After Kyle Larson’s Chili Bowl Boycott, Kyle Busch Brings the Star Power to the Event

With the 2022 season wrapped up, there is really not much for the NASCAR drivers to do. To alleviate boredom, many of them explore other racing options just to keep themselves in shape. Some of them find their release in dirt track racing, and the annual Chili Bowl Nationals is the zenith of dirt racing in the country. Kyle Larson has won the Chili Bowl before but he announced recently that he will be absent from this year’s edition. Fortunately, there will be some NASCAR representation, as Kyle Busch will show up in his stead.

It is likely that Busch will not be alone. His son Brexton raced at the Tulsa Shootout recently. Without a doubt, the father-son duo will be aiming to race at the Chili Bowl as well. In the buildup to the race on January 9th to 14th, the Busch family will be hard at work preparing for the iconic race.

Busch Jr reached the B-Main earlier when he finished P2 in the heat race and P3 in the qualifier. Unfortunately, he fell short of the A-Main but we’ll be back for the Golden Driller next year.

READ MORE: Christopher Bell & Kyle Larson Reportedly Set to Miss 2023 Chili Bowl Amidst Prize Money Standoff

What prompted Kyle Larson to miss the race, which didn’t bother Kyle Busch?

As it turned out, Larson and Christopher Bell were rather unhappy with the prize money given out at the end of the event. This is because the purse for the Chili Bowl Nationals is $10,000, which hasn’t changed in years. What made them even madder was the fact that the grid has been constantly expanding, but the prize money has stagnated. All of this is despite the fact that the event size has increased, along with the rising cost of pit passes, broadcasting rights, media rights, and more.

Larson acknowledged that the prize money purse has to grow in tandem with the event. His argument does have some validity, as it makes little sense for elite drivers to compete for such measly prize money. However, it looks like Busch’s love for midget cars has trumped over Larson’s argument, as he will be seen racing at the Chili Bowl soon.

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