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Cheating scandals rock Chili Bowl Nationals: Tire doping allegations ignite controversy – “Gotta Cheat to Win”

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
January 17, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Cheating scandals rock Chili Bowl Nationals: Tire doping allegations ignite controversy – “Gotta Cheat to Win”

Nov 16, 2018; Homestead, FL, USA; NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Tanner Thorson during the Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Chili Bowl Nationals, a crown jewel of dirt track racing, has been engulfed in controversy as allegations of tire doping have surfaced, sparking a heated debate about fairness and integrity in the sport. As drivers and officials clash over the illegal practice of softening tire compounds, the stakes have never been higher.


The tire doping dilemma

Tire doping—using chemical treatments to soften tire compounds for better grip—has long been a contentious issue in dirt racing. With the Chili Bowl adopting harder tire compounds in recent years to level the playing field, drivers and teams have turned to this illegal method to gain a competitive edge.

Tanner Thorson, a prominent Chili Bowl driver, didn’t shy away from addressing the issue. Speaking to Flo Racing, Thorson was blunt:

“You got to cheat to win here, chicken sh-t basically. Everybody in here that doesn’t cheat feels the same way, and the guys that do cheat, they probably feel the same way too.”

His candid remarks highlight the frustration of drivers competing in an environment where bending the rules seems commonplace.


Cracking down on cheaters

The controversy reached a boiling point on Wednesday when Chili Bowl Nationals technical director Cody Cordell ejected a driver from the SageNet Center for suspected tire doping. Cordell’s firm stance sends a clear message: the Chili Bowl will no longer tolerate cheating.

Cordell and his team have ramped up efforts to monitor and penalize tire tampering, employing rigorous inspections to ensure a fair competition. However, the crackdown has created an atmosphere of uncertainty among teams, with many questioning the consistency and transparency of enforcement.


Thorson’s perspective on harder tires

Thorson pointed to the harder RD12 tires as a catalyst for the controversy, claiming they’ve worsened track conditions and unintentionally encouraged tire doping.

“RD12 wasn’t the tire to dope up because it was already soft, and once we got to these hard tires, the track got way worse.”

He described how the track’s behavior changed during events, with surfaces becoming slick and unpredictable, which further incentivizes teams to seek illegal advantages.

“You saw about halfway through the shootout, the track starts rubbering up, getting goofy, while they start popping guys for tires. Next thing you know, the track goes slick, and the track starts being racey.”


A sport at a crossroads

The Chili Bowl Nationals finds itself at a critical juncture. While tire doping is a long-standing issue in dirt racing, the open acknowledgment by drivers like Thorson underscores the need for immediate and effective action.

For many, the debate goes beyond individual races—it’s about the integrity of the sport itself. Can officials strike a balance between creating competitive, fair conditions and maintaining the spirit of innovation that has defined dirt racing for decades?


What’s next?

As the Chili Bowl Nationals moves forward, all eyes will be on the event’s organizers and their ability to enforce anti-doping measures consistently. The sport must decide if it’s willing to confront this issue head-on or risk losing credibility among drivers, teams, and fans.

For now, the battle lines are drawn, and the Chili Bowl’s legacy hangs in the balance.

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