The qualifying groups were released tonight with much anticipation. With no less than 250 entrants the drivers have been divided into four tough sections. Brad has been placed in Thursday’s “Bully Dog” qualifying night along with 61 other cars and crew. All these cars will be battling for just three spots with the top three from Thursday’s A-Main the only guaranteed qualifiers for the ultimate main event come Saturday. Brad faces a tough task ahead with his group being littered with stars. Including 5-time winner and defending Chili Bowl champion Sammy Swindell, NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne, as well as two other previous winners in that of Jay Drake (2001) and Tracey Hines (2005). Other notables in the “Bully Dog” field are Jason Leffler, Shane Cottle, P.J. Jones, Darren Hagen, Steve Knepper and more. No complaints however, as you’ve got to beat the best to be the best.

Michael Pickens has drawn the opening night qualifying group on Tuesday which allows us to get down to the track, have a good look around and support team kiwi.  

For full details click on the logo above.

24th Chili Bowl Entry List

One month out from Chili Bowl - Tulsa - USA.

The update is that the Sponsorship and the Television coverage has been set in place, which has been organised by Luke Fisher. The television coverage will eventually be edited to create a one hour documentary about this team and what they achieved. Simon Longdill designed this engine to be competitive in a Midget car and over the past couple of years has won a number of significant events which include the Australian Title. The realisation of this dream has got the team to this point and on the 15th December the two cars leave NZ destined for the USA. The initial team head up to LA to load the cars into the trailer and drive across to Tulsa. Both Michael Pickens and Brad fly up there with a support crew on the 8th January 2010 immediately after the conclusion of the Western Springs International Series.

Tulsa is in the middle of it's Winter so it will be cold, they have over the past decade had snow falls in the city, however that doesn't effect the racing as it is all in doors. Both the race track, the grandstands, and the entire pit areas are housed in the Expo Centre less than 9 miles from the centre of Tulsa City.

To date the cars have all been prepared specifically for Chili Bowl. The track is very small and is commonly very dusty, so the Aggressor Chassis had to be changed to provide maximum grip for these conditions. Tim Clark from BSL has developed the chassis, he has been to Chili Bowl before so great to have him head the team. Geoff Harper has supplied the #19 second car which is the car Brad will drive. It is a carbon copy of the 88 car which is the car Michael will drive. The testing both on and off the track has shown the engine and car having both under gone development will be up to the challenge.

Both cars will compete a Huntly this weekend in the Huntly 40 Lap Event. I will continue to post updates on this site as we get closer to their departure and during the weeks racing in Tulsa.

After this weekend, all attention will be on preparing our own cars for the International Series at Western Springs. The USA competitors are Coons Jnr, Elliott, Hatton and Swindell. The NZ team will be announced at some point.

Greg

Updated 8th December 2009

Chili Bowl Nationals : 11th January 2010, Tulsa Oklahoma USA.

There has been a lot of planning and negotiation with both Sponsor's and Television Channels here in Auckland to assist with the planned trip to Tulsa by both Brad and Michael Pickens. These two drivers will compete here at Western Springs in the International Series in early January and then leave for the biggest Midget Race Event in the US. This is a great opportunity for these two drivers to travel to the US in an all Kiwi team to take on the worlds best.

Simon Longdill, the owner of the two car team, plans to take the Kiwi drivers, in Kiwi built Aggressor chassis and his own Kiwi built Synergy V8 engines to Tulsa and attempt to put both the cars into the A Main. This in itself is a huge challenge as there are over 250 entries at this Event annually. Firstly you need to qualify and this starts on Tuesday Night, then you need to progress through further qualifying rounds all the way to the A Main. This star studded field include names like Stewart, Stenhouse, Swindell, Coons, Wise, Kahne, Drake, Clauson, Darland, Yeley, Hines, Kruseman and Hagen.

This attempt will be filmed by a Kiwi television crew and will feature as a half hour programme soon after the boys get back. Luke Fisher has put together the television deal along with securing significant sponsorship which without, this would not be happening. There is a chance that both cars, which will look identical will have a feature lap or two at one of the meetings prior to them being loaded to head off to the US.

Visit the Chili Bowl National Website for additional info by clicking on the logo above.

I will update you with more detail as it unfolds. I would like to thank both Luke and Simon for their efforts to date.

Greg

Posted 19th September 2009

September 26^th saw Brad return home from his USAC National Midget Season in the US. Having spent nearly 5 months racing in the Mid West he arrives back now focused on the Western Springs National Series Championship here in Auckland.

The season in the US had Brad competing in over 20 USAC Events which included meetings at Knoxville, Belleville, Eldora etc. Brad is currently holding the 15^th spot in the USAC National Midget Points Table.Keith Kunz Motorsport ran Brad for the season which will be Brad’s last with them They have been supportive of Brad for the last 2 years and this year contributed to the cost of running both the Pavement and Dirt Midgets.Next season Brad will return to the US and will be driving for another team. The details of this are still being negotiated and will be announced later this year.With the Spring’s season ahead, Brad now is focused on the events here. He will compete in the National Series and travel to the support races around the country.This will include the Southern 50, NZ Grand Prix and the North Island Championships.He will drive the Kunz/Bullet powered by the Mopar and retains the key sponsors he had last season. Dodge is the Main Sponsor supported by Dickies, Auto Trader and Elf Lubricants.The Midget will not be ready for the 1^st Practice at Western Springs, however he will be at the 2^nd later this month.With a desire to be one of the New Zealand Team Drivers, Brad is excited with the prospect of running against the drivers from the US on his home turf, although with the quality of the field this year, it will be tougher than ever before.The website is well overdue to be updated and this will be the case throughout the season ahead, so check back here for the updates as they unfold at the Springs.  Roll on the 3^rd of November……..

Greg