Tony Stewart: 2002 Chili Bowl Midget nationals Champion

[KC]

NASCAR runner up Tony Stewart secured his first Chili Bowl Midget Nationals win by outlasting pole setter Tracy Hines and passing Kevin Doty with 2 laps to go on the 1/5th mile indoor track at the Tulsa Petroleum Exposition building on Saturday night. Hines looked secure after taking a 2 second lead only to have his fuel pump fail on lap 22. Doty led with Stewart periodically passing him only to fall back. Cory Kruseman was pushing Stewart hard on the inside line and as Doty's tires began to fade Stewart made his move. Stewart won in a Keith Kunze owned Stealth chassis powered by the new Mopar 4 cylinder engine.

A Feature (50 laps):

1. #67S, Tony Stewart, Rushville, IN;
2. #12, Kevin Doty, Burlington, IA;
3. #47, Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA;
4. #7C, Critter Malone, Speedway, IN;
5. #3, Dave Darland, Galesburg, IL;
6. #51, Kasey Kahne, Enumclaw, WA;
7. #71, Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO;
8. #01, Greg Lueckert, Kansas City, MO;
9. #66L, Tony Elliot, Kokomo, IN;
10. #16F, Chad Farmer, Colorado Springs, CO;
11. #76, J.J. Yeley, Glendale, AZ;
12. #2R, Davey Ray, Davenport, IA;
13. #88, Dan Boorse, Milwaukee, WI;
14. #29L, Jason Leffler, Long Beach, CA;
15. #67, Richard Griffin, Silver City, NM;
16. #55, Steve Knepper, Belleville, IL;
17. #71S, Jeremy Sherman, Phoenix, AZ;
18. #54, Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH;
19. #78, Troy Rutherford, Ojai, CA;
20. #69, A.J. Fike, Galesburg, IL;
21. #3P, Andy Pierce, Plainfield, IN;
22. #11, Tracy Hines, Greenfield, IN;
23. #66, Jerry Coons, Jr., Tucson, AZ;
24. #85X, Shane Hollingsworth, Indianapolis, IN

Congrats to Tony for a scintillating win!