By Lance Jennings
SANTA MARIA, CA – NOVEMBER 25, 2013… After rain washed out last weekend’s races in Yuma, the cars and stars of the Honda USAC Western Midget Series will battle at Don Kazarian’s Perris Auto Speedway. Presented by Agajanian Promotions and Oval Entertainment, the 98-lap “73rd Turkey Night Grand Prix” on Thursday, November 28th, is co-sanctioned with the Honda USAC National Midgets. The popular WRA Vintage Cars will also be on display at “America’s Premier Dirt Track” as the Pit Gates will open at Noon, the Front Gates open at 2:00pm, Time Trials at 6:00pm, and Racing is scheduled to begin at 7:15pm.
Since Bob Swanson took the checkered flags at Gilmore Stadium in 1934, the TNGP has been a “must win” race for drivers from across the country. While other famed venues like Gardena, Speedway 605, Saugus, Bakersfield, Ventura, and Irwindale have hosted the TNGP, the event is perhaps best known by race fans at the legendary Ascot Park. In 1996, the 1/2-mile oval of Perris Auto Speedway first hosted the “granddaddy of all midget races” and Billy Boat of Phoenix, Arizona claimed his second of three-straight “Thanksgiving Classics.” Last year, the historic event returned to Perris clay after going to pavement in 1999 and Elk Grove’s Kyle Larson added his name to the record books. Many famous names in racing have won the TNGP and the complete win list is posted at the end of this release.
Seven-time USAC Western Midget Series Champion Ron “Sleepy” Tripp will serve as the event’s Grand Marshall. The career leader in series main event wins with 104 victories, Tripp was inducted into the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1986, the National Midget Auto Racing Museum Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Legends of Ascot in 2004. It is estimated that Sleepy has over 250 midget triumphs across the United States, New Zealand, and Australia.
Starting at 2:30pm, an hour long autograph session featuring this year’s competitors will be held on the track’s front straightaway. At 3:30pm, Tripp, along with other racing heroes and TNGP winners will join a special “Legends Autograph Session” in the Sports Bar on the main concourse.
Heading into the season finale, Ronnie Gardner of Norco has a 320-point advantage over the competition. Piloting the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 Baldozier Racing / Esslinger Engineering Stewart, the point leader recorded a 17th, 14th, and 9th place finish at Canyon Speedway Park’s Western World Championships. The 2013 campaign has been a career year for Gardner as he has a lock on both the dirt and overall Western series crowns. With nine feature wins, six fast time awards, two heat race victories, seventeen top-10 finishes, and 186 feature laps led, Ronnie will be looking to join the record books with at TNGP victory.
Anaheim’s Jake Swanson ranks second in the USAC Western Dirt and overall series point standings. Piloting three different cars (Swanson #05 Stealth, Van Dyne/Swanson #05 Edmunds, and Kruseman #89K Spike) throughout 2013, Swanson returned to the family owned ride and missed the first two Canyon features while claiming 14th in the finale. Last season’s USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year scored his first career series win at Santa Maria on May 11th and has earned one fast time award, five heat race victories, thirteen top-10 finishes, and 43 feature laps led. Jake will have his sights on the Thanksgiving night feature win behind the wheel of a brand new racecar.
David Prickett of Fresno sits third in the USAC Western Midget and Dirt Series point chase. The driver of the Neverlift Motorsports’ #15 Crysalli Water / Mt. Rose Cocktail Mixes Spike has one fast time award, six heat race victories, one semi-main win, nine top-10 finishes, and 23 feature laps led on the season. David has parked his ride due to the impending medical costs for his unborn daughter’s needed heart surgery and everyone with the USAC Western office sends their best wishes, thoughts, and prayers to the Prickett family. The Neverlift Motorsports Team will support other drivers at the Turkey Night Grand Prix before selling the team’s inventory.
Alamo’s Scott Pierovich is currently fourth in the overall point chase and seventh in the dirt series. The pilot of the family owned #35 Mid Coast Trans / Good Guys Spike did not compete at the Western World Championships at Canyon. As this writing goes to press, the veteran driver has yet to win a USAC main event in 2013, but has one fast time award, three heat race victories, ten top-10 finishes, and 28 feature laps led in the campaign. Scott will have his sights on scoring his fourth career USAC Western Midget win at Perris Auto Speedway.
Shannon McQueen of Tehachapi is fifth in the overall points and ranks fourth in the dirt championship. Driving the McQueen Racing #7 Lucas Oil / Simpson Race Products Spike, Shannon ran 16th, 20th, and 16th at the Western World Championships. Last year’s champion has yet to claim a USAC main event win in 2013, but has one fast time award, one heat race victory, three hard charger awards, and eight top-10 finishes on the season. McQueen will be looking to end her season on a high note with a victory at the Turkey Night Grand Prix.
Among the other Western series drivers expected to be in action are Randi Pankratz, Cody Swanson, Nick Chivello, Trey Marcham, Terry Nichols, Kyle Edwards, Alex Schutte, Britton Bock, Sean Dodenhoff, and more. At press time, Nic Faas, “The People’s Champion” Dave Darland, and “The Wild Child” Jac Haudenschild will also be on hand. Norman, Oklahoma’s Christopher Bell sits atop the USAC National point standings and ranks among the top-twenty drivers in the Western Dirt Midget Series. Bryan Clauson, Darren Hagen, Tracy Hines, Rico Abreu, Jerry Coons Jr., Zach Daum, Andrew Felker, Brad Kuhn, and Tanner Thorson round out the top-10 in the National point chase.
Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in Perris, California. Advance tickets are on sale and Reserved Tickets are $50, while General Adult tickets are $40 and $19 for Children (6-12). Camping is available for $25 at the fairgrounds. For more information, visit www.perrisautospeedway.com or call (951) 940-0134. In addition, Loudpedal Productions and Turn Two Media have partnered to bring a pay per view feed of the Turkey Night Grand Prix. With a 100-mile blackout radius from the racetrack, “The Cushion” will host the live stream for $24.95 on their website, www.thecushion.com.
The Honda USAC Western Midget Series would like to thank Amsoil, Hoosier Tire, Rugged Radios, and Western Performance Parts for their support. For more information on the series, visit www.usacracing.com or follow the series on Facebook (www.facebook.com/
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TURKEY NIGHT GRAND PRIX WINNERS:
1934-Bob Swanson; 1935-Ted Sizemore; 1936-Ronney Householder; 1937-Ronney Householder; 1938-Bob Swanson; 1939-Mel Hansen; 1940-Roy Russing; 1941-Roy Russing; 1945-Danny Oakes; 1946-Perry Grimm; 1947-Johnny McDowell; 1948-Bill Vukovich; 1949-Perry Grimm; 1950-Bill Zaring; 1955-Johnnie Parsons; 1956-Edgar Elder; 1957-George Amick; 1958-Joe Garson; 1959-Tony Bettenhausen; 1960-A.J. Foyt; 1961-A.J. Foyt; 1962-Billy Cantrell; 1963-Mel Kenyon; 1964-Parnelli Jones; 1965-Dick Atkins; 1966-Parnelli Jones; 1967-Gary Bettenhausen; 1968-Sam Sessions; 1969-George Benson; 1970-Gary Bettenhausen; 1971-Bill Englehart; 1972-Tony Simon; 1973-Bill Englehart; 1974-Danny McKnight; 1975-Mel Kenyon; 1976-Bubby Jones; 1977-Gary Patterson; 1978-Rick Goudy; 1979-Ron Shuman; 1980-Ron Shuman; 1981-Ron Shuman; 1982-Ron Shuman; 1983-Kevin Olson; 1984-Ron Shuman; 1985-Brent Kaeding; 1986-Warren Mockler; 1987-Ron Shuman; 1988-Chuck Gurney; 1989-Chuck Gurney; 1990-Stan Fox; 1991-Stan Fox; 1992-Ron Shuman; 1993-Ron Shuman; 1994-Jordan Hermansader; 1995-Billy Boat; 1996-Billy Boat; 1997-Billy Boat; 1998-Jay Drake; 1999-Jason Leffler; 2000-Tony Stewart; 2001-Dave Steele; 2002-Michael Lewis; 2003-Dave Steele; 2004-Bobby East; 2005-Jason Leffler; 2006-Billy Wease; 2007-Dave Darland; 2008-Bobby Santos; 2009-Bryan Clauson; 2010-Bryan Clauson; 2011-Caleb Armstrong; 2012-Kyle Larson.
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET STANDINGS:
1-Ronnie Gardner-1,185, 2-Jake Swanson-865, 3-David Prickett-733, 4-Scott Pierovich-693, 5-Shannon McQueen-595, 6-Randi Pankratz-498, 7-Cody Swanson-458, 8-Nick Chivello-450, 9-Trey Marcham-400, 10-Rico Abreu-397.
HONDA USAC WESTERN DIRT MIDGET STANDINGS:
1-Ronnie Gardner-1,185, 2-Jake Swanson-865, 3-David Prickett-733, 4-Shannon McQueen-595, 5-Randi Pankratz-498, 6-Cody Swanson-458, 7-Scott Pierovich-400, 8-Trey Marcham-400, 9-Rico Abreu-397, 10-Bryan Clauson-382.
HONDA USAC NATIONAL DIRT MIDGET STANDINGS:
1-Christopher Bell-1,088; 2-Bryan Clauson-971; 3-Darren Hagen-908; 4-Tracy Hines-889; 5-Rico Abreu-834; 6-Jerry Coons Jr.-770; 7-Zach Daum-707; 8-Andrew Felker-691; 9-Brad Kuhn-640; 10-Tanner Thorson-614.
2013 USAC WESTERN MIDGET SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE – TRACK – LOCATION
November 28: ***Perris Auto Speedway – Perris, CA (Turkey Night Grand Prix)
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*** = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC National Midget Series.