Late Model drivers at the Chili Bowl Nationals...

[dirtdobber45]

I seen where Kevin Swindell is entered.Didnt think he had recovered well enough to get back in a car. The Swindells are my pick(s).

[dirtdobber45]

Also seen that Matt Westfall is entered if count him as a fifth dlm driver.

[highgroove]

Will Danica be there with Ricky....

[plunks7]

Will Danica be there with Ricky....

If she is racing there will be a lot of torn up midgets. Hope they can fill the field if she does.
Kevin Swindel will NOT be racing. He feels that his upper body strength is not there.

[george w]

I seen where Kevin Swindell is entered.Didnt think he had recovered well enough to get back in a car. The Swindells are my pick(s).

to my knowledge kevin swindell in joining the chilibowl as a car owner this year, i believe the article i read said he wants to get his feet wet on the owner builder side incase he doesn't gain the movement back that he needs to race again i also believe he hired kevin thomas to drive a car for him that he said will be prepared pretty close to what he had. Cirf is prolly got the details on it a little better but i believe all the above is correct or pretty close to my knowledge.

[powerslide]

does anyone know if they have a weight limit? I can't find the rules on the website.

[zyoung25]

http://dirtracingreport.com/kevin-swindell-announces-2016-chili-bowl-plans-as-car-owner/

I seen he had a shirt released right around a month ago says "return to Tulsa 2017" on it.

http://www.r-rracewear.com/product/2016-kevin-swindell-kevinator-t-shirt#&ui-state=dialog

[CIRF]

to my knowledge kevin swindell in joining the chilibowl as a car owner this year, i believe the article i read said he wants to get his feet wet on the owner builder side incase he doesn't gain the movement back that he needs to race again i also believe he hired kevin thomas to drive a car for him that he said will be prepared pretty close to what he had. Cirf is prolly got the details on it a little better but i believe all the above is correct or pretty close to my knowledge.

As far as I've read and heard you've got it right, George. There was some talk about getting a car set up for hand controls of the throttle and brake but that hasn't materialized to my knowledge.

does anyone know if they have a weight limit? I can't find the rules on the website.

There is no weight limit, powerslide. In fact there are very few rules other than the race cars have to look like a traditional midget. There are no engine size rules, in fact every year there are a couple of small V-8's there but the engine that is most successful is the inline 4 cylinder.

[powerslide]

I suspected that. I guess I will pick Rico as a repeat seeing as he has that huge advantage. Not taking anything away from him as a driver but that is a big advantage.

[CIRF]

I suspected that. I guess I will pick Rico as a repeat seeing as he has that huge advantage. Not taking anything away from him as a driver but that is a big advantage.

I am not disagreeing with you powerslide, but there is a a contrarian school of thought on the subject we heard at 2014 Chili Bowl post race BS session that included a couple of guys who have wrenched on winning midgets for a decade or so. They were of the opinion that Rico's lack of weight was an advantage upon straight line acceleration but his stature may be somewhat of a disadvantage in cornering since Rico has to be located much higher in the c ockpit thus placing a higher percentage of sprung weight much higher in the car. This may make for handling challenges that don't apply to much taller drivers. I know very little about midget car chassis geometry but what they say makes some sense especially at a venue such as the Chili Bowl where there is much less straight line acceleration needed in relation to tracks that are larger and more symmetrical.

Believe me, this is not my personal deduction but rather what I gathered from being part of a conversation among people who know infinitely more about chassis geometry than I.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

I am not disagreeing with you powerslide, but there is a a contrarian school of thought on the subject we heard at 2014 Chili Bowl post race BS session that included a couple of guys who have wrenched on winning midgets for a decade or so. They were of the opinion that Rico's lack of weight was an advantage upon straight line acceleration but his stature may be somewhat of a disadvantage in cornering since Rico has to be located much higher in the c ockpit thus placing a higher percentage of sprung weight much higher in the car. This may make for handling challenges that don't apply to much taller drivers. I know very little about midget car chassis geometry but what they say makes some sense especially at a venue such as the Chili Bowl where there is much less straight line acceleration needed in relation to tracks that are larger and more symmetrical.

Believe me, this is not my personal deduction but rather what I gathered from being part of a conversation among people who know infinitely more about chassis geometry than I.

You could always add low weight, if you believe that. Less total inertia is always better.

[powerslide]

You could always add low weight, if you believe that. Less total inertia is always better.

Agreed, build it light as possible and put the lead where you want it. In his case he doesn't have to carry any. Likely has to run a different shock/spring package to compensate compared to his teammates

[CIRF]

Absolutely correct MBR, and IIRC that came up as a contrarian point of view during the conversation 2 years ago but the other side was brought up that adding weight lower in the car to offset the higher seat and foot control mountings negates the lighter driver.

I'd bet my last C-note that Keith Kunz has it figured out both ways since he's fielding cars for non dwarfs as well as Rico. Last year the cushion, and avoiding going over it, was a determining factor in who won the A-main. So many factors enter into winning an event that hosts over 330 cars that weight, or lack thereof, is one of many elements. All of the many serious contenders for the Golden Driller trophy are going to be really light.

[WisWildManFan]

You could always add low weight, if you believe that. Less total inertia is always better.

They have that covered already with Rico's big balls of steel lol

[CIRF]

They have that covered already with Rico's big balls of steel lol

You've got that right WWMF! LOL!!