A Couple Pieces of Monday Randomness

First, I hope everyone had a great Christmas! Second, it's the start of another short work week, and there's a Husker game this week! Life is good.

-According to RacinBoys.com, the 'Twas the Midgets Before Christmas' show will return in 2009.

"Based on the successful conclusion to the first-ever "Twas the Midgets Before Christmas" last weekend at Kemper Arena, co-promoter Danny Lasoski is looking forward to a second edition in 2009. "We said we would leave it up to the fans," Lasoski told listeners of "Track Talk" with the Racin Boys Saturday morning on Sports Radio 810 WHB. "We did this for the love of racing, and can't begin to thank all the people that helped put this on. We put everything we had into this, paying $10,000 to win for the first show. I'm a racer first, and I hope the fans support us next year."

For the entire taped interview, click here.

I'd look for the 2009 version to be much improved. Hopefully they can figure out better ways to ventilate the building, and perhaps KC won't experience record setting low temps during race weekend.

It's another open wheel race on the schedule three hours from home. I see little downside.

-A Smoke Free Chili Bowl

OK, that was too easy, but the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel is reporting that Tony Stewart will not participate in this year's Chili Bowl.

"Stewart, now owner of his NASCAR Sprint Cup team, confirmed that this was his only indoor racing appearance of the winter. He said he will attend the Chili Bowl Nationals next month in Tulsa, Okla., but won’t race due to other commitments."

Stewart finished second to Lou Cicconi Jr. on Saturday during the USAC indoor midget race in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

While it's always cool to watch a BTAR like Tony Stewart return to his roots, I don't think it'll be any less of an event without him. The Chili Bowl is bigger than any one driver. However it wouldn't at all shock me if he did end up behind the wheel using a pseudonym.

A car from Tony Stewart Racing was entered carrying the number 14, Stewart's new NASCAR number, but no driver information is listed.

Perhaps this will keep autograph-seeking NASCAR fans away.