Tony Stewart has been named the Grand Marshal for the 40th Annual Chili Bowl Nationals, which begin next week in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is a two-time winner of the event in 2002 and 2007.
Submitted photo
When you envision the Mount Rushmore of racing, for many, the name Tony Stewart is on that list, and rightfully so.
A USAC Triple-Crown titlist, Chili Bowl champion in 2002 and 2007, along with driving titles in NASCAR, IndyCar, NHRA and SRX, to name a few, the list of accolades and accomplishments puts the man known as “Smoke” in a league of his own.
Making his return to Tulsa in 2026, the Chili Bowl Nationals powered by NOS Energy Drink is honored to name the Columbus native Grand Marshal of the 40th running of the World’s Greatest Midget Race.
“Not only is Tony a winner here, but he was also part of what really made the Chili Bowl take off in the early 2000s, and was the one who really started to rebuild the connection between dirt track and NASCAR fans. He’s an ambassador to our sport at more levels than anyone; he’s a great friend, and they don’t make them like Tony anymore, so being able to honor him as our Grand Marshal means a lot to me, and this event,” Chili Bowl co-founder Emmett Hahn said. “I remember, we made Tony an award in 2014 to recognize what he has done for Sprint Car racing, but this is our chance to let him know how much the Chili Bowl appreciates him.”
Along with the two Golden Drillers, Stewart has a dozen championship A-Feature starts in 14 appearances, three podiums, four top-fives, and seven top 10s. His last A-Feature appearance was in 2013. Stewart has also been part of the track preparation crew and spent several years working alongside Brad Chandler (aka Gravel), Steve Hahn, Matt Ward and Martin Edwards.
A driver and owner champion, Stewart owns titles in NASCAR, as well as 14 USAC owner titles, nine in the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and four in the All Star Circuit of Champions TQ Midgets Series, as well as wins in Sprint Car racing’s most prestigious events, including the Knoxville Nationals 12 times. The owner of the famed Eldora Speedway since 2004, Stewart’s cars have won the King’s Royal on six occasions.
The 40th annual Chili Bowl Nationals powered by NOS Energy Drink takes place Monday through Jan. 17, under the giant roof of the SageNet Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Fans unable to attend the Chili Bowl Nationals can watch every lap live at floracing.com
For continued updates on the Chili Bowl Nationals, fans can follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with @CBNationals. All official press, updates and results on the Chili Bowl Nationals can be found online at chilibowl.com
Pursley wins Tulsa Shootout
Daison Pursley has accomplished a lot in his career. A USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Champion, a 4-Crown Nationals Champion, and a winner in High Limit competition, the one trophy that has eluded him is the Golden Driller, but that changed on Jan. 3 with a win in the Sawyer Chassis Outlaw A-Feature at the 41st Annual Hyper Racing Tulsa Shootout powered by NOS Energy Drink in Tulsa.
Able to lead all 30 laps, it was not without challenge, as 2024 Outlaw winner Kyle Larson clawed his way into contention from the sixth starting spot. Getting the run on Pursley on Lap 26, the pair made slight contact battling through the third and fourth turns.
Recovering and giving chase, the next set of turns saw Larson shoot sideways and save it, but not before dropping to fourth. Allowing Jeffrey Newell and Steven Snyder Jr. to roll by, the pair were in a dogfight, with Snyder slipping by on Lap 28. Having charged from 12th, time was out to run down Pursley, the NOS Energy No. 86 hit the checkered flag with 0.755-second to spare.
Snyder in second was followed by Newell, with Lason holding onto fourth. From the 15th, Emerson Axsom made it to fifth, with Ricky Thornton, Jr. in sixth and Briggs Danner in tow. Thomas Kunsman, Chase Cabre and Frank Flud from 20th made up the top 10.
A field of 292 drivers made up the Sawyer Chassis Outlaw roster.
The 42nd Annual Hyper Racing Tulsa Shootout powered by NOS Energy Drink takes place Dec. 29 through Jan. 2, 2027, at the Tulsa Expo Raceway, located inside the SageNet Center at Expo Square.
Former Brownstown champ passes away
Scott Smith of Williams, a two-time Brownstown Speedway modified track champion, passed away Dec. 28. He was 59.
Smith started his career at Brownstown in the late 1980’s in the bomber division. He then raced in the modified class, winning 13 feature events as he captured the 1994 and 1996 modified track titles. He then moved up to the late model division in 1999, where he won two features during that year.
James Essex writes a motorsports notebook for The Republic. Send comments to sports@therepublic.com
