2025 Chili Bowl Nationals Schedule: Dates, Times & Racing Program

The 2025 Chili Bowl Nationals will take place from January 13-18, 2025 at the River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This premier midget car racing event features six days of intense competition with nightly racing programs beginning at 6:00 PM CT, culminating in the $25,000 A-Main championship race on Saturday night.

For racing enthusiasts anticipating the most prestigious indoor midget car event in the world, the Chili Bowl Nationals schedule represents six action-packed days of high-speed competition. Known as the "Super Bowl of Midget Auto Racing," this annual event draws over 300 drivers competing for the coveted Golden Driller trophy and significant prize money. The 2025 edition maintains the traditional Monday-Saturday format during the second week of January, continuing a legacy that began in 1987.

Chili Bowl Nationals Event Structure

Unlike conventional racing events, the Chili Bowl features a unique multi-night format designed to test driver skill and team preparation across various conditions. The event begins with preliminary nights where drivers compete in heat races, B-mains, and A-mains to earn points toward Saturday's championship events. Each night follows a similar structure but with increasing stakes as the week progresses.

Event Day	Gate Opening	Grandstand Opening	Racing Program Start	Featured Event
Monday, January 13	12:00 PM CT	2:00 PM CT	6:00 PM CT	Night 1 Qualifying
Tuesday, January 14	12:00 PM CT	2:00 PM CT	6:00 PM CT	Night 2 Qualifying
Wednesday, January 15	12:00 PM CT	2:00 PM CT	6:00 PM CT	Night 3 Qualifying
Thursday, January 16	12:00 PM CT	2:00 PM CT	6:00 PM CT	Night 4 Qualifying
Friday, January 17	12:00 PM CT	2:00 PM CT	6:00 PM CT	Last Chance Showdown
Saturday, January 18	10:00 AM CT	12:00 PM CT	6:00 PM CT	Grand Annual Point Championship

Daily Racing Program Breakdown

Each evening follows a structured racing program that typically begins with driver introductions around 6:00 PM CT. The complete nightly schedule includes:

• 6:00 PM: Grandstand gates open for spectators
• 6:30 PM: Driver introductions and preliminary ceremonies
• 7:00 PM: Heat races (multiple divisions)
• 8:30 PM: B-main consolation races
• 9:15 PM: A-main feature races
• 10:30 PM: Awards presentation for nightly winners

The Saturday championship program differs slightly with additional activities including the Chili Bowl Car Show starting at noon, vendor village access, and multiple championship feature races culminating in the 55-lap A-Main for the Golden Driller trophy.

How to Follow the Chili Bowl Schedule

For fans unable to attend in person, multiple viewing options exist for the complete chili bowl nationals racing schedule. FloRacing provides comprehensive live coverage of all preliminary nights and the championship events. Traditional television coverage through MAVTV typically begins on Friday with the Last Chance Showdown and continues through Saturday's championship races.

Mobile users can track the real-time chili bowl midget race schedule through the official Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals app, which provides live timing and scoring, driver statistics, and schedule updates. The app also sends push notifications for schedule changes or weather-related delays, which occasionally affect the indoor event due to the temporary dirt track construction.

Event History and Significance

The Chili Bowl's unique scheduling approach has evolved since its inception in 1987. Originally a single-day event, it expanded to multiple nights to accommodate growing driver participation. The current six-day format with preliminary nights leading to a championship Saturday was established in the mid-1990s and has remained largely consistent.

This scheduling structure serves multiple purposes: it allows drivers multiple opportunities to qualify for the championship features, creates dramatic storylines throughout the week, and provides fans with varied racing action. The "A-Main" championship race on Saturday has become one of the most prestigious victories in short track racing, with past winners including NASCAR champions like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell.

Planning Your Chili Bowl Experience

For attendees following the chili bowl nationals schedule 2025, proper planning enhances the experience significantly. The River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa offers multiple ticket options:

• Single-night general admission: $45-65 depending on the night
• Six-night reserved seating packages: $275-350
• Premium hospitality options with indoor seating: $500-750

Parking at the Expo Center is free, but arrives early is recommended as traffic congestion around the venue increases significantly after 4:00 PM CT. Multiple shuttle services operate from downtown Tulsa hotels during the event week for those following the complete chili bowl racing event schedule.

Weather Considerations and Schedule Adjustments

While the Chili Bowl is an indoor event, weather can still impact the schedule. Extreme winter weather in Tulsa occasionally affects travel for teams and fans, potentially causing minor schedule adjustments. The event organizers maintain flexibility in the chili bowl midget race schedule to accommodate any necessary changes while ensuring the championship race occurs on Saturday as scheduled.

Historically, the Chili Bowl has only experienced significant schedule disruptions during the 2021 event, which was postponed to May due to the pandemic. Since returning to its traditional January timing in 2022, the event has maintained consistent scheduling with only minor intra-day adjustments when necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the 2025 Chili Bowl Nationals begin and end?

The 2025 Chili Bowl Nationals will run from Monday, January 13 through Saturday, January 18, 2025. Racing programs begin at 6:00 PM Central Time each evening at the River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

What time does racing start each night at the Chili Bowl?

Grandstands open at 2:00 PM CT Monday-Thursday and 12:00 PM CT on Friday-Saturday. The racing program begins at 6:00 PM CT nightly with driver introductions, followed by heat races starting around 7:00 PM CT.

How can I watch the Chili Bowl if I can't attend in person?

FloRacing provides live streaming coverage of all preliminary nights and championship events. MAVTV broadcasts the Friday Last Chance Showdown and Saturday championship races. International viewers can access coverage through various regional motorsports networks.

What is the championship race schedule for the Chili Bowl?

The championship racing begins on Friday, January 17 with the Last Chance Showdown, which determines final qualifiers for Saturday's events. Saturday features multiple A-Main feature races culminating in the 55-lap Grand Annual Point Championship race for the Golden Driller trophy, which typically starts around 8:30 PM CT.

Are there any schedule changes if weather affects the event?

While the Chili Bowl is an indoor event, extreme winter weather can impact travel and potentially cause minor schedule adjustments. The event organizers maintain flexibility in the daily program but always ensure the championship race occurs on Saturday as scheduled. Real-time updates are available through the official Chili Bowl app and social media channels.