Race of Champions Tuesday Night

Kunz Team a year ago

The Vacuworx Invitational Race of Champions will take place on Tuesday, January 14 between the “B” Features and “A” Feature. The VIROC will be 20 laps in distance and will pay a cool $2,500 to the winner.







2014 VIROC Drivers:
1 - Sammy Swindell: A five time champion of the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals, the elder Swindell has topped the VIROC three times (2012, 2011, and 2009).
1st - J.J. Yeley - Piloting a car under the banner of 1996 co-owner champion, Jay McKinnie, the former USAC Triple Crown champion finished runner up in the 2013 VIROC.
05 - Brad Loyet - A former winner of the VIROC in 2010, three-time Lucas Oil POWRi Midget Champion, Brad Loyet is the only driver to win the VIROC besides a Swindell.
5 - Jerry Coons, Jr. - Competing in the 2013 VIROC as the National Midget Driver of the Year, Arizona’s Jerry Coons, Jr. will compete in his second VIROC in 2014, this time under the Wilke-Pak banner, who picked up a Golden Driller in 2005.
13au - Mathew Smith - The son of former owner champion, Steve Smith, the second generation driver aims to garner the 2006 owner champion his second Golden Driller.
15x - Chad Boat - Son of a Chili Bowl champion, Chad Boat again looks to match the accomplishment of his father, Billy Boat, in the John Lawson owned No. 15x.  Chad was also fastest at Daytona a few days ago; his first time in a NNS car.
21k - Cory Kruseman - Taking the Golden Driller in 2000 and 2004, California’s Cory Kruseman will look to better his finish in the VIROC from a 2010 showing of eighth.
24 - Tracy Hines - Topping the Chili Bowl in 2005, Hines’ best appearance in the VIROC came in 2012, crossing third to Sammy and Kevin Swindell.
39 - Kevin Swindell - The reigning four-time Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Champion picked up his first VIROC victory with a late race pass on J.J. Yeley in 2013 and will go for his fifth Golden Driller in as many years.
47 - Damion Gardner - “The Demon” returns in the Bondio No. 47 for his fifth VIROC. A champion of the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals in 2008, Gardner’s Golden Driller came with the backing of Jason Leffler.
47x - Tim McCreadie - The surprise winner of the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals, the accomplished Modified and Late Model driver parked in victory lane in 2006 to earn Steve Smith is first Golden Driller as a car owner. The only one earned by an Australian owner.
63 - Bryan Clauson - Winning 28 features in 2013, the reigning USAC National Champion joined forces with Dooling Machine and 1996 owner champion, Rusty Kunz for his attempt at the Golden Driller in 2014. Clauson is also fielding four mounts himself in this year’s Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals.
68 - Jay Drake - Taking time in Ronnie Gardner’s No. 68, the 2001 Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals champion will complete under the roof of the River Spirit Expo Center for one race before returning the controls to Gardner.
71 - Kasey Kahne - After the passing of Jason Leffler, it was the working of great people to bring the car he was building to the Chili Bowl. Piloted by Kasey Kahne, the Enumclaw, Wash. shoe will drive in memory, and honor, of the late Jason Leffler who earned a Golden Driller as a car owner in 2008.
71k Kyle Larson - Driving for three-time owner champion, Keith Kunz, the No. 71k will again be piloted by Kyle Larson. A contender for the win one year ago with Kevin and Sammy Swindell, Larson will also compete for his qualifying spot Tuesday night.
97 - Christopher Bell - Earning the National Midget Driver of the Year, Christopher Bell will compete in the VIROC for the first time in the Keith Kunz backed No. 97.