With Ray leading the way, Kuhn battled past Crawford to reclaim second before the final caution appeared for Evan Sewell's turn one trouble with just five laps remaining.
Ray raced the cushion to perfection over the final laps to secure the win, popping a crowd-pleasing wheelie as he took the checkered flag in the Mecum Racing Chevy-powered No. 33x Mecum Auctions/DMI No. 33x Spike.
Kuhn, who raced from 15th to fourth in last year's Chili Bowl championship feature event, settled for second aboard Dr. Kenneth Love's Stanton Mopar-powered No. 71x Spike.
"I kinda felt bad for the guys, I thought we had a better car and I plowed into the cushion and bent the Jacobs ladder pretty bad," Kuhn explained afterward. "We were just kinda hangin' on and tried to make a go at Davey there, but he's a class act and I just got outdrove, almost spun out trying to get back by him. We'll just take our second and move on and try to get that trophy on Saturday."
Shuman's late move aboard the Thornell Racing Sesco Mopar-powered No. 52s James Development General Contractors Stealth netted third.
Of his last gasp pass of Crawford, Shuman explained that,
"I was really just trying to be a little more aggressive on
the cushion to make sure I didn't get passed by somebody
on the bottom. I'm tickled to death with third, but fourth
would have had us locked us in. I was more trying to
protect my position and it worked out, we got it at the end.
Crawford opened the racing world's eyes with his fourth
place finish in the Keith Kunz Motorsports Fontana-
powered No. 71k John Christner Trucking Bullet.
Joe Boyles made an impressive charge through the field
by racing from 15th to round out the top five, with 13th-
starter Jon Stanbrough, Meseraull, USAC Midget champion
Jerry Coons, Jr., Matt Westfall and Lasoski completing the
top ten.
Heat races were topped by Sammy Swindell, Ray, Don
Droud, Jr., Brady Bacon, Gardner, Johnny Rodriguez,
Boyles, Chris Rahe and Coons. Mike Hess, Nick
Knepper, Brian Ramstack and Cody Brewer won the
8-lap Last Chance races, with Kuhn, Shuman, Meseraull
and Lasoski victorious in the 10-lap Qualifying races.
Swindell wired the field in the first 15-lap "B" Main, with Levi Jones emerging a top a dicey second "B" Main. Swindell, a four-time Chili Bowl champion, was 20th in the main event with Jones climbing to 14th.
A total of 110 green flag laps were completed before the night's first flip occurred when New York's Jessica Zemken got upside down in turn four during the first Qualifying race. Other Qualifying Race flippers included Jones, Rick Hendrix and Randy Hannagan, with Rodriguez toppling in the first "B" Main. There were no injuries.
The 21st Annual O'Reilly Chili Bowl Midget Nationals continues with Thursday night's Bass Pro Shops Qualifying event, with heat races slated to go green at 6:15 p.m.
Wednesday Night's 21st Annual Chili Bowl Nationals Creek Nation Casino Qualifier Results:
Heat Races (8 Laps - Top 40 in passing points to four A Qualifiers; Balance to four Last Chance races)
Heat 1: 1. #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tenn.; 2. #71X Brad Kuhn, Avon, Ind.; 3. #71P Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg, Ind.; 4. #22E Evan Sewell, Jenks, Okla.; 5. #91K Kevin Bayer, Broken Arrow, Okla.; 6. #39X Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro, Ind.; 7. #1C Chad McDaniel, Concordia, Kan.; 8. 33M John Wolfe, Winchester, Ind.
Heat 2: 1. #33X Davey Ray, Love’s Park, Ill.; 2. #12W Billy Wease, Noblesville, Ind.; 3. #21A Jon Stanbrough, Brownsburg, Ind.; 4. #95K Rik Forbes, Omaha, Neb.; 5. #31 Donnie Lehmann, Springfield, Ill.; 6. #96 Cody Brewer, Choctaw, Okla.; 7. #F1 French Grimes, Madison, Va. DNS - #16 Tom Bigelow, Winchester, Ind.
Heat 3: 1. #44D Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, Neb.; 2. #71K Donnie Ray Crawford, Broken Arrow, Okla.; 3. #20J Levi Jones, Olney, Ill.; 4. #91 Bugs Norbury, Prescott Valley, Ariz.; 5. #22T Mike Woodruff, Satanta, Kan.; 6. #20C Carey Becker, Reading, Pa.; 7. #2K Kyle Wissmiller, Saybrook, Ill.; 8. #85J Matt Johnson, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Heat 4: 1. #99 Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, Okla.; 2. #5L Danny Lasoski, Higginsville, Mo.; 3. #14 Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, Ohio; 4. #12H Rick Hendrix, Canoga Park, Calif.; 5. #25K Nick Knepper, Belleville, Ill.; 6. #33A Stephen Arnold, Seymour, Ind.; 7. #1M Mike Miller, Reading, Pa.; 8. #15N David Prickett, Fresno, Calif.
Heat 5: 1. #67 Damion Gardner, Concord, Calif.; 2. #9H Russ Harper, Watkins, Colo.; 3. #5C Joey Montgomery, Fredericktown, Mo.; 4. #17T Thomas Meseraull, Avon, Ind.; 5. #02R Brian Ramstack, West Bend, Wis.; 6. #19W Troy Rutherford, Ojai, Calif.; 7. #74 Ernie Bartley III, El Cajon, Calif.; 8. #5AZ Shon Deskins, Waddell, Ariz.
Heat 6: 1. #7R Johnny Rodriguez, Elk Grove, Calif.; 2. #F4 Jessica Zemken, Sprakers, N.Y.; 3. #8E Tony Elliott, Warsaw, Ind.; 4. #125 Teddy Beach, Donnelsville, Ohio; 5. #18 Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal, Kan.; 6. #57 Brian Gard, Clovis, Calif.; 7. #31T Tony Roney, Herculaneum, Mo. DNS - #83 Kurt Blackaby
Heat 7: 1. #7B Joe Boyles, Greenwood, Mo.; 2. #69 Darren Hagen, Riverside, Calif.; 3. #21M Andy Martin, Gordonville, Pa.; 4. #51J R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, Ariz.; 5. #07 Shannon McQueen, Bakersfield, Calif.; 6. #5T Randy Timms, Oklahoma City, Okla.; 7. #24H Brent Beauchamp, Fairland, Ind.
Heat 8: 1. #3C Chris Rahe, Placentia, Calif.; 2. #52S Casey Shuman, Indianapolis, Ind.; 3. #2M Frank Polimeda, Fort Lee, N.J.; 4. #1W Paul White, Temple, Texas; 5. #27B Neil Shepherd, Warsaw, Ind.; 6. #51 Mike Hess, Riverton, Ill.; 7. #19N Nick O’Neal, Wagoner, Okla.
Heat 9: 1. #11 Jerry Coons Jr., Tucson, Ariz.; 2. #37M Rip Williams, Yorba Linda, Calif.; 3. #85X Matt Covington, Glenpool, Okla.; 4. #2 Danny Stratton, Riverside, Calif.; 5. #13 Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn.; 6. #73E Foster Landon, Collinsville, Okla.; 7. #18G Rickie Gaunt, Torrance, Calif.
Last Chance Races (Top 2 in each transfer to back of corresponding A Qualifier)
Last Chance 1: 1. #51 Mike Hess, Riverton, Ill.; 2. #31 Donnie Lehmann, Springfield, Ill.; 3. #07 Shannon McQueen, Bakersfield, Calif.; 4. #20C Carey Becker, Reading, Pa.; 5. #85J Matt Johnson, Oklahoma City, Okla.; 6. #F1 French Grimes, Madison, Va. DNS - #24H Brent Beauchamp, Fairland, Ind.; #83 Kurt Blackaby, Bentonville, Ark.
Last Chance 2: 1. #25K Nick Knepper, Belleville, Ill.; 2. #73E Foster Landon, Collinsville, Okla.; 3. #33A Stephen Arnold, Seymour, Ind.; 4. #15N David Prickett, Fresno, Calif.; 5. #2K Kyle Wissmiller, Saybrook, Ill.; 6. #19N Nick O’Neal, Wagoner, Okla.; 7. #19W Troy Rutherford, Ojai, Calif. Note - Rutherford was penalized to the end of the field after passing before the cone on a restart
Last Chance 3: 1. #02R Brian Ramstack, West Bend, Wis.; 2. #39X Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro, Ind.; 3. #18G Rickie Gaunt, Torrance, Calif.; 4. #57 Brian Gard, Clovis, Calif.; 5. #1M Mike Miller, Reading, Pa.; 6. #5AZ Shon Deskins, Waddell, Ariz.; 7. #74 Ernie Bartley III, El Cajon, Calif.
Last Chance 4: 1. #96 Cody Brewer, Choctaw, Okla.; 2. #1T Tony Roney, Herculaneum, Mo.; 3. #18 Tony Bruce Jr., Liberal, Kan; 4. #5T Randy Timms, Oklahoma City, Okla.; 5. #3M John Wolfe, Winchester, Ind.; 6. #16 Tom Bigelow, Winchester, Ind.; 7. #1C Chad McDaniel, Concordia, Kan.
A Qualifiers (Top 16 in combined passing points to A Main; Balance to twin B Mains)
A Qualifier 1: 1. #71X Brad Kuhn, Avon, Ind.; 2. #51 Mike Hess, Riverton, Ill.; 3. #71K Donnie Ray Crawford, Broken Arrow, Okla.; 4. #21A Jon Stanbrough, Brownsburg, Ind.; 5. #21M Andy Martin, Gordonville, Pa.; 6. #9H Russ Harper, Watkins, Colo.; 7. #2 Danny Stratton, Riverside, Calif.; 8. #5C Joey Montgomery, Fredericktown, Mo.; 9. #31 Donnie Lehmann, Springfield, Ill.; 10. #85X Matt Covington, Glenpool, Okla.; 11. #95K Rik Forbes, Omaha, Neb.; 12. #F4 Jessica Zemken, Sprakers, N.Y.
A Qualifier 2: 1. #52S Casey Shuman, Indianapolis, Ind.; 2. #33X Davey Ray, Love’s Park, Ill.; 3. #37M Rip Williams, Yorba Linda, Calf.; 4. #7B Joe Boyles, Greenwood, Mo.; 5. #25K Nick Knepper, Belleville, Ill.; 6. #125 Teddy Beach, Donnelsville, Ohio; 7. #73E Foster Landon, Collinsville, Okla.; 8. #22T Mike Woodruff, Satanta, Kan.; 9. #44D Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, Neb.; 10. #91 Bugs Norbury, Prescott Valley, Ariz.; 11. #99 Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, Okla.; 12. #27B Neil Shepherd, Warsaw, Ind.
A Qualifier 3: 1. #17T Thomas Meseraull, Avon, Ind.; 2. #22E Evan Sewell, Jenks, Okla.; 3. #3C Chris Rahe, Placentia, Calif.; 4. #12W Billy Wease, Noblesville, Ind.; 5. #02R Brian Ramstack, West Bend, Wis.; 6. #13 Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn.; 7. #20J Levi Jones, Olney, Ill.; 8. #39X Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro, Ind.; 9. #71P Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg, Ind.; 10. #69 Darren Hagen, Riverside, Calif.; 11. #12H Rick Hendrix, Canoga Park, Calif.; 12. #7R Johnny Rodriguez, Elk Grove, Calif.
A Qualifier 4: 1. #5L Danny Lasoski, Higginsville, Mo.; 2. #14 Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, Ohio; 3. #67 Damion Gardner, Concord, Calif.; 4. #11 Jerry Coons Jr., Tucson, Ariz.; 5. #8E Tony Elliott, Warsaw, Ind.; 6. #91K Kevin Bayer, Broken Arrow, Okla.; 7. #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tenn.; 8. #1T Tony Roney, Herculaneum, Mo.; 9. 396 Cody Brewer, Choctaw, Okla.; 10. #2M Frank Polimeda, Fort Lee, N.J.; 11. #51J R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, Ariz.; 12. #1W Paul White, Temple, Texas
B Mains (Top 4 advance to A Main)
B Main 1: 1. #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tenn.; 2. #44D Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, Neb.; 3. #2 Danny Stratton, Riverside, Calif.; 4. #99 Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, Okla.; 5. #25K Nick Knepper, Belleville, Ill.; 6. #13 Jason Sides, Bartlett, Tenn.; 7. #2M Frank Polimeda, Fort Lee, N.J.; 8. #12H Rick Hendrix, Canoga Park, Calif.; 9. #96 Cody Brewer, Choctaw, Okla.; 10. #73E Foster Landon, Collinsville, Okla.; 11. F4 Jessica Zemken, Sprakers, N.Y.; 12. #71P Cruz Pedregon, Brownsburg, Ind.; 13. #125 Teddy Beach, Donnelsville, Ohio; 14. #7R Johnny Rodriguez, Elk Grove, Calif.; 15. #21M Andy Martin, Gordonville, Pa. DNS - #1W Paul White, Temple, Texas
B Main 2: 1. #20J Levi Jones, Olney, Ill.; 2. #5C Joey Montgomery, Fredericktown, Mo.; 3. #31 Donnie Lehmann, Springfield, Ill.; 4. #9H Russ Harper, Watkins, Colo.; 5. #8E Tony Elliott, Warsaw, Ind.; 6. #39X Randy Hannagan, Pittsboro, Ind.; 7. #85X Matt Covington, Glenpool, Okla.; 8. #1T Tony Roney, Herculaneum, Mo.; 9. #95K Rik Forbes, Omaha, Neb.; 10. #02R Brian Ramstack, West Bend, Wis.; 11. #27B Neil Shepherd, Warsaw, Ind.; 12. #91 Bugs Norbury, Prescott Valley, Ariz.; 13. #91K Kevin Bayer, Broken Arrow, Okla.; 14. #69 Darren Hagen, Riverside, Calif.; 15. #22T Mike Woodruff, Satanta, Kan.; 16. #51J R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, Ariz.
Creek Nation Casino Qualifying Night "A" Main (25 laps - Top 4 Advance to Saturday Night’s Main Event)
1. #33X Davey Ray, Love’s Park, Ill.; 2. #71X Brad Kuhn, Avon, Ind.; 3. #52S Casey Shuman, Indianapolis, Ind.; 4. #71K Donnie Ray Crawford, Broken Arrow, Okla.; 5. #7B Joe Boyles, Greenwood, Mo.; 6. #21A Jon Stanbrough, Brownsburg, Ind.; 7. #17T Thomas Meseraull, Avon, Ind.; 8. #11 Jerry Coons Jr., Tucson, Ariz.; 9. #14 Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, Ohio; 10. #5L Danny Lasoski, Higginsville, Mo.; 11. #31 Donnie Lehmann, Springfield, Ill.; 12. #2 Danny Stratton, Riverside, Calif.; 13. #44D Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, Neb.; 14. #20J Levi Jones, Olney, Ill.; 15. #51 Mike Hess, Riverton, Ill.; 16. #99 Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, Okla.; 17. #37M Rip Williams, Yorba Linda, Calif.; 18. #12W Billy Wease, Noblesville, Ind.; 19. #9H Russ Harper, Watkins, Colo.; 20. #1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, Tenn.; 21. #5C Joey Montgomery, Fredericktown, Mo.; 22. #22E Evan Sewell, Jenks, Okla.; 23. #67 Damion Gardner, Concord, Calif. DNS - #3C Chris Rahe, Placentia, Calif.