1/1/2026
Badger Midget Auto Racing Association
Seven AFS Badger Midget Series And MARA Champions Set For Chili Bowl
Seven former Advanced Fastening Supply Badger Midget Auto Racing Association and Midget Auto Racing Association (MARA) champions are slated to run the 40th annual Chili Bowl Nationals.
The Chili Bowl is the premier midget race in the world with entries in the vicinity of 375 cars as of January 1, 2026. NASCAR and IndyCar drivers come to knock some rust off prior to their seasons starting. Bucket listers from several countries beyond America come to enter their name in the record books while fans flock for the wheel to wheel racing and parties that usually ensue.
The AFS Badger Midget Series and MARA will bring 20-plus drivers and cars to the event. Outside of USAC, it’s probably the largest contingent to participate. Most of the Badger/MARA drivers have competed to some extent with the other group in 2025 as they share the same rulebook, officials and run special co-sanctioned events together.
Among those entered are multi-time Badger champions, Brandon Waelti, Mike Hess and reigning champ for the last two seasons Parker Jones. Taking one Badger crown are Zach Boden and NASCAR star Christopher Bell.
On the MARA side 2025 champion Jace Sparks joins Daltyn England and Jones as former title holders who plan to make the journey to Tulsa. This represents all of the champions in the modern era of MARA (2023-2025).
Badger 2025 Rookie of the Year Brian Strane Jr. has entered the event.
Three-time Badger champion Chase McDermand advises he’ll stay out of the cockpit this year but will be on hand as a car owner/crew chief for a couple of cars including that of NASCAR’s Josh Bilicki.
The Badger tradition is legendary at the Chili Bowl as former Badger champ Scott Hatton won the second-ever running of the race in 1988. Meanwhile Dan Boorse took the Golden Driller in 1999 and 2003 becoming only the second multi-time winner at that time, next to Sammy Swindell. Both Hatton and Boorse have won more than one Badger crown and are both in the Badger Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Badger and MARA Facebook pages for video interviews with the drivers starting on practice day at the Chili Bowl on Sunday, January 11 going through Quick Trip Championship Saturday, January 17.
TRVideography headed by the award winning Todd Reuter will provide much of our content from Tulsa. Along with the driver interviews he will have many special video features that TRV is known for.
The entire event will also be streaming live on FloRacing. Live timing and scoring will be provided by MyRacePass.
Article by Bill Blumer Jr.
Submitted By: William Blumer