TULSA, Okla. — Defending Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals winner Christopher Bell knows two things for certain going into General Tire Championship Day on Saturday: he doesn’t need his provisional and he’s guaranteed a front row starting spot.
Bell pulled the number one pill during Friday night’s blind draw that determined the seeding for the #BCforever powered by Pizza Express, meaning he will race in the final two-driver pairing on Saturday and can start no worse than second for the 55-lap championship A-Feature.
The pill draw was conducted following the conclusion of the night’s 25-lap preliminary feature, won by Justin Grant for the second consecutive year.
Saturday’s pole shuffle will utilize a ‘King of the Hill’ style format, with two cars taking to the quarter-mile track at a time and racing for two laps. The higher-seeded driver in each pair has lane choice and the winner advances on to the next pair, going until all but one driver is eliminated.
The last man standing will earn the pole position for the 55-lap championship A-Feature.
Grant was last year’s victor of the #BCforever Pole Shuffle, starting as the third seed but going on to defeat Tyler Courtney and Bell en route to the top starting spot.
Andrew Felker drew the 12th seed and will race alongside No. 11 seed Kevin Thomas Jr. in the first pairing of the Pole Shuffle.
Other notables include fifth-seeded Brad Sweet, third-seeded Rico Abreu and second-seeded Kyle Larson.
The #BCforever Pole Shuffle will take place at 5 p.m. CT, serving as the last on-track activity prior to opening ceremonies.
The full seeding for Saturday’s Pole Shuffle can be found below.
SEEDING: Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals; #BCforever Pole Shuffle; Draw held on Jan. 12, 2018
- Christopher Bell
- Kyle Larson
- Rico Abreu
- Justin Grant
- Brad Sweet
- Spencer Bayston
- Shane Golobic
- Tyler Thomas
- Chase Johnson
- Tyler Courtney
- Kevin Thomas Jr.
- Andrew Felker
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 24-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
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