Lonnie Wheatley, TULSA, Okla.  (January 8, 2008) – The anticipation has been mounting for weeks now, if not months.  Now, it's finally here, the kickoff of the 22^nd Annual Dodge Chili Bowl Nationals at the Tulsa Expo Raceway in the QuikTrip Center.

After parking everybody inside the building on Monday, the engines fired to life with a practice session at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning.  The field of 286 entries was divided up into 24 practice groups, with each group getting one session atop the ¼-mile clay oval.

While no major incidents took place during practice, Texan George White was the week's first flip victim when he got upside down in turn three a dozen groups into the day.  Then in one of the final sessions, Kevin Swindell flipped in turn two.  There was no major damage to either machine.

Hot laps for Tuesday night's Bass Pro Shops Pre-Qualifying Event begin at 5:00 p.m., with Heat Races going green at 7:00 p.m.

Complete recap and race notes will be available at www.chilibowl.com following tonight's action.