By: Chris Santos
1/20/22… Tulsa Oklahoma: Last Tuesday, AJ Bender would make the trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma for the biggest Midget Race of them all, the 2023 Chili Bowl. His preliminary night would see 68 cars ready to roll & lock into the Saturday Night show.
His week would start off with some issues as on Sunday, his first practice session would see him covered in fuel. “Sunday practice started off a little rough with a loose fuel line. That ended up covering me with fuel.”
Despite the issues, he would make it out for the second of his practice sessions where he would get a lot more comfortable behind the wheel. “The car felt awesome & so easy to drive. I got out & asked if we could switch my day to Monday because I was so excited to get back in the car.”
Unfortunately AJ would have to wait until Tuesday to get back behind the wheel. When he did, it would be for his heat race, where he would roll off from the pole. Despite rolling off from the pole, AJ would have some issues in the heat race.
After starting on the pole, the initial start would get called back. On the second start, AJ would miss the bottom & lose some spots. When he tried to get back to the bottom he’d make contact with another car, causing him to spin. AJ would end up recovering to a 5th place finish, but he would be in a big hole.
“Heat race started good, I led the first lap and yellow came out. On thé restart i missed the bottom a bit and dasion went around me on the backstretch.” AJ said, “I tried to get back down to the bottom and hit him with my RF which caused me to spin out. I finished 5th in my heat which is not a good way to go at the chili bowl.“
The C-main would have AJ roll off from the pole position. When the green flag fell, it would be all AJ. He would click off some really good laps, and go on to win the C-main, transferring to the back of the B-main. “Started on the pole of the C and was able to click off those lap easily and love up to the B main.“
With his C-main win, AJ would start at the back of the B-main. He would work his way through the pack early on, making some very good moves. Of course some luck would go his way, with cars in front having some issues. AJ would end up finishing 3rd & transferring to the A-main.
“B main started at the rear and just worked my way through the pack. Had some luck with a couple of cars crashing in front of me.” AJ stated, “Again car felt good on the top or bottom just had to be patient and wait for my chance to advance forward. I finished 3rd in the B main which locked me into the A.”
Next up would be the A-main for AJ. He would roll off from 23rd, looking to gain as many spots as possible. AJ would struggle with his car in the feature, but would end up being able to drive up to 17th, where he would finish & lock himself into the D-main on Saturday.
“Car was a bit of a handful in the A. The huge cushion and me staying on the top all main didn’t help either. I finahed 17th in the A main which locked me into the D main on Saturday.”
Saturday would see AJ in a really good position. He would start on the outside of row three in the 6th spot, with five cars transferring to the C-main. Unfortunately, AJ wouldn’t make it out for the D-main, as a new box they had put in, had a connection issue. That would cause the car not to fire & end his Chili Bowl.
“I had a good starting spot in 6th and top advanced to the C main. Unfortunately when we fired up for the D-main the new box that had been put in had a connection issue which ended my night and my chili bowl.”
It was an unfortunate ending, to an amazing Chili Bowl for AJ & his team. They had a lot of ups & downs. However, the ups were impressive as ever, highlighted by an impressive run from the C to the A on his preliminary night.
AJ would like to thank; Kiwi Alexander, his dad, Ben worth , David Gasper , KTJ, and Alec Sipes and everyone that bought a shirt and supported him.
Next Race: TBA
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