Kyle Larson executed a decisive late-race pass on Shane Golobic to clinch victory in Monday’s Preliminary feature at the 2025 Chili Bowl Nationals. The on-track action at the Tulsa Expo Center resembled a NASCAR showcase, with several drivers from the series making their presence felt.
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell opened the night with a dominant performance, winning the O’Reilly Invitational Race of Champions by leading every lap. It marked Bell’s third triumph in the prestigious event.
However, the spotlight soon shifted to Kyle Larson when the first night of Preliminary Action began. Driving the No. 1K FloRacing car, Larson faced early challenges but patiently navigated through the field as front-runners made errors. Despite not having the fastest car, the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion methodically worked his way into contention against Cannon MacIntosh and Shane Golobic.
“It wasn’t pretty,” Larson admitted. “The first 30 laps didn’t go well, and I had to carefully work my way forward. We still need to improve for Saturday, but I trust Paul [Silva] to figure things out like he always does.”
A late caution created a crucial restart opportunity for Larson, who quickly passed MacIntosh and engaged in a thrilling battle with Golobic for the lead. In the final laps, Larson made a bold move to take the top spot and secure the win.
Golobic, still chasing his first Preliminary Action victory, settled for second place — his fifth runner-up finish in this event. Despite the disappointment, he secured a spot in Saturday’s A-Main.
“I tried to be smart on that last restart,” Larson said with a grin. “You don’t want to lose a locked-in spot, but you also want to win because starting from the third row or further back makes it tough to win the Chili Bowl.”
MacIntosh, the all-time winningest driver in Monday Prelim history, finished third, missing an automatic berth in Saturday’s 40-lap feature. Meanwhile, part-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Brent Crews put on a remarkable show, advancing from the C-Main to the B-Main, and ultimately driving from the back of the A-Main to finish fourth.
Ashton Torgerson completed the top five, followed by Jerry Coons Jr., Joe B Miller, Justin Peck, Trey Marcham, and Dillon Welch rounding out the top-10. The 2025 Chili Bowl Nationals will continue throughout the week, culminating with Saturday’s main event on January 18.
Kyle Larson Steals Monday Night Prelim Feature at 2025 Chili Bowl Nationals
