A Legacy of Speed and Tradition

The storied history of the Chili Bowl Nationals, powered by NOS Energy Drink, now spans four decades, and the host venue is as notable as the race itself. Each December, the SageNet Center at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is transformed into the iconic Tulsa Expo Raceway, which will welcome thousands of spectators for the Tulsa Shootout and then the Chili Bowl Nationals.

For 2026, the indoor quarter-mile clay oval will once again serve as the backdrop for unforgettable moments. The clay itself is a significant part of the event’s legacy and prestige, originally covering the nearby fairgrounds. The Tulsa Shootout is scheduled from December 29 to January 3, with the famed venue hosting the Chili Bowl Nationals from January 12 to 17.

The 2026 Chili Bowl is the milestone 40th edition of the race, which first took place in 1987. The first Tulsa Shootout was held the year prior. Created by Tulsa’s Emmett Hahn and Lanny Edwards, with the help of their families, the tradition has been kept alive for four decades. The inaugural event in 1987 was a two-day affair featuring 52 Midget cars, and it has grown to include nearly 400 competitors over five exciting days.

About the Venue

The SageNet Center, part of Tulsa’s Expo Square, features more than 446,000 square feet of space across two levels and has been welcoming a variety of events since the late 1960s. As a tribute to the venue’s main original occupant, the International Petroleum Exposition, a 43,500-pound, 76-foot-tall Golden Driller statue is part of the landscape of the facility and has become a symbol of Expo Square.

This statue has also become part of the lore of the Tulsa Shootout and Chili Bowl, as the Golden Driller found a second home atop the trophies handed out at the events. The Golden Driller Trophy is arguably the most recognizable award in dirt track racing.

How to Watch the 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals

Chili Bowl Nationals is streaming on Sportify and the FloSports app. Non-subscribers interested in watching the race can become Sportify subscribers by clicking here. Fans can watch on their SmartTVs, mobile phones or tablets, as well as computers on Sportify.

The FloSports app is available on Roku, FireTV, Samsung, LG, Google Play Store and the Apple Store. Replays of the event, breaking news and every qualifying race will also be on both platforms. Those who would like to watch the action in person can find spectator and ticket information here.

40th Annual Chili Bowl Nationals Event Schedule

All times listed are Central Standard Time:

• Sunday, Jan. 11
• 7 a.m. – Building/Pit Pass Booth Open

• 9 a.m. – Practice

• Monday, Jan. 12

• 9 a.m. – Building Opens
• 11 a.m. – Pit Pass Booth Open
• 1 p.m. – Building Secured
• 2 p.m. – Draw For Lineups
• 3 p.m. – Drivers’ Meeting
• 4 p.m. – Hot Laps

• 5 p.m. – Races

• Tuesday, Jan. 13

• 9 a.m. – Building Opens
• 11 a.m. – Pit Pass Booth Open
• 1 p.m. – Building Secured
• 2 p.m. – Draw For Lineups
• 3 p.m. – Drivers’ Meeting
• 4 p.m. – Hot Laps

• 5 p.m. – Races

• Wednesday, Jan. 14

• 9 a.m. – Building Opens
• 11 a.m. – Pit Pass Booth Open
• 1 p.m. – Building Secured
• 2 p.m. – Draw For Lineups
• 3 p.m. – Drivers’ Meeting
• 4 p.m. – Hot Laps

• 5 p.m. – Races

• Thursday, Jan. 15

• 9 a.m. – Building Opens
• 11 a.m. – Pit Pass Booth Open
• 1 p.m. – Building Secured
• 2 p.m. – Draw for Lineups
• 3 p.m. – Drivers’ Meeting
• 4 p.m. – Hot Laps

• 5 p.m. – Races

• Friday, Jan. 16

• 9 a.m. – Building Secured/Pit Pass Booth Open
• 2 p.m. – Draw for Lineups
• 3 p.m. – Drivers’ Meeting
• 4 p.m. – Hot Laps

• 5 p.m. – Races

• Saturday, Jan. 17

• 7:30 a.m. – Building Secured/Trade Show
• 8 a.m. – Pit Pass Booth/Pit Gate Open
• 8:15 a.m. – Racers For Christ Service
• 9 a.m. – Feature Hot Laps
• 6:30 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies

What Kind of Cars Race at the Chili Bowl Nationals?

Chili Bowl Nationals features Midget cars, which are small vehicles with a high horsepower-to-weight ratio and open wheels, resulting in speedy and physical racing with banging wheels and flipping cars. These cars, sometimes mistaken for go-karts, weigh less than 1,000 pounds, including the driver, and while they’re small, they’re also mighty, featuring four-cylinder engines and 300-400 horsepower. They can accelerate quickly and reach speeds up to 100 miles per hour.

Who Is Racing at the Chili Bowl Nationals in 2026?

Chili Bowl Nationals now attracts 300-400 entries each year, and the list for 2026 was closing in on 350 as Christmas approached. The star-studded field will include drivers from across the globe and throughout the world of motorsports. To see the current list of entries, which is updated regularly, click here.

Full Race: 2025 Chili Bowl Nationals | Alphabet Soup/Championship Soup

Watch the entire Alphabet Soup from the 2025 Chili Bowl Nationals, starting with the P-Mains, all the way through the 40-lap Championship Feature for the Golden Driller on Jan. 18, 2025.

How to Watch Every Chili Bowl

With the help of MAVTV and Greg Stephen’s Motorsports Video, Sportify has assembled every championship feature event replay from the inception of the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in 1987! Fans can watch all 39 main events from the Chili Bowl Nationals (1987-2025) on Sportify by clicking here.

Archived Footage on Sportify

Video footage from all events will be archived and stored in a video library for Sportify subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

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