The Chili Bowl Nationals are back, and you can practically feel the energy in Tulsa through the screen. The fresh dirt, the bellowing symphony of engines, and the raucous cheers of 15,000 excited fans—it’s all part of the magic. This year’s event is turning heads like never before, with a record-breaking lineup of drivers from all corners of motorsport, including NASCAR stars Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell. The 2025 Chili Bowl promises to be an unforgettable spectacle.

One of the biggest stories this year? Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM) rolling in with an astonishing 16 sprint cars. The roster includes racing veterans, up-and-comers, and even some drivers making their midget racing debuts. While most of the racing world applauds Kunz’s massive effort, a single fan’s gripe about the team’s participation has sparked a heated debate in the community.

Keith Kunz has been a cornerstone of midget racing for decades. Known for discovering and mentoring talents like Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell, Kunz has helped shape the careers of some of NASCAR’s brightest stars. His partnership with Toyota Racing Development (TRD) has been pivotal, enabling him to scout and develop young drivers and provide them with the tools they need to succeed in motorsport.

This year, Kunz’s Chili Bowl lineup is nothing short of impressive. NASCAR’s Christopher Bell, multi-time Chili Bowl winner Tanner Carrick, and New Zealand’s Michael Pickens are just a few of the names on the roster. With this stacked lineup, fans expect intense competition every night of the event.

But then came the tweet that lit the fuse. Journalist Matt Weaver shared: “A record 17 cars for 16 drivers at Chili Bowl this year for Keith Kunz Motorsports.” The post quickly divided fans.

One Twitter user, @cushnbangn, expressed concern, saying: “At what point does a rule get made? This can’t be good for the cost of racing.” They later doubled down, adding: “Him bringing this many cars to an event will force everyone else to spend way more money to compete. He could buy out all of certain parts so someone can’t get them, etc. It’s not good for the long run. Way more downside than upside.”

The backlash was swift. Fans and industry insiders chimed in to challenge the complaint.

Keith Kunz Motorsports: A history of excellence and target for fan critique

Some chose to clear the air regarding where the money is coming from, “TRD funds a big portion of this from what I’ve heard. Most are TRD Development drivers. You can’t make a rule saying you can’t bring a certain number of racecars to a racetrack. Lol,” one fan pointed out.

Another responded with a loophole that Keith could exploit if there was such a rule put in place, “No rule needs to be made, because all he would do then is make a bunch of different teams if you put a car limit… ‘KKM1,’ ‘KKM2,’ etc.”

Others were just excited at the sheer number of entries and thought the concerns were just nitpicking. “I think it’s cool to see a lot of cars on a team. It’s exciting to see a team that’s so healthy & bringing new sponsors to the dirt world. Keith’s doing a great job, it appears,” added another fan.

And someone simply stated, “It’s 16 entries out of 381. Is it that big of a deal?”

At its core, the debate touches on a familiar topic in motorsport: fairness. Critics argue that KKM’s size and financial backing give it an overwhelming advantage. Supporters counter that racing has never been about a level playing field—money has always been a factor, an unfortunate reality that remains inescapable. As one fan puts it, “Deep pockets have had an advantage in racing for way longer than Keith Kunz has been involved. At the end of the day, you still have to have talent behind the wheel.”

However, Kunz’s partnership with Toyota has positively impacted grassroots racing, offering drivers access to top-tier equipment, training, nutritionists, and even media coaching. This investment has turned grassroots racing into a legitimate pathway to professional motorsport.

The uproar over KKM’s 16-car entry highlights a key truth about the Chili Bowl: it’s a stage for the best in midget racing. Placing limits on participation could stifle the competitive spirit that makes the event so special. As one fan eloquently stated, “Whether it’s the top-level of NASCAR or dirt track, the more competitive cars there are in the field, the better the racing.”

While Kunz’s team hasn’t claimed a Golden Driller since 2019, this year’s talent-packed roster might just change that. For fans, the fairness debate only adds another dimension of classic racing passion to what promises to be an unforgettable event.

As the engines roar to life and the clay starts flying, one thing is clear: the 2025 Chili Bowl Nationals will go down as one for the ages.