Despite snow and freezing temperatures in the Midwest, Cole Whitt started out the 2010 season with a visit to Indianapolis where he attended the 54th USAC “Night of Champions” National Award Banquet. Cole was presented the 2009 USAC “Super License” award. This award is presented to the driver earning the most National Feature event points.  USAC National Sprint 2nd place honors were also presented at the banquet.  

 

 

After the banquet and festivities it was back to racing for Cole and the Keith Kunz team as they headed south to Tulsa, Oklahoma for the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals.

 

 

Cole Whitt finished an impressive second in Saturday night’s Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, preventing a 1-2 sweep by the Swindells — son Kevin and father Sammy.

Driving Keith Kunz’s No. 71 Red Bull Bullet, 18-year-old Whitt had guaranteed himself a starting spot in the 50-lap main event with a second-place to Kevin Swindell in Wednesday’s A main qualifier.  Whitt, the high point guy on Wednesday earned a win in his heat race from the 8th starting spot and a win in his qualifier from 6th.

 

  

 

Three nights later, the two youngsters were at it again. 

In the early going, Whitt set sail on the high side and began moving to the front from his 8th place starting spot.  Whitt was running second by lap 20, but got shuffled back two positions on a mid-race restart. He reclaimed second by lap 31 and tried to mount a charge on Swindell on several occasions, including the last charge after the race’s final caution set up a green-white-checkered run to the stripe.  

Whitt settled for second, ahead of five-time Chili Bowl winner Sammy Swindell.  “I was trying everything I could and I couldn’t really keep up with Kevin,” Whitt said. “We were close. If Kevin made a few mistakes I could kind of get close to him but he made only a few.” 

 

 

  

Whitt never wanted to see the final caution, either. “We were real good on long runs,” he said. “We could build up a little air pressure in the right rear. On the restarts we’d be real, real tight on the cushion so I couldn’t really throw it in there as hard as I wanted. Running second here is huge. There’s just so many cars.” 

I would like to thank all the guys Keith Kunz Motorsports they always give me a great car.  Special thanks to TRD for great Toyota horsepower and Red Bull for always backing me.   It’s a great way to start out the year and I’m excited to move ahead into 2010. 

SPEED Channel will be airing a two-hour presentation of the 24th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals on Saturday night, February 13, at 9:00 p.m. EST.

A total of 256 competitors from throughout the nation and beyond converged upon the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway for the January 12-16 event that culminated with Saturday night’s 50-lap feature event.  The championship finale, along with other highlights from throughout the week, will be included in the February 13 airing on SPEED.

Special thanks to photographer Tim Aylwin

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