed in the 18th Annual O’Reilly Chili Bowl Nationals.

18th Annual O'Reilly Chili Bowl Nationals Saturday Results:

I Feature (10 laps) - top 4 to Twin H features

I Main: 1. #27K Ryan Kaplan, Chico, CA; 2. #22 Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 3. #56 Doug White, Houston, TX; 4. #78C David Camfield, Sr., Maroa, IL; 5. #19X Terry Holliman, Hamburg, IA; 6. #1W Paul White, Temple, TX; 7. #6 Eddie Leavitt, Jr., Knoxville, IA; 8. #90 Mark Lightfoot, Springfield, MO; 9. #0 Johnny Murdock, Kaufman, TX. DNS - #8X Murray Erickson, Odessa, TX; #V6 Big Al Murie, Kansas City, MO; #79 Jim Doyle, Ft. Lupton, CO; #5B Scott Bertkin, Tracy, CA; #80 Travis Johnson, Tacoma, WA

H Features (10 laps) - top 4 to Twin G features

First H Main: 1. #25 Jon Stanbrough, Jamestown, IN; 2. #2J Josh Ford, Ventura, CA; 3. #61G Damion Gardner, Concord, CA; 4. #88M Matt Hardin, Galveston, IN; 5. #19X Terry Holliman, Hamburg, IA; 6. #27K Ryan Kaplan, Chico, CA; 7. #99S Shon Deskins, Scottsdale, AZ; 8. #0J Todd Jackson, Independence, MO; 9. #91 Cole Houser, Cave Creek, AZ; 10. #15M Chris Morway, Glastonbury, CT; 11. #5MA Mallory Armfield, St. Joseph, MO; 12. #87X Raymond Merrill, Sallisaw, OK; 13. #6 Eddie Leavitt, Jr., Knoxville, IA; 14. #58 Cameron Beard, Turlock, CA; 15. #20R Ron Capps, Carlsbad, CA; 16. #56 Doug White, Houston, TX.

Second H Main: 1. #5H Dean Franklin, Brownsburg, IN; 2. #33 Wally McDuffey, St. Louis, MO; 3. #31C Derrick Crasi, Indianapolis, IN; 4. #14AJ Jeff Harder, Glenbeulah, WI; 5. #D6 Jesse Giannetto, Palo, IA; 6. #22 Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 7. #21M Michele Miller, Temple, PA; 8. #4E Nick O’Neal, Wagoner, OK; 9. #56K Ken Dull, Machesney Park, IL; 10. #11S Tom Hessert, Cherry Hill, NJ; 11. #5M Mike Nether, Monticello, IN; 12. #1W Paul White, Temple, TX; 13. #0 Johnny Murdock, Kaufman, TX; 14. #3A Bill Allen, Independence, MO. DNS - #55 Tony Everhart, El Cajon, CA; #78C David Camfield, Sr., Maroa, IL; #90 Mark Lightfoot, Springfield, MO.

G Features (10 laps) - top 4 to Twin E features

First G Main: 1. #25 Jon Stanbrough, Jamestown, IN; 2. #57B Brian Gard, Kelseyville, CA; 3. #1AZ David Rosales, Glendale, AZ; 4. #71B Chad Branson, Sherman, IL; 5. #51N Mike Nigh, Brownsburg, IN; 6. #2J Josh Ford, Ventura, CA; 7. #31B Brandon Hartsell, Joliet, IL; 8. #20W Cody Weisensel, Sun Prairie, WI; 9. #1P Conner Pullen, Amarillo, TX; 10. #15H Donnie Kratzberg, Fort Smith, AR; 11. #61G Damion Gardner, Concord, CA; 12. #88M Matt Hardin, Galveston, IN; 13. #77 Matt DeWitt, Houston, TX; 14. #31J Jason Howe, Jacksonville, IL; 15. #3 Butch Middleton, Lafayette, CO; 16. #7S Russell Shoulders, Dallas, TX.

Second G Main: 1. #31B Bart Hartman, Zanesville, OH; 2. #5H Dean Franklin, Brownsburg, IN; 3. #81H Jerry Hammock, Ennis, TX; 4. #10H Ryan Howard, New Carlisle, OH; 5. #14AJ Jeff Harder, Glenbeulah, WI; 6. #33A Stephen Arnold, Seymour, IN; 7. #40 Nick Lundgreen, Indianapolis, IN; 8. #50 Roland Ayo, Houston, TX; 9. #24S Cliff Servetti, San Francisco, CA; 10. #31C Derrick Crasi, Indianapolis, IN; 11. #61 Bugs Norbury, Dewey, AZ; 12. #45H Don Hammer, Clinton, IL; 13. #2H Todd Houser, Decatur, IL; 14. #21S Bob Shreffler, Plainfield, IL; 15. #14 Randy Hannagan, San Jose, CA; 16. #33 Wally McDuffey, St. Louis, MO.

F Features (10 laps) -top 4 to Twin D features

First F Main: 1. #87 Rich Camfield, Decatur, IL; 2. #25 Jon Stanbrough, Jamestown, IN; 3. #1M Travis Miniea, Indianapolis, IN; 4. #69 A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 5. #10C Shain Mathews, Marysville, CA; 6. #1AZ David Rosales, Glendale, AZ; 7. #51 Ryan Durst, Lincoln, NE; 8. #71B Chad Branson, Sherman, IL; 9. #57B Brian Gard, Kelseyville, CA; 10. #17X Greg Nelson, Newcastle, CA; 11. #30 Craig Carey, Springfield, IL; 12. #00 John Giffin, San Jose, CA; 13. #27A Amy Maris, Gilbert, AZ; 14. #2D Mark Bush, Cumming, GA; 15. #41 Matt Sherrell, Tulsa, OK; 16. #9 Steven Cheek, Buffalo, TX.

Second F Main: 1. #47X J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 2. #85B Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN; 3. #31H Bart Hartman, Zanesville, OH; 4. #27 Jan Howard, Byhalia, MS; 5. #51D Chris DeShon, Littleton, CO; 6. #62 Rick Ellis, Lakewood, Co; 7. #81h Jerry Hammock, Ennis, TX; 8. #39 Mike Kertscher, Fredonia, WI; 9. #61A Toby Brown, Carthage, MO; 10. #97 Aaron Berryhill, Broken Arrow, OK; 11. #20M Mario Marietta, Clinton, IN; 12. #10H Ryan Howard, New Carlisle, OH; 13. #51S Chris Sheil, Lakewood, CO; 14. #5H Dean Franklin, Brownsburg, IN; 15. #3P Robby Parish, Knightstown, IN; 16. #3T Tracy Miller, Reading, PA.

E Features (10 laps) -top 4 to Twin D features

First E Main: 1. #27B Dale Howard, Byhalia, MS; 2. #63 Rex Norris, III, Knightstown, IN; 3. #25M Johnny Heydenreich, Indianapolis, IN; 4. #1M Travis Miniea, Indianapolis, IN; 5. #35 Marc Dailey, Brownsburg, IN; 6. #95f Justin Fisher, Phoenix, AZ; 7. #D20 Derek Mungor, Walnut, IL; 8. #55K Steve Knepper, Belleville, IL; 9. #25 Jon Stanbrough, Jamestown, IN; 10. #87 Rich Camfield, Decatur, IL; 11. #00X Pete Davis, Pleasanton, CA; 12. #69 A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 13. #7M Todd McVay, Lee’s Summit, MO; 14. #37 Matt Mitchell, Yorba Linda, CA; 15. #94C Kevin Crowder, Decatur, IL; 16. #14C Tony Rossi, Arvada, CO.

Second E Main: 1. #47X J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 2. #30J Johnny Rodriguez, Elk Grove, CA; 3. #85B Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN; 4. #31H Bart Hartman, Zanesville, OH; 5. #5S J.C. Bland, Springfield, IL; 6. #17N Mat Neely, Robinson, IL; 7. #7 Critter Malone, Speedway, IN; 8. #20K P.J. Jones, Torrance, CA; 9. #87S Harley Slotten, Menasha, WI; 10. #27 Jan Howard, Byhalia, MS; 11. #44C Al Cole, McFarland, WI; 12. #42C Chris Pearce, Broken Arrow, OK; 13. #03 Kirk Kubik, Long Beach, CA; 14. #21K Kurt Mayhew, Demotte, IN; 15. #67N Butch Zuniga, Brighton, CO. DNS - #96 Cody Brewer, Choctaw, OK.

D Features (15 laps) - top 3 to Twin C features

First D Main: 1. #50X Danny Stratton, Fontana, CA; 2. #2I Luke Icke, Littleton, CO; 3. #57 Johnny Cofer, Macdoel, CA; 4. #5K Kenny Lewis, Wheatridge, CO; 5. #8P Wally Pankratz, Orange, CA; 6. #71H Keith Rauch, Edgewater, CO; 7. #27B Dale Howard, Byhalia, MS; 8. #18 Floyd Alvis, San Carlos, CA; 9. #1M Travis Miniea, Indianapolis, IN; 10. #95J Jay Jordan, Lincoln, NE; 11. #81X Alex Coonan, Ransom, IL; 12. #63 Rex Norris, III; 13. #43B Buddy Luebke, Stoughton, WI; 14. #33H Robert Hanley, Foxfield, CO; 15. #22A Steve Aplin, St. Louis, MO; 16. #25M Johnny Heydenreich, Indianapolis, IN.

Second D Main: 1. #51H Mike Hess, Petersburg, IL; 2. #47X J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 3. #29 Scott Sawyer, Broken Arrow, OK; 4. #17 Kenny Brown, Millstadt, IL; 5. #71L Mike Leslie, Peoria, AZ; 6. #24L Roy Larkin, Tulsa, OK; 7. #27C Sparky Howard, Santa Rose, CA; 8. #30J Johnny Rodriguez, Elk Grove, CA; 9. #99W Korey Weyant, Springfield, IL; 10. #85B Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN; 11. #31H Bart Hartman, Zanesville, OH; 12. #4 Brian Terry, Cottage Grove, WI; 13. #25F Mike Farmer, Colorado Springs, CO; 14. #99 Kyle Rayburn, Pueblo West, CO; 15. #45A Adam Young, Phoenix, AZ; 16. #75 Roger Miller, Milan, IL.

C Features (15 laps) - top 5 to Twin B features

First C Main: 1. #50X Danny Stratton, Fontana, CA; 2. #10W Bobby Boone, Bakersfield, CA; 3. #57K Randy Koch, Oregon, WI; 4. #3M Brandon Petty, Alexandria, IN; 5. #12C Rick England, Wichita, KS; 6. #57 Johnny Cofer, Macdoel, CA; 7. #21 Andrew Andruskevitch, Riverton, IL; 8. #2I Luke Icke, Littleton, CO; 9. #51L Brad Loyet, Sunset Hills, MO; 10. #26 Glenn Carson, Newark, CA; 11. #125 Teddy Beach, Donnelsville, OH; 12. #4W Edwin Wilson, Tuttle, OK; 13. #10K Ron Kuhn, Lee’s Summit, MO; 14. #2AZ Rickie Gaunt, Torrance, CA; 15. #99D Brad Kuhn, Avon, IN; 16. #5C Joey Montgomery, Fredericktown, MO; 17. #16 Chad Farmer, Colorado Springs, CO; 18. #94 Brian Gerster, Noblesville, IN.

Second C Main: 1. #4X Don Droud, Jr., Lincoln, NE; 2. #25X Boston Reid, Kokomo, IN; 3. #47X J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 4. #95X Rik Forbes, Omaha, NE; 5. #13 Thomas Meseraul, San Jose, CA; 6. #49 Billy Alley, Lincoln, NE; 7. #12 Billy Wease, Noblesville, IN; 8. #12H Rick Hendrix, Canoga Park, CA; 9. #29 Scott Sawyer, Broken Arrow, OK; 10. #4P Josh Lakatos, Pasadena, CA; 11. #43 Cameron Dodson, Greenfield, IN; 12. #3W Brandon Waelti, Sun Prairie, WI; 13. #51H Mike Hess, Petersburg, IL; 14. #17 Kenny Brown, Millstadt, IL; 15. #11Z Travis Berryhill, American Canyon, CA; 16. #15 Todd Beach, Donnelsville, OH; 17. #24 Rick Eckert, York, PA; 18. #19 Chris Wagner, Colorado Springs, CO. DNS - #78 Todd Plemons, Denver, CO.

B Features (20 laps) - top 6 in each to A Feature

First B Main: 1. #67K Kasey Kahne, Huntersville, NC; 2. #10 Donnie Beechler, Springfield, IL; 3. #35W Gary Wright, Hooks, TX; 4. #11W Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN; 5. #8 Jimmy Sills, Elverta, CA; 6. #50X Danny Stratton, Fontana, CA; 7. #19S Robby Flock, Murrieta, CA; 8. #70 Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA; 9. #73 Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH; 10. #31 Donnie Lehmann, Springfield, IL; 11. #10W Bobby Boone, Bakersfield, CA; 12. #85A Justin Allgaier, Riverton, IL; 13. #57K Randy Koch, Oregon, WI; 14. #15S Tim Siner, Waterloo, IL; 15. #34 Tyler Brown, Norco, CA; 16. #12C Rick England, Wichita, KS; 17. #7B Joe Boyles, Greenwood, MO; 18. #3M Brandon Petty, Alexandria, IN; 19. #86C David Camfield, Jr., Decatur, IL; 20. #2 Robert Harr, Arvada, CO.

Second B Main: 1. #81 Chad DeSelle, Sun Prairie, WI; 2. #47X J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 3. #4B Bobby East, Brownsburg, IN; 4. #25X Boston Reid, Kokomo, IN; 5. #7R Troy Rutherford, Ojai, CA; 6. #22B Ray Bull, Bloomsburg, PA; 7. #95 Aaron Fike, Galesburg, IL; 8. #12AZ Eric Wilkins, El Mirage, AZ; 9. #5D Gary Taylor, Snohomish, WA; 10. #72 Jeff Flesher, Lexington, IL; 11. #19W Bud Kaeding, Campbell, CA; 12. #4L Doug Lippincott, Minden, NV; 13. #86 Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 14. #4X Don Droud, Jr., Lincoln, NE; 15. #45 Jeremy Sherman, Phoenix, AZ; 16. #13 Thomas Meseraul, San Jose, CA; 17. #51J R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, AZ; 18. 67 Jay Drake, Val Verde, CA; 19. #95X Rik Forbes, Omaha, NE; 20. #85 Shane Hollingsworth, Indianapolis, IN.

A Feature (50 laps)

A Main: 1. #47 Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA; 2. #20 Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO; 3. #47X J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 4. #71 Tony Stewart, Rushville, IN; 5. #29J Jason Leffler, Long Beach, CA; 6. #88 Dan Boorse, Milwaukee, WI: 7. #50X Danny Stratton, Fontana, CA; 8. #5 Davey Ray, Davenport, IA; 9. #11 Tracy Hines, Greenfield, IN; 10. #11W Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN; 11. #81 Chad DeSelle, Sun Prairie, WI; 12. #25X Boston Reid, Kokomo, IN; 13. #23 Jerry Coons Jr., Tucson, AZ; 14. #4B Bobby East, Brownsburg, IN; 15. #14E Danny Ebberts, Canyon Lake, CA; 16. #59 Josh Wise, Riverside, CA; 17. #35W Gary Wright, Hooks, TX; 18. #15X Scott Hatton, Roscoe, IL; 19. #22B Ray Bull, Bloomsburg, PA; 20. #10 Donnie Beechler, Sherman, IL; 21. #7R Troy Rutherford, Ojai, CA; 22. #8 Jimmy Sills, Elverta, CA; 23. #2M Steve Buckwalter, Royersford, PA; 24. #67K Kasey Kahne, Huntersville, NC.

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