Legend of Speed Tony Stewart to Helm Chili Bowl 40th Anniversary
For anyone who treats the smell of methanol like fine perfume, the Tulsa Expo Center in January is hallowed ground. It is a loud, dusty, chaotic cathedral of speed. And next week, the congregation gets its high priest back. Tony Stewart, the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and a man whose name is practically etched into the foundation of the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, is coming home.
It has been a while since we’ve seen “Smoke” roaming the pits or turning laps in the River Spirit Expo Center, but the bond between the driver and this event has never frayed. Appropriately, event organizers have named Stewart the Grand Marshal for the most electrifying night in dirt racing: Championship Saturday.
A Homecoming for a Dirt Racing Icon
To call Stewart just a “former winner” of the Chili Bowl is a massive understatement. He is part of the event’s DNA. While the history books show he captured the Golden Driller trophy in 2002 and again in 2007, his impact goes far beyond the box scores. Chili Bowl co-founder Emmett Hahn knows this better than anyone.
When Hahn announced the decision, it wasn’t just a press release. It was a heartfelt nod to an old friend.”Not only is Tony a winner here, but he was also part of what really made the Chili Bowl take off in the early 2000s,” Hahn said. Hahn’s sentiment cuts to the core of why this appointment matters.
In the early 2000s, the gap between the glitz of Daytona and the grit of Tulsa was wide. Stewart built the bridge. When he showed up to race, he brought the entire motorsports world’s attention with him. He proved that you could be a millionaire asphalt superstar on Sunday and still get your hands dirty in a midget car on Saturday.
Stewart and the Blue Collar Work Ethic
One of the reasons the Tulsa crowd adores Stewart isn’t just his talent behind the wheel. It’s his willingness to work when the helmet comes off. Longtime fans remember the years when Stewart wasn’t just racing, he was working. There is a specific kind of romance to the image of a NASCAR champion spending his off-hours inside the SageNet Center, not in a luxury suite, but driving a tractor to help prep the track.
Stewart spent years working alongside the track prep crew, collaborating with legends like Brad Chandler and Steve Hahn to ensure the racing surface was perfect for his competitors. That is the definition of a “racer’s racer.” It’s that blue-collar authenticity that Emmett Hahn wants to honor.
“He’s an ambassador to our sport at more levels than anyone, he’s a great friend, and they don’t make them like Tony anymore,” Hahn added. “We made Tony an award in 2014 to recognize what he has done for Sprint Car racing, but this is our chance to let him know how much the Chili Bowl appreciates him.”
The Stats Behind the Legend
While the emotion of the return is the headline, the numbers Stewart put up in Tulsa are worth revisiting. In 14 attempts at the Chili Bowl, he made the main event 12 times. That is an absurd level of consistency in a race where hundreds of drivers go home empty-handed every year. His resume at the SageNet Center includes:
- Two victories in 2002 and 2007
- Three podium finishes
- Four top-fives
- Seven top-10s
His last start came in 2013, but his shadow has loomed large over the event ever since. Every time a Cup driver crosses over to run the Chili Bowl today, whether it’s Kyle Larson or Christopher Bell, they are walking through a door that Stewart kicked open 20 years ago.
An Electric Atmosphere Awaits
Championship Saturday at the Chili Bowl is already one of the most intense atmospheres in sports. 15,000 fans packed into a single building, the air thick with exhaust and anticipation.When Stewart walks out to give the command or wave to the crowd, expect the roof to lift off the place. This isn’t just a celebrity appearance. This is a family reunion.
The Chili Bowl has always been about respect, respect for the track, respect for the machine, and respect for the history. By naming Stewart Grand Marshal, the event is paying its respects to the man who helped put it on the map. Welcome back to Tulsa, Smoke. We missed you.
