Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

My dad and I are headed to the CB for teh first time. 

It sounds like tickets are pretty much available like all tracks out front with people selling extras or what not.  I'm correct on this right?  Including Saturday as well? 

Am I correct when I say that I thought I read someplace on the forum that you could go to the ticket office and upgrade your ticket to include the pits?  Is that really worth the trouble, would it be more reasonalbe to just get a grand stand ticket or pit pass but not both? 

I'd really really like to find a lineup so to speak (what races are run each day, how many transfer and the such.  With so many cars I can see how it would just end up being confusing.  Where might I find this? 

How about a seating chart, I cant find one of the CB site and of course going down without tickets beggers cant be chooers but before we head down there I'd at least like to become a little familiar with it.

Any other little tips would really be appriciated so we arent going in totally blind.

thanks a million!

Mike

I think the only reserved seating you will find out front are scalpers but they should be offering them at normal rates or they will be reported, they have security driving around if you see anyone charging more for them. About the trading tickets in for pit pass, I think you can only do that if you have a three day or more ticket? Not for sure, but I remember me and my dad trying to do this with our Friday and Saturday tickets one year and they said we couldn't, but maybe it has changed. I would call and find out. We go on wednesday and turn ours in for all the days for pit pass bands, it cost $60 more I believe and was worth it, without a pit pass, Tuesday-Thursday you can go in the pits without one in the morning, around 2pm they rush everyone out and only let wrist bands "pit passes" back in rest of night until after races. Friday and Saturday you cant get in pits at all without a wrist band. Also, if you turn your tickets in for pit pass, you still can sit in your seats, they write your seat number on the arm bands. Of course I am talking about reserved seats, I am not sure how general admission works if you are going that route. We are turning ours in again this year because we got to spend alot more time in pits than before. Also, if you want to see nightly lineups, i believe around 4ish each day they have the drivers meeting near the entrance ramp to the track, north side of building behind main grandstands. You can see all the drivers up close and take a picture of the lineups on the chalkboard. We look forward to that every year. If you want to chat more, email me and I can try and help you some. You are going to have a blast and looks liike weather will be great, [email protected]

I know a few good eating places and a few other things going on around the expo to make sure you get to enjoy all the fun.

Super good information, thanks a bunch.  I'll shoot you an email a little later today.  it will come from mibarber1973@gmail sub. chili bowl

Tickets are easy to come by out front or in the parking lot Tuesday thru Friday, just be there when practice starts or just before the heats begin (high traffic of fans entering the track).  Saturday is a challenge for tickets IMO.  Dont' be picky with seats as there is not a bad seat in the house.

For lineups, have Twitter on your phone as there are several people sending out lineup updates in a timley manner;  Racinboys, Lonnie Wheatley.....  ask around in the stands for who is posting the lineups this year.

For seating chart (not sure why this is not posted on their website), try google images.

The pits are open after the races and be sure to walk up and down the lanes... tons of t-shirts for sale and aceess to all drivers.

Be sure to go outside a few times per night, the fumes will get to you later in the week.

Agree with other posters - Tuesday - Friday, not real hard to find tickets.  But Sat can be a challenge.  I would start looking as early as I could 

As far as what races are scheduled and how many transfer.....

Each of the 4 prelim nights will be identical.   The will run as many heats as they need each night,  max 8 cars each.  Passing and finishing points are awarded (you can find a chart somewhere on the chili bowl website).    The top 40 in points then run a "qualifier" with an invert of 6 or 8 in each.   Passing and finishing points are again awarded and added to the heat totals.   Point totals determine the A main (top 12) and B mains (13-40th split evenly). with those outside the top 40 going into the Cs and Ds.     Usually top 4 from each D and C move up,  everyone else is done until Saturday.   Top 6 from each B main transfer into the A main taking up 13th - 24th.       Top 3 from each prelim A main is locked into Saturday nights A main.   

Tuesday has the bonus "Race of Champions" and Friday Night has the Scrambles......each of the 12 cars in the A main draw for their scramble seed with the 4 winners drawing 1-4, 2nd 5-8 and 3rd 9-12.    They then run the 2 lap scrambles, 12th vs 11th, winner goes on to face 10th, loser starts Sat night 12th.....etc etc.   

Saturday morning starts around 10:30 am with the U (or whatever) main events based on combined points from each of their qualifynig nights.   They usually transfer around 4 from each  into the next race and their are always 2 of each letter until the A main.    Sat early afternoon is usually fun because usually one or two drivers will play alphabet soup and move up through 3 or 4 features.  

If this is not exact it is pretty close.   

Take eye drops, eye protection and ear protection. Do the pitpass for sure. Have fun. 

I have never been, but when I have watched it on TV I have seen a lot of people wearing a breathing mask.  

Be prepared for the following week while your body "detoxes" from the fumes all week! It is completely worth it and I'm betting you return year after year now! 

Chili Bowl Flu. 

I have a friend with 2 tickets for sale... I didn't ask but I'd assume for all week.  Email me for more info.

Use a breathing mask - available for free just to the right after the ticket turnstiles.

www.chilibowl.com and go to drivers.  They have the list as of now for the various nights.  I always buy a program.  It has some interesting information plus you get a line up every night for that nights racing and the results from the previous night.  It may be worth it just to get the Saturday line ups.

Also - it is t-shirt weather once you get inside (unless your seats are near a door they open from time to time).  It looks like it will be great weather - considering it's Jan. in Tulsa.

Enjoy - if you are a true racing fan you may never miss another Chili Bowl. 

You can find daily lineups on the Chili Bowl website under "qualifying nights revealed"

Reading them makes me jealous

Guess I'll have to settle for PPV, don't want to gamble on going without a ticket

You asked bout seating chart.... if you are out front buying tickets, keep this in mind single letter sections, A, B, C... are across the front strech. not a bad seat, but in my opinion because it is lower and you find yourself looking through the fence if you are on the ends it can be somewhat limiting.  The double letter sections AA, BB, CC ... are across the top, overlooking turns 3&4... this is a great angle and view and again in my opinion the better seating.

Pit Pass upgrades can be made IF you are in possession of all of the remaining nights Grandstand tickets.  They will take your Grandstand tickets and exchange them for an armband that allows you free reign throughout the building.  This is only $15 per night but I believe that you can only do this for the remainder of the week.  Well worth it on Saturday as it can become a long day.

Have fun and remember what happens at the Chili Bowl ... stays at the Chili Bowl!!

This is mainly to let y'all know that those tickets I talked about before are gone.  Thanks for your responses.

Are the back stretch stands still filled on a first come first served? For lack of a better term - run for them?  It used to be that way but don't know if it still is.  Of course there you have some big posts to block your view.   I have a feeling that they are now reserved, too, since it seems the same people are always there.

have fun

BS is still GA with a pitpass

format:  http://www.chilibowl.com/news/?i=43750