The Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, renowned for its fierce competition and high-stakes rivalries, witnessed a whirlwind of drama and controversy this year, particularly surrounding young driver Corbin Rueschenberg. Rueschenberg made headlines not only for his age but for his unpredictable driving on the track, culminating in a fourth-place finish that sparked outrage among fans and fellow competitors alike.

The events of this year’s Chili Bowl have set the stage for a gripping narrative of ambition, rivalry, and the relentless pursuit of glory in the world of midget racing. Here is more.

Corbin Rueschenberg Chili Bowl controversy

Last year, 14-year-old Corbin Rueschenberg was one of the youngest competitors in the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals history. This year, an adventurous Tuesday ends with a P4 finish in the #26 for the driver, who will be sent to Saturday’s B-Main at the Chili Bowl National. But not without stirring some controversy.

“I think I was just making some driver errors, and I didn’t feel comfortable up top as I was; I think I just was entering in too high, entering in, and plugged into the curb. So, I think I am just short on my entry. I couldn’t hang with those guys up top. I played safe on the bottom. Secure and nice 4th place finish,” he told the press post-race. Rueschenberg drives a Stanton SR-11x.

The driver has competed in over 200 races to date in Quarter midgets and Micro Sprints. His goal is to compete at the highest level of micro-sprint cars. He was the 2021 Lucas Oil Sooner Speed Week Champion in A Class Wing and is the Only Driver to win Lucas Oil Now 600 National Non-Wing, A Class, & Restrictor Class in the same Season. He also has the Donny Ray Crawford Hard Charger Award Tulsa Shootout 2021 to his name.

But fans and drivers are furious with him. One journalist at AC, John O’Connor, said on X, “Corbin Rueschenburg was all over the damn place. I wouldn’t have blamed Buddy if he went back out there and sent him into the parking lot. That kid didn’t make many friends. #ChiliBowl“

When asked about the frustration fans felt with his driving style at the race, the driver from Mesa, Arizona said, “Looking back on it, I mean Kofoid, he’s done the same to people, but the TMez (Thomas Meseraull) incident, that was completely my fault & RTJ was getting tight and I couldn’t, I mean if he was getting tight in front of me, I was gonna get tight, and I would have lost position. I just took the risk, and as of right now, it paid off.”

Kofoid was running third on the track and went back a couple of places. Thomas Meseraull‘s biggest rivalry is with Cannon McIntosh. One year after their heated confrontation at the 2024 Chili Bowl Nationals, the rivalry between the two midget racing stars is still very much felt.

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The 2024 Crash

During the 38th Chili Bowl, an intense clash between Meseraull and McIntosh took a dangerous turn. Their cars collided, resulting in Meseraull’s vehicle flipping dramatically through the air. His anger reached a boiling point when he realized McIntosh was at fault.

The situation escalated further after the crash. While struggling to free himself from his seatbelt, Meseraull threw his steering wheel out of the damaged vehicle, unintentionally hitting an official in the process. Although he later insisted it was an accident, this incident only intensified the chaos surrounding in an already dramatic race.

What are your thoughts on Corbin Rueschenberg?