Final Chili Bowl Day Draws Crowds in Tulsa -

The final day of the 2026 Chili Bowl in Tulsa draws fans in record numbers, traveling across the country for dirt track racing and Chili Bowl traditions.

The final day of the 2026 Chili Bowl is underway in Tulsa, and organizers say attendance has already surpassed last year's record.

Fans from across the country — and racers from around the world — packed the Tulsa Expo Center for what many consider the biggest event in dirt track racing.

This year's Bowl of Chile is already historic, organizers said, with a record number of cars and crowds compared to last year.

"It's been a really good week. The competition has been phenomenal every night," said Chili Bowl Nationals publicist and announcer Bryan Hulbert."It sets the scene for today. Record number of cars for the historic year. The number of fans is also on the verge of breaking the record."

Fans travel hundreds of miles for a bowl of chili

Among the thousands of attendees were brothers Will and Nathan Ledderman, who traveled from Indianapolis to Tulsa for the event.

Decked out in red, white and blue — and frequently chanting “America!” — the pair stood out in the crowd.

Will Lederman hasn't been to the Chili Bowl in nearly two decades and said the growth of the event was immediately noticeable.

"There's a lot more cars here now. A lot bigger teams. I mean, it's a lot different," he said."More people. I mean, it gets bigger every year, but I think."

For Nathan Ledderman, it was his first Chili Bowl - and he said it lived up to the reputation.

“The biggest dirt track race in the country I’d say,” Nathan said.

I'm bringing racing fans back

The Ledderman brothers say the appeal of the Chili Bowl is about what happens on the track.

"Just love the atmosphere and the people and the fans," Will Lederman said."Everyone around us is very friendly."

Hulbert said that mix of fans from all corners of motorsports is what makes the Chili Bowl stand out.

"It's probably the best collection of fans you'll ever see," Hulbert said."They all are. And that's one of the special things about this event."

And yes, there is red pepper too.

Looking Ahead to Next Year

Organizers say they are already planning for next year's Chili Bowl, hoping to top this year's record.