Kyle Larson secured his eighth career preliminary night win at the 39th annual Chili Bowl Nationals during Monday's 2nd Opinion Auto Center Qualifying Night, edging out Shane Golobic in a thrilling finish.

Starting fourth, Larson initially dropped to seventh before mounting an impressive comeback. Shane Golobic led early, followed by a brief lead change when Briggs Danner took control on Lap 7 before a crash ended his night. Cannon McIntosh then commanded the race from Lap 9 to 23, when Golobic reclaimed the lead.

The final laps featured intense slide job battles, with Larson making the decisive move on the last restart. He crossed the finish line 0.278 seconds ahead of Golobic, with both drivers securing spots in Saturday's A-Main. McIntosh completed the podium.

Brent Crews delivered the night's most impressive performance, advancing from the C-Feature to finish fourth after an early Heat Race flip. Ashton Torgerson rounded out the top five.

The event drew 66 drivers, with Christopher Bell winning the O'Reilly Auto Parts Invitational Race of Champions. Racing continues with Warren CAT Qualifying Night on Tuesday, January 14, starting at 4:00 P.M. with Hot Laps.

Race Results Summary:

1. Kyle Larson
2. Shane Golobic (both locked into Saturday's A-Main)
3. Cannon McIntosh
4. Brent Crews
5. Ashton Torgerson

The 39th Chili Bowl Nationals continues through January 18, 2025, at the SageNet Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Eleven flips were recorded during Monday's action, with all drivers emerging uninjured.

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