RPW Column: My First Chili Bowl Nationals…From The Driver’s Seat…Day Five

RPW Column By: DANIEL SANCHEZ / SPECIAL TO RPW – TULSA, OK – It’s was finally here! Thursday evening was my night to finally get on the track and see if I could make my way into the Chili Bowl Nationals.

Well, to say there’s a learning curve driving a Midget is an understatement.

I could barely sleep. I was so amped up and ready to go. It was Race Day. My nerves were right at the surface and I couldn’t wait to strap in to my Mounce Motorsports ride and crack the loud pedal.

Unlike the Street Stock, or Pro Stock, or even my Modified, the Midget is a whole different animal. This thing is unlike anything I have ever driven before. It’s not that it’s necessarily difficult, however it’s very different and would take more than one night to get used to it.

To be honest, I think it’s crazy that my first time ever in one is for the chili bowl.

Thursday was preliminary night and, like I said, I was not going to cheat myself out of my first time in the car. With my safety gear properly adjusted, I was able to hold the corners well. I definitely need some time working the new gas pedal. Most cars, you push the pedal at an angle. Well, in one of these, it’s straight down for go and up to slow.

I went to pill draw which I never do good at and that remained consistent. I drew #71. This started me outside row 3 in heat 7 with the likes of someone many have heard of a time or two…Christopher Bell.

I quickly made a move at the start of the race to get into fifth going for fourth. I blew it down into turn 3 and missed my mark. That let someone get under me. I tried to make the top groove work after that, but there just wasn’t anything up there. I was passed two more times and finished eighth.

This started me 13th in the second C-main of the night. I was feeling very optimistic and hopeful, but then they threw the go flag.

Coming off of turn 4, as the green flag was sent into the air, and barreling down into turn one, both the seventh and ninth place starters spun out directly in front of me. I had no where to go and bent some of the front end suspension parts, ending my prelim evening.

The Mounce Motorsports crew worked diligently and got it back together. We’re anxious to give it another go on Saturday.

Friday night, we cheer on Clint Wilson, my final Mounce Motorsports teammate trying to qualify this week. I’m looking forward to the final preliminary and then getting up on the wheel Saturday!

Even though it was a struggle today, it was amazing. I will forever be able to say I made an attempt to qualify for the Chili Bowl. I race at the Chili Bowl. That to me, in itself, is amazing.

I can’t thank everyone who helped to get me here…