(Photo by Phil Pace Photo)
Inside Line Promotions – TULSA, Okla. (Jan. 21, 2014) – Teamwork was key for Cole Wood Racing during the 28th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire last week.
The team showcased a trio of cars for the first time at the premier midget event at Tulsa Expo Raceway led by Cole Wood and Chili Bowl rookies Chase Johnson and Dominic Scelzi.
“I wouldn’t say that we exactly reached our expectations,” Wood said. “We were all aiming to get to the D Mains and C Mains. Me and Chase had some bad luck on our qualifying night, but I think Dominic did pretty well.”
Driving a new car, Wood started the event a week ago Tuesday and ran into a tight condition that dropped him from fourth to seventh place in his heat race.
“We had a new car that was unlike anything we’ve had before,” he said. “The whole team really struggled getting to a setup that was drivable like the other cars were. For hot laps and the heat race we were tighter than we should have been and I struggled with that. That put us in a C Main and we were pretty good until someone came off the bottom and got into me. Whether he got hit or not I can’t say, but I ended up on my head.”
Wood, who started on the outside of the fifth row for the C Main, was advancing toward a transfer spot when a car turned right out of the bottom groove and collided with Wood. The crash ended with Wood flipping and he was unable to restart the race.
That forced Wood into a K Main during Saturday’s finale.
“We changed a whole bunch; pretty much did everything different than on our preliminary night,” he said. “It really helped us out a bunch. That was the most comfortable I felt in the car all week. Our goal was if we could transfer two or three times that’d be great.”
Wood charged from fourth place to win the K Main and transfer to a J Main, which he advanced from 13th to seventh to narrowly miss another transfer.
“I think if we had one or two more laps I could have transferred through that one as well,” he said.
Johnson overcame a spin during his heat race on Wednesday’s qualifying night to cap his preliminary race with a ninth-place result in a B Main. He then advanced from fifth to third place in an F Main and from 15th to 11th in an E Main.
“I would say Chase did really well,” Wood said. “Not only was that his first time at the Chili Bowl, it was his first time in a midget.”
Scelzi put together the most consistent qualifying night as he led all eight laps to claim his heat race. He then placed fourth in a qualifier, which earned him enough points to advance to the feature. Scelzi finished 14th in the main event and started Saturday’s finale seventh in a C Main.
However, while Scelzi competed for one of the six transfer positions, another driver ran into him and Scelzi flipped to end his first-ever Chili Bowl.
“He was just as fast as everybody in the C Main,” Wood said. “He had a great Chili Bowl.”
QUICK RESULTS –
WOOD: Jan. 14 – Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, Okla. – Heat race: 7 (4); C Main: DNF (10).
Jan. 18 – Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, Okla. – K Main: 1 (4); J Main: 7 (13).
JOHNSON: Jan. 15 – Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, Okla. – Heat race: 5 (3); C Main: 3 (4); B Main: 9 (15).
Jan. 18 – Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, Okla. – F Main: 3 (5); E Main: 11 (15).
SCELZI: Jan. 16 – Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, Okla. – Heat race: 1 (2); Qualifier: 4 (4); Feature: 14 (13).
Jan. 18 – Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, Okla. – C Main: DNF (7).
UP NEXT –
Feb. 28 and March 1 at Cocopah Speedway in Somerton, Ariz., with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour
MEDIA LINKS –
Website: http://www.ColeWoodRacing.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wood17w
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cole-Wood-Racing/246046125428603?fref=ts
APPAREL –
Wood has t-shirts and hats available at his race car trailer at every race. For a schedule of events, visit http://www.ColeWoodRacing.com.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Elk Grove Ford
Elk Grove Ford is a leading Ford dealership located in Elk Grove, Calif. For more information about the business or how to purchase a vehicle from Elk Grove Ford, visit http://www.ElkGroveFord.com.
“Elk Grove Ford is one of my main supporters,” Wood said. “I wouldn’t be out here racing for victories without the support of Elk Grove Ford.”
Wood would also like to thank A.R.T. Speed Equipment, Roush Yates Racing Engines, Wion’s Body Shop, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, Awesome Racewear, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, CSI Shocks, Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center, NorCal Boxer Rescue and The Joie of Seating for their continued support.
INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –
Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports teams. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.
To meet the media relations needs of your program and to join Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or InsideLinePromotions@gmail.com. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.
- Shawn Miller on Jan 21, 2014
- Article Date: 1/21/2014 by Inside Line Promotions