It has been 35 years since NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon last competed at the Chili Bowl Nationals. In 1990, at the age of 18, Gordon impressed by making it to the A-Main and finishing 16th. Although his career shifted to NASCAR, his connection to the Chili Bowl remained strong. Now, in 2025, Gordon is returning to the prestigious dirt midget race, this time as the Grand Marshal. He will be joined by another NASCAR icon, Kyle Busch, who will be making his debut at the event.
Gordon, who previously served as Grand Marshal in 2022, will once again take on the honorary role for the 40th annual Chili Bowl Nationals. Reflecting on his return in 2022, Gordon shared, “I don’t know why it took me so long to come back after competing in 1990, but I started coming back five or six years ago. You just can’t miss this event.” In 2022, he stepped in as Grand Marshal when Rick Hendrick, his former boss, was unable to attend.
This time, Gordon’s return as Grand Marshal aligns with Kyle Busch’s debut. Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, will compete in the No. 51 Lucas Oil/FloRacing Midget. Busch has long had the Chili Bowl on his radar and is excited to race alongside his son Brexton at the Tulsa Shootout. “The Chili Bowl is a legendary event and has always been on my wish list,” Busch said. He hopes to join the ranks of NASCAR stars like Tony Stewart and Kyle Larson, who have won the coveted Golden Driller trophy.
In addition to leading the event as Grand Marshal, Gordon’s duties may include waving the green flag and presenting the trophy to the winner. It would be a full-circle moment if Gordon handed Busch his first Golden Driller if he claims victory. Gordon, who had to leave early in 2022 due to weather, hopes to stay for the entire event this time.
The 2025 Chili Bowl Nationals features an impressive entry list with 327 participants. The field includes past winners like Logan Seavey, Sammy Swindell, Kyle Larson, Tanner Thorson, and Christopher Bell, as well as NASCAR stars like Ty Gibbs and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. The competition also features rising talents like Brent Crews and seasoned dirt racing champions such as Brad Sweet, Corey Day, and Brady Bacon.
The event will take place from January 12-18 at the SageNet Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. With Gordon as Grand Marshal and Busch debuting, the 40th Chili Bowl Nationals promises to be a memorable spectacle. Fans can watch the action live on FloRacing, with select re-broadcasts on MAVTV.
