MARION, Ark. — Confidence is high for Derek Hagar as he prepares to tackle the 36th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals presented by General Tire next week.
Hagar will pilot a midget for Shawn Wood with a special scheme at the Jan. 10-15 event inside the River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa, Okla.
“It’s a throwback car from 1982 or 1983 of Tony Wilson,” Hagar said. “He’s a veteran of short track racing, a very smart and intelligent guy. We are family friends. I’m excited the team is honoring him this way.”
Hagar produced a career-best performance during last year’s Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, finishing sixth during his preliminary night before ending eighth in the B Main during the final night.
“We missed it by one spot,” he said. “Last year was the first time that I’ve had a car with up-to-date parts, motor and everything. It really showed. We had a really good prelim night and a good Saturday night. We were just too free to run the bottom and too tight to run the top in that B Main and we fell one spot short of transferring into the main event.
“We learned a lot with the chassis. Shawn built that car in a lawnmower shop last year. This year he built another car and changed a lot of things up. We’re quite a bit lighter. We tested the car a couple of weeks ago and I could definitely tell a difference. I’m really looking forward to our prelim night. We have big expectations for sure.”
Hagar’s preliminary night is Tuesday, Jan. 11. The event is expected to have a record number of entries.
“I don’t think the pressure really gets to you with having that many entries,” he said. “The only people I can worry about are the 70 or 80 people I race with on my prelim night. The biggest thing is getting in the show on your prelim night and moving forward because that’s what will set you up for Saturday.”
Hagar will also be a part of two other drivers Chili Bowl Midget Nationals experience as Hagar-Proctor Racing welcomes Ayrton Olsen and Chase Howard for the event.