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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Honda USAC Western Midget Series
PERRIS AUTO SPEEDWAY HOSTS THURSDAY’S “75TH TURKEY NIGHT GRAND PRIX”
By Lance Jennings
NOVEMBER 24, 2015... This Thursday, November 26th, Don Kazarian’s Perris Auto Speedway will host the “75th Running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix.” Presented by Agajanian Promotions and Oval Entertainment, the Honda USAC Western and National Midget Series will battle in one of the most prestigious and longest running motorsports events in the nation. This year, race fans will enjoy a more traditional format with qualifying, heat races, semi-main, and a 98-lap main event. The Pit Gates will open at Noon, the Front Gates open at 3:00pm, Time Trials is at 6:00pm, and Racing at “America’s Premier Dirt Track” is scheduled for 7:00pm. For more event information, visit www.perrisautospeedway.com or call 951.940.0134.
The festivities will begin on Wednesday, November 25th with a special practice session. Admission to the grandstands is FREE and cars will be on the track between 5:00pm and 6:00pm. The concession stand will be open with $2 pizza and $2 beers for sale.
Since Bob Swanson took the checkered flags at Gilmore Stadium in 1934, the “Turkey Night Grand Prix” (TNGP) has been a “must win” race for drivers from across the country. While other venues like Gardena, Speedway 605, Saugus, Bakersfield, Ventura, and Irwindale have showcased the event, it is perhaps best known 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 claimed his second of three-straight “Thanksgiving Classics.” Last year, young Christopher Bell added his name to the perpetual “Aggie Trophy” alongside many legends of the sport. A complete win list of the “Turkey Night Grand Prix is at the end of this release.
This year, 8-time TNGP winner “The Flying Shoe” Ron Shuman and famed car owner Larry Howard will serve as Grand Marshalls of the event. The Shuman-Howard combination was hard to beat at the Turkey Night Grand Prix, winning the race a record four straight times (1979, 80, 81, 82). In addition, Howard won the 1988 and 1989 TNGP with “The Rim Rider” Chuck Gurney as his driver. Inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2003, Shuman had one of the most celebrated careers in open wheel racing. Among his accomplishments, Ron won the Knoxville Nationals (1979), Western World Championships (1975, 77, 81, 84, 94), Pacific Coast Nationals (1976, 77, 83, 94), and the Turkey Night Grand Prix (1979, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 87, 92, 93). In addition, he claimed four California Racing Association (1988, 89, 90, 91) and three Sprint Car Racing Association (1994, 96, 97) Sprint Car Championships.
Starting at 3:30pm, an autograph session will be held on the front straightway with today’s stars of the race. In addition, local racing heroes and past TNGP winners will join a special “Legends Autograph Session” in the Sports Bar on the main concourse at the same time.
Thursday’s event will mark the twenty-fifth appearance of the Honda USAC Western Midgets at the Lake Perris Fairgrounds. Billy Boat won the November 25, 1995 debut and leads all drivers with four victories. Boat, Kyle Larson, Dave Darland, and Bell have celebrated Turkey Night wins at Perris’ fast half-mile oval. On November 28, 2013, Parker Price-Miller set the 1-lap track record of 16.889 and a complete Perris series win list is at the end of this release.
Entering the event, Ronnie Gardner (Corona, California) has a lock on his third straight Honda USAC Western Midget Championship. Piloting the Six8 Motorsports’ #68 Baldozier Racing / Ram-Bull Racing Stewart, Gardner has a 181-point advantage over the competition. When the series last ran at Hanford on October 3rd, Ronnie set fast time and ran third in the main event. To date, the defending champion has two feature wins, five Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Awards, three heat race victories, one DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Award, nine top-10 finishes, and 45 feature laps led. Gardner will be looking to join the winner’s list of the “Turkey Night Grand Prix.”
Shannon McQueen (Bakersfield, California) is second in the chase for the championship. Driving the McQueen Racing #7 Lucas Oil / Simpson Race Products Spike, Shannon claimed sixth at the Kings County Fairgrounds. Heading to the TNGP, the 2012 Champion has two heat race victories, eight top-10 finishes, and twelve feature laps led to her credit.
Cody Swanson (Covina, California) ranks third in the USAC Western Midget point chase. Racing the family owned #71S Marcie Campbell Realtor / Advanced Racing Suspension Spike, Swanson did not compete at Hanford to repair his engine. Currently, the former VRA Midget Champion has one Competition Suspension Inc. / Rod End Supply Semi-Main win, one DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Award, seven top-10 finishes, and 15 feature laps led. Cody will be ready for the TNGP and will have his sights on his second career USAC Western Midget victory.
“The Panda Express” Terry Nichols (Delano, California) is tied for third in the point standings. Piloting his #1P Johasee Rebar / Neverlift Motorsports Spike, Nichols scored fourteenth in the Hanford feature. At press time, the 2009 West Coast Sprint Rookie of the Year has three heat race victories and seven top-10 finishes in the campaign.
After running fourth at the Keller Auto Speedway, Michael Faccinto (Hanford, California) has climbed to fifth in the championship standings. Racing the MF Motorsports’ #35F #OSV / 3 Girls Spike, Faccinto has two feature wins, one heat race victory, two DMI / Ultra Shield Race Products Hard Charger Awards, six top-10 finishes, and 39 feature laps led on the year. The second generation driver will be looking to end his season with a 98-lap feature win.
Among the other Western series drivers expected to be in action are Randi Pankratz, Trey Marcham, Nick Chivello, Scott Pierovich, Sean Dodenhoff, Steve Davis, Nate Waite, Jeff Harrington, Danny Ebberts, Britton Bock, and more.
Tracy Hines (New Castle, Indiana) sits atop the USAC National point standings followed by Kevin Thomas Jr., Tanner Thorson, Rico Abreu, Spencer Brayston, Tyler Thomas, Jerry Coons Jr., Christopher Bell, Darren Hagen, and Dave Darland.
“The Demon” Damion Gardner, NASCAR’s Kyle Larson, Chad Boat, Bryan Clauson, Brad Sweet, Ryan Bernal, and Brady Bacon will also join the action.
Perris Auto Speedway is located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds at 18700 Lake Perris Drive in Perris, California. Advance tickets are on sale now and camping is available for $25 at the fairgrounds. For more information, visit www.perrisautospeedway.com or call (951) 940-0134.
The Honda USAC Western Midget Series thanks Hoosier Tire, Competition Suspension Inc., DJ Safety, Diversified Machine Inc., Extreme Mufflers, K&N Engineering, Keizer Wheels, Pyrotect Racing Cells, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, Ultra Shield Race Products, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, email PR Director Lance Jennings at [email protected].
For more information on the series, visit the United States Auto Club (USAC) website at www.usacracing.com. You can also find exclusive content on the Honda USAC Western Midget Facebook and Twitter pages. Loudpedal Productions has DVDs available for purchase that feature the Honda USAC Western Midgets and for more information, call 805.407.7229 or visit www.loudpedalvideo.com.
Live pay per views of the “75th Turkey Night Grand Prix” will be available on www.thecushion.com. A 100-mile radius blackout will be enforced on the telecast.
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HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET CHAMPIONS:
1983-Sleepy Tripp, 1984-Tommy White, 1985-Sleepy Tripp, 1986-Robby Flock, 1987-Sleepy Tripp, 1988-Sleepy Tripp, 1989-Robby Flock, 1990-Sleepy Tripp, 1991-Sleepy Tripp, 1992-Sleepy Tripp, 1993-Robby Flock, 1994-Johnny Cofer, 1995-Billy Boat, 1996-Jay Drake, 1997-Ricky Shelton, 1998-Rick Hendrix, 1999-Marc DeBeaumont, 2000-Wally Pankratz, 2001-Danny Ebberts, 2002-Robby Flock, 2003-Steve Paden, 2004-Johnny Rodriguez, 2005-Jerome Rodela, 2006-Jerome Rodela, 2007-Johnny Rodriguez, 2008-Nic Faas, 2009-Garrett Hansen, 2010-Alex Schutte, 2011-Cory Kruseman, 2012-Shannon McQueen, 2013-Ronnie Gardner, 2014-Ronnie Gardner.
2015 HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET WINS:
2-Rico Abreu, 2-Michael Faccinto, 2-Ronnie Gardner, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-Ryan Bernal, 1-Cory Elliott, 1-Alex Schutte, 1-Chase Stockon.
PERRIS HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET WINS:
4-Billy Boat, 3-Robby Flock, 2-Mike Figliomeni, 2-Steve Paden, 1-Christopher Bell, 1-Johnny Cofer, 1-Jerry Coons Jr., 1-Dave Darland, 1-Bobby East , 1-Danny Ebberts, 1-Darren Hagen, 1-Kyle Larson, 1-Jason Leffler, 1-Wally Pankratz, 1-Troy Rutherford, 1-Jeremy Sherman, 1-Danny Stratton.
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, 2013-Dave Darland, 2014-Christopher Bell.
HONDA USAC WESTERN MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1. Ronnie Gardner-672, 2. Shannon McQueen-491, 3. Cody Swanson-428, --. Terry Nichols-428, 5. Michael Faccinto-389, 6. Randi Pankratz-375, 7. Trey Marcham-339, 8. Brian Gard-319, 9. Nick Chivello-262, 10. Scott Pierovich-250, 11. Sean Dodenhoff-238, 12. Danny Faria Jr.-204, 13. Steve Davis-200, 14. Nate Waite-161, 15. Rico Abreu-145, 16. Brady Bacon-145, 17. David Prickett-122, 18. Jeff Harrington-79, 19. Kevin Thomas Jr.-65, 20. Jack Hawley-46.
HONDA USAC NATIONAL MIDGET POINT STANDINGS:
1. Tracy Hines-771, 2. Kevin Thomas Jr.-744, 3. Tanner Thorson-738, 4. Rico Abreu-715, 5. Spencer Brayston-642, 6. Tyler Thomas-622, 7. Jerry Coons Jr.-607, 8. Christopher Bell-487, 9. Darren Hagen-398, 10. Dave Darland-348, 11. Steve Buckwalter-345, 12. Isaac Chapple-333, 13. Zach Daum-329, 14. Alex Bright-204, 15. Davey Ray-183, 16. Gage Walker-138, 17. Brad Mosen-137, 18. Hayden Williams-127, 19. Nathan Smee-126, 20. Justin Peck-59.
2015 HONDA USAC WESTERN DIRT MIDGET SERIES SCHEDULE
DATE - TRACK - LOCATION
November 26: # Perris Auto Speedway - Perris, CA (Turkey Night Grand Prix)
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# = Co-Sanctioned Event with USAC National Midgets.
This schedule is subject to change.
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