By Fully Injected Motorsports:
SHERMANS DALE, Pa. (January 9, 2024) – The 2024 Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is officially underway, and despite five night’s of action still ahead at the Tulsa Expo Raceway, Shermans Dale, Pennsylvania’s Derek Sheaffer, celebrating his first-ever appearance at the world-famous indoor Midget event, is already partially complete, taking part in his respective preliminary program on Monday, January 8.
A sound effort to say the least, Sheaffer, driver of Steve Buckwalter’s Treen Box & Pallet, Dillman Hauling, KLK Mechanical, Shermans Creek Inn, Advanced Septic Services, Aviator Financial, Sharar’s Grocery and Downtown Deli, Fultz Excavating, No. 0S Midget, concluded his preliminary effort in the second of two B-Mains, scored 15th (DNF) with only four making the cut to the evening’s A. The two-time Path Valley Speedway champion earned his way into Monday’s second B-Main by way of runner-up finish during heat race competition, ultimately propelling Sheaffer into an evening Qualifier; he was scored ninth.
Sheaffer led four laps of his respective heat race before losing the point to Midget standout, Cannon McIntosh. His B-Main outcome, the aforementioned 15th-place finish by way of eventual ‘DNF,’ was the product of poor timing – shoved upside-down after contact by another competitor.
“Just when you think she’s good to you, she’ll chew you up and spit you right back out again,” Derek Sheaffer said. “This place is great, but it’s tough. You can’t make mistakes because they’ll make you pay for it.
“Regardless, it’s been a great experience so far and I can’t thank Steve Buckwalter and the entire team enough for the opportunity, as well as all of their hard work,” Sheaffer added. “This is only my second time ever racing a Midget, and obviously my first time here, so to lead some laps in a heat race before losing the spot to Cannon McIntosh is pretty special. It’s truly a humbling experience. The best of the best from all divisions are competing under one roof, so to say I’m a part of that is something I won’t forget. All we can do now is wait and see where I end up on Saturday. Our turn in the ‘Alphabet Soup’ awaits.”
Derek Sheaffer and Steve Buckwalter Racing will rejoin the Chili Bowl Nationals field on Saturday, January 13; his starting position and main event assignment has yet to be determined.
38TH ANNUAL CHILI BOWL NATIONALS COVERAGE:
Online Home: www.chilibowl.com
Chili Bowl Nationals Schedule: https://www.chilibowl.com/schedules/
SPECIAL THANKS:
Derek Sheaffer and Steve Buckwalter Racing would like to thank all of their marketing partners: Treen Box & Pallet, Dillman Hauling, KLK Mechanical, Shermans Creek Inn, Advanced Septic Services, Aviator Financial, Sharar’s Grocery and Downtown Deli, Fultz Excavating
DEREK SHEAFFER HEADLINES:
News: www.fullyinjected.com.
BROADCAST COVERAGE:
Watch the Chili Bowl live online at www.floracing.com.
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Photo Credit: Michael Fry
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