By Lonnie Wheatley

TULSA, Ok -January 15, 2009- For the second time in as many nights, it was a past Chili Bowl champion reaching victory lane at the QuikTrip Center's Tulsa Expo Raceway. This time, it was 2005 Chili Bowl king Tracy Hines tracking down top honors in Thursday's 25-lap Warren CAT Qualifying night feature event at the 23rd Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire.

The triumph before a standing-room-only crowd came by the narrowest of margins though, as Hines flashed across the finish line in the Tony Stewart Racing Kistler Chevy-powered No. 21 Chevy/Bass Pro Shops Spike just 0.12-seconds ahead of fellow Hoosier State hotshoe Dave Darland.

Also assured of a starting slot in Saturday night's 50-lap Chili Bowl championship main event along with Hines and Darland is Illinois native and 2008 ARCA champion Justin Allgaier, who claimed the show position to lock into his third career Chili Bowl finale. Hines and Darland will both make their eleventh career championship feature starts on Saturday night.

Hines and Darland earned the front row for Thursday's feature through heat race and qualifying action and then hinted at the close finish to follow in the opening handful of circuits, dueling for the lead in wheel-to-wheel fashion with Hines running the low line and Darland on the top shelf.

After the battle was interrupted five laps in due to a Scott Hatton spin in turn two, Hines established a grip on the lead and moved to the upper portion of the racetrack, building nearly a straightaway advantage over the ensuing laps.

Hines pace was only marginally slowed after reaching lapped traffic at the midway point, with Darland making up minimal ground as Allgaier fought off Brent Beauchamp for the third and final transfer position.

Hines' comfortable advantage went by the wayside as the caution flag flew just three laps short of the finish when Jason Meyers slid to a stop in turn three, surrendering the sixth position in the process.

After another pair of quick cautions, Darland was on Hines' tailtank for the green-white-checkered run. And, as Hines continued to work the high line over the final two laps, Darland got perhaps his best run of the race off the bottom of turn four on the final lap. Darland pulled alongside but fell just inches short as Hines took the checkered flag.

While Darland settled for second in the Toyota-powered Wilke-Pak Motorsports Speedway Motors No. 5 Spike, Allgaier slipped away from his chasers in the final scramble to secure third aboard Ebby Bergfield's Esslinger-powered Ethanol No. 86 Spike.

After battling each other throughout the night, including some qualifying race contact, Shane Cottle and Donnie Ray Crawford mixed it up for position much of the way in the feature event. Trading positions several times in the closing circuits, Cottle got the edge on the final lap to claim fourth with Crawford rounding out the top five.

Beauchamp got shuffled back to sixth in the final two-lap dash to the checkered flag, with Glenn Carson in seventh. After starting outside the second row, Jesse Hockett lost a left front shock in the early going and still managed an eighth-place showing.

Nathan High claimed ninth, with Jay Drake's first full night of competition behind the wheel in more than two years netted a tenth-place finish after starting 17th.

Among Thursday's heat race winners that also included Frank Polimeda, Rob Russell, Jimmy Light, Darland, Allgaier, Crawford, Cottle and Beauchamp, Drake later posted the night's second-narrowest victory when he nipped Michelle Decker by 0.023-seconds at the line in the first "B" Main.

The night's closest finish came in the third "A" qualifier when Scott Hatton edged Allgaier by just 0.009 seconds. Other qualifying race winners included Hockett, Wise and A.J. Fike, who surrendered a fifth-row feature starting position when he made a quick trip to the work area prior to the start.

Billy Pauch, Jr., and Garrett Hansen topped the "C" Mains, with Scott Pierovich joining Drake among the ranks of "B" Main winners.

There were nine tumbles over the course of the evening, including fence-manglers by Channing Zierolf and Nick Knepper in heat race competition. Jonathan Hendrick and Brad Sweet also got upside down in heat race action before returning for unsuccessful attempts to climb from "C" to "B" Main competition.

Scotty Weir and Dylan Peterson both got upside down in "C"Main action, with Eric Sandage, Ricky Ehrgott and Derek Hagar all flipping in the qualifiers.

The fourth and final qualifying night of the 23rd Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tires hits the track at 6:00 p.m. on Friday night, setting the stage for Saturday's slate of championship feature events.

Thursday Night's Warren CAT Qualifying Results from the 23rd Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals presented by General Tire

RESULTS

Heat Races (8 Laps - Top 40 in passing points to A Qualifiers; Balance to two C Mains)

Heat 1: 1. #44F Frank Polimeda, Fort Lee, NJ; 2. #37J Jeff Bland Jr., Bloomington, IN; 3. #7X Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 4. #21T Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 5. #26 Glenn Carson, Concord, CA; 6. #11B Scott Weir, Marion, IN; 7. #10C Scott Allen, Kansas City, KS; 8. #33A Stephen Arnold, Seymour, IN; 9. #68 Jonathan Hendrick, Fortville, IN

Heat 2: 1. #10R Rob Russell, Fremont, CA; 2. #21 Tracy Hines, New Castle, IN; 3. #2D Steve Davis, Norco, CA; 4. #11J Justin Melton, Flower Mound, TX; 5. #44 Ryan Pace, Brownsburg, IN; 6. 36X Dylan Peterson, Sioux Falls, SD; 7. #75 David Gough, Machesney Park, IL; 8. 331V Victor Davis, Simi Valley, CA; 9. #76K Frank Ikerd, Loma Linda, CA

Heat 3: 1. #4M Jimmy Light, Indianapolis, IN; 2. #27D Danny Jennings, Norman, OK; 3. #14J Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA; 4. #1D Dennis Rodriguez, Camarillo, CA; 5. #27 Ryan Kaplan, Chico, CA; 6. #0 Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, Ont.; 7. #6Z Cody Kershaw, Oak, Park, CA; 8. #0C Cameron Beard, Atwater, CA

Heat 4: 1. #5 Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN; 2. #69 A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 3. #25A Aaron Ott, York Springs, PA; 4. #9JR Derek Hagar, Marion, AR; 5. #07X Jennifer Greenberg, Albuquerque, NM; 6. #58 Cole Peard, Quincy, CA; 7. #2X Doug Day, Winder, GA; 8. #49 Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA

Heat 5: 1. #86 Justin Allgaier, Cornelius, NC; 2. #22 Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 3. #60 Eric Sandage, Alexander, AR; 4. #57 Kevin Studley, Plainfield, IN; 5. #38G Coleman Gulick, Binghamton, NY; 6. 10 Will Pierce, Lees Summit, MO; 7. #21K Kurt Mayhew, Demotte, IN; 8. #31L Chuck Knight, Fort Smith, AR

Heat 6: 1. #55 Donnie Ray Crawford, Tulsa, OK; 2. #15H Scott Hatton, Roscoe, IL; 3. #35X Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 4. #49P Billy Pauch Jr., Frenchtown, NJ; 5. #7C Chris Burns, Bethany, OK; 6. #10B Brock Lemley, Bellingham, WA; 7. #1M Garry Lee Maier, Cimarron, KS; 8. #05X Channing Zierolf, Houma, LA

Heat 7: 1. #67 Jay Drake, Brownsburg, IN; 2. #18 Donnie Trent, Honey Brook, PA; 3. #8R Ricky Ehrgott, Brownsburg, IN; 4. #57X Jason Holt, Brownsville, IN; 5. #7J Eric Todd, Falcon, MO; 6. #87C Tim Crawley, Little Rock, AR; 7. #7E Blake Miller, Yorba Linda, CA; 8. #24 Nick Foster Jr., San Jose, CA

Heat 8: 1. #1S Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 2. #75W Josh Wise, Columbus, IN; 3. #12JR Nathan High, Goodyear, AZ; 4. #83 Kurt Blackaby, Bentonville, AR; 5. #70 Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA; 6. #11A Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, MO; 7. #3A Bill Allen, Independence, MO; 8. #50T Tom Everhart, El Cajon, CA

Heat 9: 1. #112 Brent Beauchamp, Fairland, IN; 2. #7B Austin Brown, Millstadt, IL; 3. #05H Jesse Hockett, Warsaw, MO; 4. #7 Critter Malone, Speedway, IN; 5. #73T Samantha Taylor, Bonney Lake, WA; 6. #4F Chad Frewaldt, Kansas City, KS; 7. #64 Brett Miller, Chico, CA; 8. #55K Nick Knepper, Belleville, IL

C Mains (12 Laps - Top 4 in each transfer to back of corresponding B Main)

C Main 1: 1. #49P Billy Pauch Jr., Frenchtown, NJ; 2. #75 David Gough, Machesney Park, IL; 3. #58 Cole Peard, Quincy, CA; 4. #7C Chris Burns, Bethany, OK; 5. #73T Samantha Taylor, Bonney Lake, WA; 6. #68 Jonathan Hendrick, Fortville, IN; 7. #2X Doug Day, Winder, GA; 8. #31L Chuck Knight, Fort Smith, AR; 9. #10B Brock Lemley, Bellingham, WA; 10. #50T Tom Everhart, El Cajon, CA; 11. #3A Bill Allen, Independence, MO; 12. #10C Scott Allen, Kansas City, KS; 13. #11A Andrew Felker, Carl Junction, MO; 14. #11B Scott Weir, Marion, IN; 15. #1M Garry Lee Maier, Cimarron, KS DNS – #05X Channing Zierolf, Houma, LA; #55K Nick Knepper, Belleville, IL

C Main 2: 1. #70 Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA; 2. #7E Blake Miller, Yorba Linda, CA; 3. #27 Ryan Kaplan, Chico, CA; 4. #24 Nick Foster Jr., San Jose, CA; 5. #10 Will Pierce, Lees Summit, MO; 6. #0 Glenn Styres, Ohsweken, ONT; 7. #64 Brett Miller, Chico, CA; 8. #33A Stephen Arnold, Seymour, IN; 9. #31V Victor Davis, Simi Valley, CA; 10. #21K Kurt Mayhew, Demotte, IN; 11. #49 Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 12. #76K Frank Ikerd, Loma Linda, CA; 13. #7J Eric Todd, Falcon, MO; 14. #6Z Cody Kershaw, Oak Park, CA; 15. #0C Cameron Beard, Atwater, CA; 16. #87C Tim Crawley, Benton, AR; 17. #6X Dylan Peterson, Sioux Falls, SD

A Qualifiers (10 Laps - Top 16 in combined passing points to A Main; Balance to twin B Mains)

A Qualifier 1: 1. #69 A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 2. #112 Brent Beauchamp, Fairland, IN; 3. #14J Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA; 4. #7B Austin Brown, Millstadt, IL; 5. #35X Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 6. #10R Rob Russell, Fremont, CA; 7. #25A Aaron Ott, York Springs, PA; 8. #57X Jason Holt, Brownsville, IN; 9. #07X Jennifer Greenberg, Albuquerque, NM; 10. #60 Eric Sandage, Alexander, AR

A Qualifier 2: 1. #05H Jesse Hockett, Warsaw, MO; 2. #12JR Nathan High, Goodyear, AZ; 3. #26 Glenn Carson, Concord, CA; 4. #22 Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 5. #4M Jimmy Light, Indianapolis, IN; 6. #44 Ryan Pace, Brownsburg, IN; 7. #8G Coleman Gulick, Binghamton, NY; 8. #83 Kurt Blackaby, Bentonville, AR; 9. #9JR Derek Hagar, Marion, AR; 10. #8R Rick Ehrgott, Brownsburg, IN

A Qualifier 3: 1. #15H Scott Hatton, Roscoe, IL; 2. #86 Justin Allgaier, Cornelius, NC; 3. #5 Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN; 4. #21T Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 5. #67 Jay Drake, Brownsburg, IN; 6. #44F Frank Polimeda, Fort Lee, NJ; 7. #11J Justin Melton, Flower Mound, TX; 8. #7 Critter Malone, Speedway, IN; 9. #57 Kevin Studley, Plainfield, IN; 10. #27D Danny Jennings, Norman, OK

A Qualifier 4: 1. #75W Josh Wise, Columbus, IN; 2. #21 Tracy Hines, Newcastle, IN; 3. #1S Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 4. #55 Donnie Ray Crawford, Tulsa, OK; 5. #37J Jeff Bland Jr., Bloomington, IN; 6. #7X Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 7. #1D Dennis Rodriguez, Camarillo, CA; 8. #18 Donnie Trent, Honey Brook, PA; 9. #2D Steve Davis, Norco, CA; 10. #4F Chad Frewaldt, Kansas City, KS

B Mains (15 Laps - Top 4 advance to A Main)

B Main 1: 1. #67 Jay Drake, Brownsburg, IN; 2. #7X Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 3. #44F Frank Polimeda, Fort Lee, NJ; 4. #21T Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 5. #49 Billy Pauch Jr., Frenchtown, NJ; 6. #75 David Gough, Machesney Park, IL; 7. #18 Donnie Trent, Honey Brook, PA; 8. #7 Critter Malone, Speedway, IN; 9. #25A Aaron Ott, York Springs, PA; 10. #57X Jason Holt, Brownsville, IN; 11. #11J Justin Melton, Flower Mound, TX; 12. #7C Chris Burns, Bethany, OK; 13. #58 Cole Peard, Quincy, CA; 14. #07X Jennifer Greenberg, Albuquerque, NM; 15. #27D Danny Jennings, Norman, OK; DNS - #60 Eric Sandage, Alexander, AR

B Main 2: 1. #35X Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 2. #44 Ryan Pace, Brownsburg, IN; 3. #22 Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 4. #8G Coleman Gulick, Binghamton, NY; 5. #37J Jeff Bland Jr., Bloomington, IN; 6. #7E Blake Miller, Yorba Linda, CA; 7. #9JR Derek Hagar, Marion, PA; 8. #70 Garrett Hansen, Manhattan Beach, CA; 9. #27 Ryan Kaplan, Chico, CA; 10. #1D Dennis Rodriguez, Camarillo, CA; 11. #2D Steve Davis, Norco, CA; 12. #83 Kurt Blackaby, Bentonville, AR; 13. #57 Kevin Studley, Plainfield, IN; 14. #8R Rick Ehrgott, Brownsburg, IN; 15. #4F Chad Frewaldt, Kansas City, KS; 16. #24 Nick Foster Jr., San Jose, CA

A Main (25 laps – Top 3 advance to Saturday Night's Main Event)

1. #21 Tracy Hines, Newcastle, IN; 2. #5 Dave Darland, Lincoln, IN; 3. #86 Justin Allgaier, Cornelius, NC; 4. #1S Shane Cottle, Kokomo, IN; 5. #55 Donnie Ray Crawford, Tulsa, OK; 6. #112 Brent Beauchamp, Fairland, IN; 7. #26 Glen Carson, Concord, CA; 8. #05H Jesse Hockett, Warsaw, MO; 9. #12JR Nathan High, Goodyear, AZ; 10. #67 Jay Drake, Brownsburg, IN; 11. #7B Austin Brown, Millstadt, IL; 12. #44F Frank Polimeda, Fort Lee, NJ; 13. #75W Josh Wise, Columbus, IN; 14. #35X Scott Pierovich, Alamo, CA; 15. #21T Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, NE; 16. #15H Scott Hatton, Roscoe, IL; 17. #44 Ryan Pace, Brownsburg, IN; 18. #14J Jason Meyers, Clovis, CA; 19. #22 Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 20. #69 A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL; 21. #7X Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 22. #8G Coleman Gulick, Binghamton, NY; 23. #4M Jimmy Light, Indianapolis, IN; 24. #10R Rob Russell, Fremont, CA

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