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Reigning Super DIRTcar Series champion poised for first Chili Bowl appearance
Coming off his best Super DIRTcar Series season, 2024 champion Mat Williamson eyes a new challenge to kick off 2025.
The two-time Super DIRTcar Series champion, from St. Catharines, ON, is heading to Tulsa, OK in January to race in his first Chili Bowl Nationals, driving a dirt Midget for the legendary Keith Kunz Motorsports (KKM) team.
KKM has eight Chili Bowl titles and has won the last two championships with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota.
“That’s a huge reason why I’m doing it,” Williamson said. “The opportunity came up to race with the best cars with the best team. I wouldn’t want to go down there and race in sub-par equipment or try to compete against guys that are in better equipment.
“I don’t know what everyone else has, but I know when I roll in with Keith, we’re going to have some of the best equipment and the best people behind me.”
While KKM has proven experience in Tulsa, driving a Midget is a new venture for “Money Mat.”
But despite that learning curve, he’s confident he can become the sixth Big Block Modified driver to make an A-Main start in the event, joining 2006 winner Tim McCreadie, current Super DIRTcar Series star Larry Wight, Brett Hearn, Billy Pauch, and Billy Pauch Jr.
“We’re not going down there to run 10th,” Williamson said. We’re still going to try and win and work damn hard to get there. There’s going to be a lot better race car drivers in Midgets down there. But I think we’ve got good equipment, and to sell ourselves short and say we can’t win this deal is robbing people of what we’re putting into it.”
The Chili Bowl is a who’s who of drivers nationwide, with more than 300 entries expected. That includes World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car star, World of Outlaws Late Model stars and NASCAR Cup Series drivers and more.
“I don’t think I’ve ever raced against NASCAR guys before, but they put their pants on the same way we do,” Williamson said. “When we get there and race against them, we can’t look at them different than anybody else.”
While 2025’s Chili Bowl will be his first trip to Tulsa, he isn’t ruling out any future opportunities. That includes racing in other disciplines.
“I’d really like to race a Late Model in the future, and some Sprint Car stuff would be cool, too,” Williamson said. “Really, we have to get through the Chili Bowl. It could be the one and only time I get in a Midget, and it could be something that leads to more.
“I don’t know what to expect at this point, but I’m really excited for it.”
Williamson will battle at the Chili Bowl Nationals, Jan. 12-18, at the SageNet Center in Tulsa, OK.
After the Chili Bowl, he’ll turn his attention to the Super DIRTcar Series opener at Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park, Feb. 12-15. For tickets, visit DIRTcarNationals.com/tickets.
If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every race live on DIRTVision – either at DIRTVision.com or by downloading the DIRTVision App.
