The Chili Bowl Nationals announced that it will return the A-Main feature to 55-laps after reducing it to 40 laps in 2025.

In a press release the event stated, “Assessing track conditions following the completion of the 2025 Chili Bowl Nationals powered by NOS Energy Drink, the decision has been made to take the championship A-Feature back to 55 Laps for the 2026 running of the World’s Greatest Midget Race.”

“Mandating the SP3 made a big difference in how the track progressed and held up, and talking with Matt, Steve, and Gravel, they feel like we shouldn’t have any problem going back to 55 laps,” said Chili Bowl Nationals co-founder Emmett Hahn. “Bottom line, we are here to put on a show for the fans, and with the harder tire, and the way Cody enforces our tire testing, we can definitely put on a show, and make sure we continue to honor the memory of Donnie and Ray Crawford.”

The Chili Bowl Nationals had originally increased the race to 55 laps from 50 back in 2012 to honor the loss of Donnie Ray Crawford. Crawford was a Chili Bowl prelim winner in 2011 and competed in car number 55.

The event currently has 360 entries registered to compete as of December 16th. The entry list is a who’s who of racing including Sammy Swindell, Nick Hoffman, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Ricky Thornton Jr., Sheldon Creed, Justin Grant, Ty Gibbs, Daison Pursley, Buddy Kofoid, Cannon McIntosh, Ryan Timms, Logan Seavey, Drake Troutman, Jonathan Beason, Karter Sarff, Justin Peck, J.J. Yeley, and hundreds more.

Kyle Larson is the defending champion and he’s won 2 of the last five also winning in 2021. In between those two wins Tanner Thorson won in 2022 and Logan Seavey won back-to-back in 2023 and 2024.

NEXT: Drake Troutman To Make First Chili Bowl Appearance