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Three Open Wheel Champions Spearhead Wilke-Pak Chili Bowl Efforts

Milwaukee,Wis., Jan. 3—Wilke-PAK Motor Sports has announced their three-car team for the 2008 Dodge Dealers Chili Bowl Nationals. A record 274 entries have been received for the Jan. 8-12 event at The Tulsa Expo Square Raceway located inside the Quick Trip Center.

Jerry Coons Jr., who has captured back-to-back USAC National Midget Car Series Championships for the team heads the list of drivers including Terry McCarl and Kurt Davis. Coons will be trying for his ninth career Chili Bowl Championship feature start. During the 2007 season he claimed fourteen midget feature wins including nine driving for the Wilke team. The Coons/Wilke victories included The Belleville Midget Nationals and the Firemans Pepsi Midget Nationals, Coons also captured the National Midget Driver of the Year Championship.

McCarl, a six-time 410 Sprint Car Champion at the famed Knoxville Raceway will be making his third Chili Bowl appearance, looking for his first career start in Saturday’s Championship feature. McCarl’s previous season was highlighted by a pair of victories in both the World of Outlaws and ASCS National Tour Sprint Car Series.

Davis rounds out the trio, and will be making his first ever career start in a midget. The Milwaukee native captured the 1998 & 2000 Midwest SprintCar Association (MSA) driving championships. Two victories during the ’07 season increased his career sprint feature win total to 34 victories.

The Wilke-PAK team has enjoyed success at midget racing’s biggest event highlighted by Tracy Hines’ victory in the 2005 event. Dave Darland driving the team’s second car finished third in the event. Wilke-PAK has also captured nine preliminary night features since first competing at the event in 1991. Five drivers: Ken Schrader, Kevin Doty, Darland, Hines and Donnie Beechler account for the nine victories.

Chili Bowl Driver Roster
Car# Driver Hometown Sponsor/Chassis/Engine
5w Kurt Davis Milwaukee, WI Mopar, Speedway Motors, Kwik Change, Stone Mountain Access, Hoosier Tire,
Diamond Express, Culvers, K&N Filters/Stealth/Sesco-Mopar

11 Jerry Coons Jr. Tucson, AZ Mopar, Speedway Motors, Kwik Change, Hoosier Tire, K&N Filters/Spike/ Gary Stanton Mopar

11w Terry McCarl Altonna, IA Pace Bros. Motorsports, Mopar, Speedway Motors, Kwik Change, Hoosier Tire/Spike/Gary Stanton Mopar

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