One yr later, Daison Pursley is of blended feelings about how the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals featured performed out.
On one hand, he hung in there and completed second to Kyle Larson, however had the race been its typical 55 laps, he additionally believes there’s a chance that it turns into a distinct story totally.
“I don’t know,” Pursley mentioned wistfully. “I feel the monitor was simply so laborious and distinctive final yr that if Larson makes yet one more mistake or if I make two kind of errors that it seems just a little bit completely different.”
To his level, Pursley was finishing a race profitable move on Larson in site visitors when a particles warning waved. What was the particles warning for? Larson, underneath strain, drilled the frontstretch wall and ripped down a banner.
The case could possibly be made that Larson drew the warning however the race resumed with clear monitor forward of the contenders. Pursley by no means acquired one other shot in site visitors and he’s thought of it so much.
“I am simply racing on his bumper for, , a couple of lap at a time,” Pursley mentioned. “However, on the identical time, the most important factor for me is being right here and placing myself on this place time and time once more.
“I really feel such as you solely get these alternatives to race for a Golden Driller now and again. So when the chance does current itself, you reap the benefits of it. Hopefully, I get the identical alternative on Saturday evening and am just a little extra ready for it.”
Famously, Pursley respects dwelling within the second and never taking them with no consideration as a result of he was briefly paralyzed after a crash in a Midget in 2021. He totally recovered and is racing for the most important wins in grime monitor racing forward of a season through which he’ll substitute the good Brad Candy within the iconic Kasey Kahne Racing 410 Dash.
“That may be a dream come true,” Pursley mentioned. “Like, I grew up dreaming of racing in World of Outlaws and now a collection like Excessive Restrict and I used to be at all times No. 9 due to my dad so to take that quantity there and to share it as a result of it was Kasey’s quantity is so cool to me.
“I ran the identical type of swoosh he makes use of too as a result of Kasey was my man rising up. There may be lots of full circle moments to this. Like, Kasey referred to as me to drive his automotive, proper, so I really feel tremendous blessed and excited, nervous, anxious, all these issues.”
Apart from the plain, why you?
“I ask myself that day-after-day, proper now, proper,” Pursley mentioned. “I’ve requested him that, ‘why the heck did you choose me’ and he says he has a ardour for serving to younger drivers out, to present them the alternatives he had when he was youthful too.”
However for proper now, this week is all concerning the Tulsa Expo and being one spot higher on Saturday, even when there was pleasure in his efficiency in 2025.
“I imply, any race automotive driver would inform you that second is just not actually nice, as a result of which means you would nonetheless be higher,” Pursley mentioned. “Actually, the good ones nonetheless wish to be higher after they win races.
“So I’ve tried to undertake that mentality of wanting extra and continued self-improvement. I owe that to folks like Chad Boat and Kasey Kahne for placing me of their vehicles. One of the simplest ways to say thanks is by going out and profitable races for them.”
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