TULSA, Okla. — Starting second, Emerson Axsom had to throw everything he could at polesitter and heavy favorite Kyle Larson if he was going to take home the coveted Golden Driller.
That plan worked as the Franklin, IN native picked up the lead and survived numerous challenges to his lead to pick up his first Chili Bowl victory at Tulsa Expo Center.
The No. 39A Swindell Speedlabs entry snatched the lead from Larson briefly as the pair exchanged the lead before Axsom planted himself up front with 50 laps to go in the 55-lap feature. When CJ Leary slowed on the backstretch, Larson ran into the back of the No. 55X machine. The contact resulted in Larson’s car flipping and sustaining enough damage to knock the three-time Golden Driller winner out of the race.
“I wish I would’ve recognized it sooner. I saw [Leary] had a flat and I wasn’t worried about it,” Larson said. “I don’t know if I was coming faster or if he was slowing down more, but I just nicked his rear bumper and it turned me right. Kind of whatever, I’ve had a lot of good luck here lately so it’s OK to have stuff not go your way.”
The right front corner on the car sustained enough damage to knock Larson from the race, including a bent front axle and a broken right front shock.
Axsom was relieved to see one of his biggest challengers was out of the race.
“Once I saw [Larson] wreck, I kind of felt like he was the only guy that had a shot against me early,” Axsom said. “When I was watching the screen, he was the only guy that seemed to be really close. So, it took a little bit of weight off my shoulders that I didn’t have to be stressed about being perfect every lap.
“If I just put together 10 perfect laps and built a little bit of a lead then I could just settle in and make smooth laps and not have to push super hard, cause [Larson’s] 90 percent is my 110 percent … he was probably riding around 90 percent pushing me around when I’m running 110 percent. So yeah, it made my job easier that I didn’t have to run 110 percent and be perfect for 55 laps.”
Once Larson’s car was brought up the ramp, Axsom never officially relinquished the lead despite challenges from Logan Seavey and Justin Grant, among others. However, it was a charge from Seavey coupled with a mistake from Axsom that nearly flipped the script out front.
Axsom hit the cushion exiting turn 2 which slowed his momentum, allowing Seavey to nearly get alongside as the pair sped down the back straight coming to the white flag.
Axsom firmly shut the door on Seavey, who had to drive on the berm on the inside of turn 3. That sent the No. 39 machine sliding up the track where Seavey’s right rear tire hit Grant’s No. 87, sending Grant to the outside wall where the California native flipped over.
Axsom survived Seavey’s advances on the restart but Seavey’s lost momentum allowed Kevin Thomas Jr. the opportunity to try and score his first win at the Chili Bowl after starting 18th.
It was not to be as Axsom held off Thomas Jr. to win by under four tenths of a second. Hank Davis Jr. finished third, ahead of Seavey and Briggs Danner rounding out the top five.
More Chili Bowl reaction at Frontstretch Grassroots – YouTube
Christopher DeHarde has covered IndyCar racing and the Road to Indy for various outlets since 2014. In addition to open wheel racing, DeHarde has also covered IMSA and various short track racing events around Indiana. Originally from New Orleans, DeHarde moved to the Indianapolis area in 2017 to further pursue a career as a motorsports writer.