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(Jan. 8) and runs through Saturday (Jan. 12).
"I'm pumped. I'm ready," said Josh, who enjoyed a personal-high four-win season on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series in 2007. "I haven't had too much time to think about (the Chili Bowl) this winter because we've been so busy working on our (dirt Late Model) stuff (for the 2008 campaign), but now that it's here I can't wait to get out there and race."
Josh made his first Chili Bowl appearance in 2006, falling one spot short of transferring to the 50-lap A-Main through a B-Main. He returned full of confidence for the 2007 edition, but he struggled to get comfortable on the quarter-mile clay oval and saw his bid come to an end with a 10th-place finish in Saturday night's first G-Main.
A practice session on Tuesday night will give Josh an opportunity to feel out his TSR/Chevrolet/Bass Pro Shops/Armor All Midget on the specially-constructed layout on the floor of the Tulsa Expo Center. With an event record 285 entries divided into four three qualifying nights, Josh is set to compete in the Friday-night preliminary program in hopes of setting himself up to run in Saturday night's A-Main.
Josh will be busy off the track as well this week. On Monday (Jan. 7) he is scheduled to be on hand with Jones and Hines at the Bass Pro Shops Official Chili Bowl Kick-Off Party, a meet-and-greet with fans set for 6 p.m. CST at the Bass Pro Shops store in Broken Arrow, Okla. In addition, Josh will also be available for autographs at the Tony Stewart merchandise trailer located within the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals trade show on Wednesday (Jan. 9) from 4-5 p.m. CST.
The Tony Stewart merchandise trailer will again feature an exclusive TSR Chili Bowl T-shirt featuring two-time event winner and NASCAR champion Stewart along with Jones, Hines and Josh.
Tickets for the Chili Bowl have been sold-out for months, but fans can watch the event live on HBO Pay-Per-View for the first time. The broadcast of Saturday night's finale, which can be purchased directly via digital cable or satellite television outlets, will begin at 8 p.m. EST. Those interested in purchasing the broadcast can also contact their cable provider's customer service department for more details.
After returning from the Chili Bowl, Josh will continue his preparations for a busy schedule of dirt Late Model racing in January and February. He is planning to compete in the 'Super Bowl of Racing' from Jan. 23-Feb. 2 at Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, Ga.; the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Winternationals from Feb. 4-9 at East Bay Raceway Park in Gibsonton, Fla.; and the 37th annual DIRTcar Nationals (which includes the first two events of the 2008 WoO LMS) from Feb. 11-16 at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.
Josh will drive his Mark Richards Racing-owned Seubert Calf Ranches/Ace Metal Works/TSR-Tony Stewart Racing/Petroff Towing/MCB Motorsports/Ernie's Auto & Hauling Rocket Chassis No. 1 at Golden Isles and Volusia, and he'll steer the Rocket No. 25 owned by Ernie Davis at East Bay.
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