2026 Chili Bowl: Emerson Axsom wins his first Golden Driller

The Tulsa Expo Center buzzed with anticipation on January 17, 2026, as the 40th annual Chili Bowl Nationals culminated in a heart-pounding 55-lap A-Main. Nearly 400 competitors had been whittled down to 24 elite drivers, all chasing the Golden Driller trophy in the NOS Energy Drink-powered midget car spectacle.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Emerson Axsom (pictured), the 21-year-old from Franklin, Indiana, started on the outside of the front row in his Swindell SpeedLab No. 39A, alongside pole-sitter Kyle Larson. What unfolded was a race for the ages, blending raw aggression, strategic brilliance, and a touch of fate.

Larson, the defending champion and four-time winner, grabbed the early lead in his No. 1K, pacing the first three laps. But Axsom wasn’t intimidated. “I told myself that I’m not going to race him like he’s Kyle Larson,” Axsom later explained. “I feel like a lot of guys, including the national level guys I race against every week, they see Kyle and they almost back down. If it was anyone else, they’d be raced harder. I told myself I’m going to take the race to him because that’s the only chance I’ve got. If I don’t throw everything I have at Kyle then he’s going to win this deal and drive away.” With a daring slide job on Lap 4, Axsom surged ahead, setting the tone for his commanding performance.

Drama struck on Lap 16 when Larson, navigating slower traffic, flipped violently after contact with a lapped car. The crowd held its breath as the No. 1K tumbled, but Larson walked away unharmed, his bid for another title dashed. With the favorite out, Axsom faced mounting pressure from a stacked field, including teammate Logan Seavey, Christopher Bell, and Tanner Thorson. Justin Grant briefly snatched the lead with seven laps remaining, but a timely caution reset the order. “I was super thankful that yellow came out when Justin slid me,” Axsom said. “It was going to end up being a dogfight.”

In the closing laps, Kevin Thomas Jr., who had charged from 18th, mounted a fierce challenge from third, pressuring Axsom on the high side. But Axsom stuck to the bottom groove in Turns 3 and 4, fending off the assault. As the checkered flag waved, Axsom crossed the line first, securing his first Chili Bowl victory—a dream realized through an unlikely path. Just months earlier, team owner Kevin Swindell had reached out via Instagram. “I’m super thankful that Kevin Swindell messaged me on Instagram and asked me to drive for him because without him, it would not be possible,” Axsom reflected post-race. “That’s the best race car I have ever drove. I hope he messages me on Instagram to come back next year.”

Climbing from his car amid roaring applause, Axsom’s emotions overflowed. “Everything played in my favor tonight. It feels like a dream. It’s crazy. This is, for sure, the best day of my life.” He praised Swindell’s unwavering faith: “He knows that his stuff is good enough and he totally believed in me the whole time. It made my job easy to just go out and drive his race car.” Reflecting on his past, Axsom quipped about running Keith Kunz’s car the previous year: “Last year (at the Chili Bowl) I ran Keith Kunz’s personal car. He’s only won it like 35 times.”

At 21, Axsom never imagined this triumph. “I never thought at 21 years old I’d be sitting here,” he admitted. The win etched his name among legends, a testament to grit and opportunity in the unpredictable world of dirt track racing.

Chili Bowl winner Emerson Axsom on what this means and the battle with Logan Seavey and Justin Grant pic.twitter.com/u4GGN4HYu5

— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) January 18, 2026

2026 Chili Bowl Results 

The 2026 Chili Bowl wasn’t just a race; it was a story of underdogs rising, icons falling, and a young driver’s Instagram-fueled ascent to glory. As the dirt settled, Axsom’s words lingered: proof that in midget racing, belief and boldness can turn dreams into reality.