The 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals, a major midget car racing event, will begin at the SageNet Center in Oklahoma on January 12. With anticipation building for Saturday’s championship race, Tony Stewart on Chili Bowl has sparked debate by calling the event even more challenging than the iconic Daytona 500.
Tony Stewart Shares Why Chili Bowl Stands Apart
Tony Stewart, known for his three Cup Series titles and twice hoisting the Chili Bowl trophy, has highlighted the unique difficulty of the Chili Bowl compared to the Daytona 500. Stewart pointed out that in both NASCAR and the Daytona 500, the same established racers typically compete, and the lengthy race allows for mistakes and comeback opportunities.
“The same guys that run every week at a NASCAR track are the ones you see at the Daytona 500.”
– Tony Stewart, Three-Time NASCAR Cup Series Champion
According to Stewart, the Chili Bowl differs fundamentally in its scale and competitive intensity. Hundreds of top-tier drivers—from various forms of motorsports—vie for only 24 spots in the main event. This makes every round, especially early heats, critical for success.
“The Chili Bowl is drastically different. Chili Bowl has 370, 380 cars. You’re getting the best of the best come around trying to make a 24-car field on Saturday night.”
– Tony Stewart, Three-Time NASCAR Cup Series Champion
Racing Formats Demand Distinct Strategies
Unlike the Daytona 500, where a poor qualifying run or pit road mistake can often be corrected during the long race, the Chili Bowl’s structure doesn’t allow that margin for error. The format features shorter, high-stakes heats, where a single misstep can ruin a driver’s shot at glory.
“Your heat race is probably one of the most important events of the weekend because the points you get there are going to seed you for the qualifier and that’s going to seed you for the mains, for the preliminary night. There are so many good drivers and teams out there that you can’t really afford a mistake.”
– Tony Stewart, Three-Time NASCAR Cup Series Champion
For Stewart and other experienced drivers, the Chili Bowl’s knockout rounds increase the pressure, making every moment on track crucial and dramatically raising the level of competition.
“For NASCAR, the Daytona 500 is the pinnacle. In short-track racing — especially on the Midget side — nothing comes close to the #ChiliBowl.”
– Tony Stewart, Three-Time NASCAR Cup Series Champion
Christopher Bell Agrees: Chili Bowl Brings Everyone Together
Christopher Bell, a three-time Chili Bowl champion, is entering the 2026 edition as both a driver and team owner. He echoes Stewart’s thoughts on the event’s magnitude, noting that the Chili Bowl welcomes a uniquely diverse group of participants. According to Bell, the openness of the competition—where experienced drivers, newcomers, and champions from different genres of motorsport battle against each other—elevates the challenge to new heights.
“The Daytona 500 is the biggest race of the NASCAR schedule. But it’s only the NASCAR guys. Whereas anybody can enter the Chili Bowl. So, it’s kind of a barometer for drivers where everybody is there. You get a lot of top drivers from different disciplines and people who don’t compete against each other all the time. It’s a great show.”
– Christopher Bell, Three-Time Chili Bowl Champion
Bell’s perspective underscores that the Chili Bowl Nationals are not just about skill, but also about versatility and adaptability. With so many vehicle types and racing backgrounds represented, drivers must have near-perfect performances in every session to succeed.
Chili Bowl’s Testing Environment Lures Elite Drivers
The Chili Bowl isn’t just another race; it offers a stage where top drivers put everything on the line, knowing there is little room for recovery from errors. As Stewart emphasized, losing time due to pit mistakes in NASCAR can be remedied, but a single misstep at the Chili Bowl often means a swift end to championship hopes.
This unforgiving, high-stakes atmosphere continues to make the Chili Bowl an enticing and prestigious event in the world of midget racing, providing an unmatched level of excitement for fans and a formidable challenge for competitors.
What’s at Stake at the 2026 Chili Bowl Nationals
With the Chili Bowl Nationals set to crown a new winner this Saturday in Oklahoma, drivers like Tony Stewart and Christopher Bell have made it clear: only those who are flawless throughout the week will have a chance at victory. The event puts the spotlight not just on speed, but also on focus and perfection, as even the smallest mistake can shatter dreams of holding the trophy high.
The passionate sentiments from Stewart and Bell capture why the Chili Bowl continues to draw the attention of drivers and fans alike, placing it in rare company alongside the most iconic races in motorsport.
“For NASCAR, the Daytona 500 is the pinnacle. In short-track racing — especially on the Midget side — nothing comes close to the #ChiliBowl.” – @TonyStewart #Daytona500 🎟️ https://t.co/RiUJDMJ40u pic.twitter.com/zu1l4JY2Pb
— FloRacing (@FloRacing) January 12, 2026
