(Jeremy Rhoades Photo)
VENTURA, Calif. (November 23, 2016) — Brady Bacon recorded the fastest overall time of the 53 drivers on hand in Wednesday night’s USAC National & Western States Midget practice at Ventura Raceway.
The Broken Arrow, Oklahoma driver was the fastest in two of the three sessions held on the one-fifth-mile oval in preparation for Thursday night’s 76th running of the “Turkey Night Grand Prix.” His time of 12.115 seconds in the first session held up as the top speed on the chart.
Bacon remains mathematically eligible to win the USAC National Midget title, sitting fourth in the standings, 65 points out of the lead heading into Thursday’s season-finale.
Series point leader Tanner Thorson of Nevada was fourth quickest while Indiana’s Spencer Bayston, who is just nine points behind in second, was 16th. Arizona’s Chad Boat, the only other driver in the title hunt, was eighth fastest in practice.
NASCAR star Kyle Larson was the fastest of the Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports team’s seven entries. The Elk Grove, California native was the fastest in the third practice session and third overall.
The 2016 “Turkey Night Grand Prix” at Ventura Raceway continues Thursday, Nov. 24 with ProSource/Woodland Auto Display USAC Midget qualifying, followed by preliminary events including qualifying races and a last chance qualifier that sets the field for the night’s 76th edition of the 98-lap feature.
In addition to the Midgets, the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars will be on the program, returning with multiple last chance qualifiers and concluding with a 30-lap feature.
Pit gates open at noon, with the drivers meeting at 2:45pm. Cars are set to be on track at 3:30pm with racing scheduled for 5:30pm.
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PRACTICE: 1. Brady Bacon, 76m, FMR-12.115; 2. Damion Gardner, 4x, Klatt-12.144; 3. Kyle Larson, 71w, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.166; 4. Tanner Thorson, 67, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.222; 5. Terry Nichols, 1p, Nichols-12.244; 6. Shane Golobic, 17w, Wood-12.247; 7. Danny Ebberts, 5, Van Dyne-12.262; 8. Chad Boat, 84, Tucker/Boat-12.308; 9. Cory Elliott, 11E, Elliott-12.314; 10. Tucker Klaasmeyer, 27, Klaasmeyer-12.328; 11. Ryan Robinson, 71, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.337; 12. Ryan Bernal, 73, Ford-12.339; 13. Holly Shelton, 67, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.348; 14. Gage Walker, 7, Walker-12.363; 15. Carson Macedo, 71, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.367; 16. Spencer Bayston, 97, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.378; 17. Colton Hardy, 4H, Lesher-12.414; 18. Courtney Crone, 25, Rodela-12.441; 19. Kevin Thomas, Jr., 73T, Ford-12.456; 20. Cody Swanson, 71s, Swanson-12.462; 21. Jake Hagopian, 14, Hagopian-12.473; 22. Austin Brown, 7B, Brown-12.506; 23. Michael Faccinto, 35F, MF-12.560; 24. Shon Deskins, 20, Deskins-12.564; 25. R.J. Johnson, 51, Martin-12.570; 26. Jake Swanson, 17, Swanson-12.577; 27. Robert Dalby, 4D, Dalby-12.581; 28. Maria Cofer, 57, Cofer-12.583; 29. Michael Pickens, 25p, Rodela-12.587; 30. Cory Kruseman, 21K, Kruseman-12.610; 31. Ryan Greth, 4, Lesher-12.619; 32. Tyler Nelson, 47, Mason-12.683; 33. David Prickett, 122Q, Nichols/Neverlift-12.776; 34. Chris Ennis, 288, Sidewaze-12.824; 35. Tyler Seavey, 88, Arata-12.830; 36. Frankie Guerrini, 63, Guerrini-12.843; 37. Nate Wait, 35w, MF-12.869; 38. Randi Pankratz, 8, Pankratz-12.920; 39. Dylan Ito, 73F, Ford-12.998; 40. Rico Abreu, 97K, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-13.074; 41. Tim Barber, 3T, Finkenbinder-13.130; 42. Zac Taylor, 12K, Kruseman-13.134; 43. Bryan Drollinger, 71D, Drollinger-13.174; 44. Robby Josett, 2, Josett-13.559; 45. Nick Chivello, 17K, Morris-13.615; 46. Kyle Smith, 55, Smith-13.762; 47. Tony Everhart, 5T, Everhart-14.182; 48. Austen Figueroa, 49JR, Bach-NT; 49. Mike Callahan, 78, Cook-NT; 50. Tyler Dolacki, 18, Dolacki-NT; 51. Ronnie Gardner, 68, Six8-NT; 52. Katlynn Leer, 77, Leer-NT; 53. Troy Rutherford, 73x, Ford-NT.