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"When more than 10,000 spectators walk out the door on the fourth and final night, they are so amazed at what they have seen that they cannot wait to return."

That's just one of the curious things I learned on <a href="http://www.chilibowl.com/home.asp?uUrl=1/12/200969724.42">the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals website</a>, the clearinghouse for info on the event that opened earlier this week at <a href="http://www.exposquare.com/">the QuikTrip Center in Expo Square</a>.

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Before we go any further, it's time for another one of my infamous confessions. Until I started this blog nearly four years ago, I had no idea what the heck this event was all about or, frankly, why it was so darned exciting. My husband simply explained, "It's like go-cart racing - the dudes from my old unit <span style="font-style: italic;">have</span> to go every year."

Nope. Still not getting it.

But then I read more on the Chili Bowl site:

"...these Nationals are known simply as the Chili Bowl: racing's winter answer to football's Super Bowl."

"The Chili Bowl's key ingredient is the clay which once covered the adjacent fairgrounds. Without sun or wind to harm it, the indoor garden (roughly a quarter-mile circle) is heavily saturated so that the boldest dirt track artists of our time can truly shine."

"...thousands and thousands of methanol-starved fans are ready to call Tulsa, and the QuikTrip Center's Tulsa Expo Raceway in particular, home for a few days."

And then I hopped on YouTube:

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That? That's pretty rad, right there.

I am totally out of touch when it comes to racing. I have to admit, though, that I'd get pretty riled up seeing nearly 300 Sprint Cars, Midgets, Late Models, Modifieds and Drag Racers speeding around a quarter-mile clay track <span style="font-style: italic;">all at the same time</span>.

They do all race <span style="font-style: italic;">at the same time</span>, right, guys?

Right? Just say yes. I need a yes on this.

Plus, the economic impact of this event to Tulsa is pretty huge - we're talking an estimated $15 million in direct spending, <a href="http://www.chilibowl.com/pr011110update.asp">according to Congressman John Sullivan and Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett</a>, putting Chili Bowl on the short list of the most meaningful annual events hosted by our city to Tulsa's bottom line.

Qualifying races started last night, and it all ends with the Chili Bowl Championship feature events on Saturday, Jan. 15. Hundreds of race cars aside, the Chili Bowl also features a 20,000-square-foot trade show, which is open each day free of charge. Check <a href="http://www.chilibowl.com/">the Chili Bowl site</a> for times.

And be sure to check in at <a href="http://www.chilibowl.com/">ChiliBowl.com</a> as the week progresses for nightly race results.

Also be sure to take pity on me and my heretofore methanol-free existence.

<em>Updated from a post that appeared here on TDT in January 2009.</em>