CHILI BOWL: Bell rules in finals

Oklahoman Christopher Bell grew up watching the Chili Bowl and dreaming of hoisting the Golden Driller trophy some day.

And it all came full circle Saturday night.

Starting second, Bell stalked polesitter Justin Grant for 25 laps, then jumped to the top of the track to take the lead and never relinquished it in winning the 31st version of the great American midget race in Tulsa's Expo Center.

"I came here for so long as a kid and sat in these grandstands and then I started racing here and getting opportunities to get it done but never could," said the 24-year-old native of Norman after holding off fellow Okie Daryn Pittman by several car lengths at the checkered flag. "I always attacked and attacked but it never worked because I got into trouble and took myself out.

"So tonight, I ran hard enough to stay out of trouble early and then made my move. It's a long time coming and a dream come true."

Third in last year's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Bell has been outstanding on dirt and pavement during the past few years and figures prominently in Toyota's future. He was hired by Keith Kunz in 2013 to run midgets and finally put the Kunz-prepared Bullet chassis powered by Toyota in Victory Lane on Saturday evening. It was the third consecutive victory here for Kunz Motorsport on the heels of back-to-back wins by Rico Abreu.

Pittman, a former World of Outlaws sprint champion, charged from eighth to second by lap 26 and kept Bell honest but just didn't have enough.

"I could keep up with him, I just didn't know how to pull off a move but I can't be too disappointed to finish second out of 365 cars," said Pittman. "I'm a big Chris Bell fan and if I couldn't win I'm proud to see another Oklahoma guy standing in Victory Lane."

Grant, driving for Bryan Clauson's father Tim, did a nice job and finished third in the 55-lap main event witnessed by a sellout crowd of 15,000.