Tim Estenson set for Chili Bowl Nationals debut

TULSA, Okla. (January 15, 2020) – Fargo native Tim Estenson will be competing at the prestigious Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals this weekend at the Tulsa Expo Center. Estenson will be piloting the Netto Racing No. 88E midget car. 

Estenson raced a 410 cubic inch sprint car with Netto Racing in California in 2019. 

“D.J. (Netto) gave us a call and asked what we thought about me running the Chili Bowl in one of his cars this year,” said Estenson, who earned 52 legend car wins and an INEX legend national championship in three years in the division. “The next thing I know, I’m registering for the event online and making plans to get to Tulsa. It’s a really cool and exciting opportunity.”

Last weekend, Estenson got the chance to gain valuable seat time at the Tulsa Expo Center, competing in the Tulsa Shootout in a 600cc mini modified. Estenson placed second in the main event. 

“I was able to get a good feel for the track during the Tulsa Shootout. I was able to get some laps on it, learn it and get comfortable out there,” said Estenson of the temporary one-fifth mile clay oval. 

Estenson said the indoor track at Tulsa has a lot of similarities to one of his home tracks, Buffalo River Race Park in Glyndon, Minn. 

“The bottom groove of Buffalo River and the bottom groove of the track at the Tulsa Expo Center are pretty similar. When you roll through the corners the banking and size feel a lot like Glyndon,” said Estenson, who had 18 wins at the Buffalo River Race Park in 2017 and 2018, combined. 

The 17-year-old Fargo driver hopes to gain valuable experience in his first Chili Bowl outing. 

“I just want to go out there with a clear mind and get the seat time I need in practice. I’ve never run a midget before so I want to run different lines around the track and try to follow a driver who is faster than I am to see how they drive the track. I want to run consistent laps and see what happens on my qualifying night,” he said.

Estenson’s qualifying night will be Friday, followed by the championship night on Saturday. 

Estenson has experience in a winged lightning sprint, which has a similar wheel-base as a midget, but more downforce and less horsepower. Estenson says getting a grasp of the throttle control of the midget will be his first priority, but one he’s ready to tackle. 

Estenson would like the thank the following sponsors for their help getting him to the Chili Bowl Nationals. 

Estenson Racing 
DJ Netto Racing
Spike 
Sala Chevrolet

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