Buddy Kofoid may be 19 years old, but he’s anything but a rookie.
The experienced young driver proved that on Tuesday in Tulsa, knocking off two-time and reigning champion Kyle Larson in his Chili Bowl Nationals prelim night.
“Shit, that was tough,” Kofoid said on the FloRacing broadcast following the race. “The curb was treacherous – that’s exactly how I like it. I don’t even know what to say. We got a really good race car all day. I felt like I did what I needed to do every time.”
The finish to tonight's Prelim feature race at the Chili Bowl Nationals –
Buddy Kofoid takes down Kyle Larson and the pair advance to Saturday's A-Main.
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Kofoid set up Larson and took advantage of a small bobble that Larson had, opening the door to let the No. 67 speed by.
“I was good,” Larson said on the FloRacing broadcast. “I think Buddy was maybe a tick better than me. I just wanted to protect from a slider and I didn’t want to leave the door open for him to slide me. I slowed down a little too much into turn 1.”
The win secures both Kofoid and Larson a spot in Saturday’s Chili Bowl Nationals A-Main, joining Tanner Carrick and Tyler Courtney and bringing the clinched-in total to four drivers for the race thus far.
Kofoid’s best finish in the race came in 2020 when he went from P12 to capture his first top 10 finish in the event.
He knows better than anyone that it’s not over, but beating Larson will give him at least a bit of a confidence boost going into the big show – not that he needed it.
“I’m speechless,” Kofoid said. “This is a damn good feeling going into Saturday.
Chili Bowl Nationals Tuesday Night Prelim Results
1. Buddy Kofoid
2. Kyle Larson
3. Chris Windom
4. Jake Swanson
5. Thomas Meseraull
6. Kaylee Bryson
7. Jake Bubak
8. Jonathan Beason
9. Kyle Jones
10. Tim McCreadie
11. Roger Crockett
12. Hunter Schuerenberg
13. Riley Kreisel
14. Alex Bright
15. Donny Schatz
16. Zach Daum
17. Briggs Danner
18. Hank Davis
19. Colton Hardy
20. TJ Smith
21. Sam Hafertepe Jr.
22. Jake Neuman
23. Cody Brewer
24. Kaidon Brown
