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RACING SCENE Column (Turkey Night GP Notes – Part II)
Los Angeles, CA. - The 44-page Turkey Night GP printed program ($5.00) color cover had an artistic drawing of a midget No. 98 to honor the late race organizer J. C. Agajanian, who revived the midget racing classic event in 1955 after a lapse of four years. His three sons, Cary, Jay and Chris, have continued the historic race since their father's death in May 1984. As usual the three Agajanian brothers, their children who flew in from other states, and grandchildren from all branches of the family attended the TNGP race. The extended Agajanian clan walks through the pits each year, continuing the long-standing family tradition.
PAS management put the TNGP program together this year. For health reasons, Harold Osmer relinquished the time-consuming TNGP outstanding program work he did each year from 2001-2014. Most of the program pages were in color and it became an instant collectors' item for racing fans. The program included the 28-entry roster, TNGP history listing the top five finishers in all races from 1934-2014, two-page stories about Gilmore Stadium, TNGP co-Grand Marshal Ron Shuman, and USAC National Midget point leader Tracy Hines, plus a TNGP Rookie of the Race page. It also included numerous half-page color action and posed photos, plus current and historical TNGP photos.
Hines, 43, won his first USAC National Midget Championship in his final attempt to do so. Tracy outpointed TNGP winner Tanner Thorson by 18-points (823-805) and did so without benefit of a 2015 USAC national midget feature victory. Hines became the sixth USAC Triple Crown winner of a championship in all three of the USAC national series. Pancho Carter, Tony Stewart, Dave Darland, J. J. Yeley, and Jerry Coons, Jr preceded him in that order as members of the exclusive club.
Hines, from New Castle, Ind., is retiring from USAC competition after 2015 to work as competition director for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series three-truck Thor-sports team, based in Sandusky, Ohio. He drove the team No. 13 truck in NASCAR a decade ago. He will race his Bob Parker-owned yellow No. 24 Spike/Stanton Toyota in the January 12-16, 2016 Tulsa Chili Bowl before assuming his management duties.
All USAC 2015 champions were honored Friday, December 11 at the annual USAC awards ceremonies in Indianapolis. Midget champion Thorson was named USAC Most Improved National Driver of the Year. Darland earned the Mike Curb USAC Super License and $5,000 cash bonus. Two Californians won USAC National titles decisively. Kody Swanson, from Kingsburg, won four of the 11 Silver Crown features en-route to his second consecutive S/C championship. Robert Ballou, from Rocklin, led the point standings most of the season and won 13 of 40 main events to earn his first USAC national title. He fell one victory short of tying now 76-year old Tom Bigelow's one-season USAC sprint car record.
USAC President Kevin Miller gave USAC special achievement awards to Indianapolis Motor Speedway (corporate) and to generous Californian “Big Mike” Grosswendt (individual) for contributions and dedicated service to the racing community. PAS President Donnie Kazarian was named “Race Organizer of the Year” for presenting 11 USAC-CRA sprint car races, including the three-night Oval Nationals (November 12-14), and Turkey Night Midget GP promotions. Mike and Donnie should be inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa as well. Other western series champions honored were: Damion Gardner, Ronnie Gardner, Danny Faria, R. J. Johnson plus seven HPD (Focus) or DMA midget champions.
Persons spectating from the TNGP pits on Thanksgiving included: two-time (1988-89) TNGP winner Chuck Gurney, now 66; NARC sprint car 65 feature winner and eight-time champion Leroy Van Conett, now 80; former TNGP timer-scorer Dick Hindman; NMRA-TQ midget leader West Evans; former midget/sprint car winning driver Page Jones, 43; owner/driver Ron Hazelton (to watch his daughter race); USAC drivers Levi Jones and 1983 TNGP winner Kevin Olson, from Illinois; Jack Crone and his 14-year old sprint car racer daughter Courtney. ... It was a unique experience during a red flag on lap 36 of the TNGP main event listening to Christmas music over the PA system at a race track. Fans were serenaded by “I'll be Home for Christmas” and then “Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano.
Racing photographer Albert Wong took a photo of 11-month old Owen Larson sitting in his father Kyle's No. 71K midget cockpit. A few minutes later Kyle took it onto the PAS half-mile for warm-up and hot laps. It is a really cute photo. ... Wong is the photographer who suggested in 2012 that TNGP winner Larson start a new racing tradition. Indy 500 winners drink from a bottle of milk and NASCAR Brickyard 400 winners kiss the finish line bricks. Albert asked Larson to kiss the brim of J. C. Agajanian's bronzed Stetson hat atop the TNGP trophy for a podium photo. Kyle did so and each winner since then has done so. This year Thorson continued the now four-year old tradition. The Agajanian brothers were smiling in the background. Doug Stokes suggested the use of a bronzed Stetson “Aggie” hat. Jay Agajanian made it happen by getting his mom's approval and retrieving a hat actually worn by Aggie from a closet in his home.
Steve Lewis, the six-time TNGP winning car owner, spectated Turkey Night from the PAS infield. His winning drivers and victorious years were: Stan Fox, (1990-91), Jason Leffler (1999), Tony Stewart (2000), Bobby East (2004) and Dave Darland (2007). Fox won at Ascot on dirt and then on pavement at Saugus. All of Steve's other TNGP triumphs came on pavement at Irwindale Speedway, which hosted the race for 13 years from 1999-2011.
All TNGP-winning Lewis midgets carried his usual No. 9, but Stewart's winning car carried No. 19; the third Lewis car that year used No. 91. Lewis later presented Stewart with his No. 19 TNGP winning Beast chassis for his personal race car collection. The 2007 TNGP was the first year the race was shortened at the suggestion of Kirk Rockwell from the usual 100-laps. It was scheduled for 98-laps to honor J. C. Agajanian because 98 was his long-time car number.
USAC driver Bobby East, 30, is now living in San Dimas, CA.. He relocated from Indiana and is working several non-racing related jobs according to his dad Bob, the long-time Beast chassis builder. Bob said Bobby just got tired of chasing race dates and points. His last race was a 2014 USAC Silver Crown race. Bob said Bobby won three USAC championships (two in Silver Crown and one National Midget title). He also won 49 USAC National features (S/C and midgets). Bobby even raced in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for a year or two on major super-speedways.
Bryan Clauson won the third annual Jason Leffler Memorial midget race on October 23, 2015 at fifth-mile Wayne County Speedway in Wayne City, Illinois. He drove the same No. 63 Spike/Stanton Mopar co-owned by Joe Dooling and Rusty Kunz, brother of championship car owner Keith Kunz, of Columbus, Indiana. Rusty said the Kunz Motor-sports trailer carries all six midgets, three on the top level and three below. Leffler race proceeds went to Jason's son Charlie. There were 53 midgets present. Rico Abreu (No. 97) was runner-up. Clauson will race in the 2016 Indy 500 for the third time (2013 & 2015) aboard the same No. 88 owned by the Jonathan Byrd team out of Indiana.
TNGP drivers by States: California-12; Indiana-four; Oklahoma-three, and one each from Alabama, Arizona, and Nevada. ... As usual, the USAC Turkey Night Midget GP purse was $33,000, plus the promoter--Oval Entertainment LLC—paid USAC the usual sanctioning fee. ... Cody “Cupcake” Swanson, from Norco, picked up that nickname this year because during the afternoon autograph session his wife passed out the famous cupcakes she made. Fans loved them.
Chad Boat, the Phoenix-based current NASCAR Xfinity No. 84 and NASCAR CWT Series truck racer, returns to his dirt track roots each year for the TNGP. His dad Billy, a three-time TNGP winner (1995-97) at three tracks (Bakersfield, Perris and Ventura) owns the No. 15x Spike/Esslinger. It is the same color (black) and number he used for his midget car owner John Lawson, of Fresno. It still carries the Lawson name on the side in tribute to him each year.
I asked personable Chad to name his best NASCAR finish so far in one of the three NASCAR national series. He said it was a ninth place finish in his truck at the 2.5-mile high-banked Talladega, Alabama super-speedway. He finished 12th in the NASCAR truck series Phoenix 150-miler at Phoenix International Raceway two weeks prior to the 2015 TNGP. The Boat team will return to NASCAR competition in 2016. I nominate Billy Boat to be the 2016 TNGP Grand Marshal at Ventura Raceway because he supports the race each year with his midget and son competing. Also, Billy won the only TNGP held at the track in 1997.
Only three of the top ten USAC Western Series drivers and six of the top ten USAC National Midget Series drivers raced in the 2015 TNGP. ... Prior to the National Anthem at the TNGP there was a minute of silence to honor Ben K. Kazarian, father of the PAS promoter Donnie and chairman of Oval Entertainment, which opened PAS in early 1996. Ben passed away seven days prior to the 2015 TNGP.
PODIUM SPEAKERS: The top three finishers were interviewed after the feature at the finish line. Winner Thorson said, “It's awesome. I was just hanging on. I have to thank this Kunz team and Toyota. My tries started getting low near the end of the race. I tried to stay off the wall. I saw Christopher (Bell) get into it. I led a lot of this race last year and didn't get the job done and I did tonight. I can't thank all of the fans enough for coming out.”
Runner-up Larson stated, “I definitely enjoyed myself. I had fun. These are fun cars to race. Rico, Tanner and myself had good racing. I got my brakes too hot and went lower and my brakes came back. I saw Rico's left rear tire get low and Tanner's right rear was low. It was a great race. It's cool to see Tracy Hines go out on top. I know it's not that tough to run that high here at Perris, but I slowed a bit to finish. Thanks to all the fans for coming out.”
Third place Damion Gardner told fans over the PA mike, “They (P 1-2 cars) were slowing down and we were catching them at the end. We got there. Thanks to Bob East and Terry Klatt. We made it onto the podium and from where we started that's alright. The last yellow flag helped me but some wouldn't help me. I'd get one guy on the restart and wait for the next yellow. Thanks to the fans for coming out.”
Chris Holt interviewed 2015 USAC National Midget champion Hines about his first midget championship and new USAC triple crown status. “J.. J. Yeley watched the race on the internet and he texted me, “Welcome to the club.” Hines then thanked about six car owners who were vital to his long career. “We didn't come from a family with money. We cut and built cars. Bob East helped me a lot early in my career. I was hurt racing twice--a broken rib and clavicle. Chris (wife) has been a great partner. We're adopting kids.”
USAC Western Midget champion Ronnie Gardner celebrated his third consecutive title with Mitch Johnson's Sixty-Eight Racing (so named for his car number and hockey jersey). Ronnie told spectators, “If I charged low the motor would load up on me. I followed Hines and didn't want to mess him up for his title run. I could've finished on the lead lap and in the top five. We only have one engine. To win three championships is great. When I started in 410 sprint cars I didn't know if I'd ever win a race. Thanks to my girl friend Miranda. She was by my side all year and kept me motivated. I'm pumped for next year.”
Plus Factor: Under the old TNGP format the event in 2015 would have had only time trials and the 98-lap main event. There were not enough midgets to race a B-main. All 22-cars present went directly to the main event. The new format started in 2015 had time trials, three inverted, entertaining and racy eight-lap heat races, and the 98-lap feature.
DALBY RACING: Robert Dalby, from Anaheim, made his first full midget start in the biggest race of the yea--the TNGP. The 15-year old HPD (Focus) driver finished second in 2015 HPD points and earned rookie of the year. He raced competitively. To top it off, he won the Don Basile Rookie of the Race plaque and the $500 cash prize from the Basile family. Ken Dalby, Robert's father, owns the 2013 Spike/Esslinger. It carries No. 4 because it is Robert's favorite number; the letter d after the 4 is for Dalby.
The Dalby midget is a former A. J. Fike car P. J. Jones raced for Don Fike as No. 98 in the Tulsa Chili Bowl. Dalby bought the BCRA No. 14 car from owner Barry Priese, of Stockton, just in time for Robert to make his full midget debut in the TNGP. Dalby, who turned 16 on December 6, will race the car as a 2016 USAC Western Series rookie. When he received his plaque at the podium Robert said, “We had an issue and rebounded nicely. Looking at the names on this rookie trophy, I've looked up to them and they are heroes to me. It's an awesome award. Thanks to Bob Basile.” Basile said, “When my dad passed 18 years ago I decided to do this to keep his name alive.”
Ashley Hazelton, 25, is a second generation driver from Chatsworth. Her dad Ron Hazelton, 59, is a long-time USAC Western Midgets No. 11 owner/driver. He raced actively to the 1990s. Her midget ride is a 2012 Beast/Mopar. Ashley told me she has three years of Ford Focus midget racing and six FF midget feature wins. She was the 2014 USAC Western Dirt Series driving champion. She figures to be another rookie on the 2016 USAC Western Midget Series full circuit.
TNGP rookie Tyler Dolacki celebrated his 23rd birthday at the PAS TNGP. He lived in La Puente as a youth until his family relocated to Wasco in Kern County. Tyler now lives in Fresno where he just started a new job as a UPS delivery driver. His dad Robert, 52, raced USAC Western Midgets from 1983-1994 and won three features. Tyler's ride in No. 18 (his dad's old number) is owned by his uncle Mark Dolacki, of La Puente. The midget is the ex-No. 56 2012 Beast/Esslinger midget that Jason Leffler raced in the 2012 TNGP in Perris and in which Jason led some early laps. Darren Hagen drove it the following year after Jason lost his life on June 12, 2013 in a winged sprint car flip in New Jersey.
The No. 76m 2012 Beast/Esslinger driven by Oklahoman Brady Bacon is owned by Frank Manafort, 74, from Weatherford, VT. It was his first TNGP entry. At the TNGP he pit next to the No. 4 Beast driven by Damion Gardner and owned by Frank's car constructor Bob East and his partner Terry Klatt. Frank owns the 2015 championship USAC DMA midget raced by Adam Pierson, of Bradford, VT.. Frank, a former modified racer, was born on December 7, 1941 (Pearl Harbor day). He is a building contractor and also owns a 500-acre dairy and Angus beef cattle farm called Black Watch Farm in the Vermont highlands. He has four full-time and two part-time employees.
Frank told me he is entering two midgets in the January 2016 Tulsa Chili Bowl. Bacon will drive a brand new Beast chassis from East's Beast shop in Speedway, Indiana. The TNGP car will be entered with 1986-87 CRA sprint car driving champion Brad Noffsinger as the driver. The 1979 CRA rookie of the year won 13 and eight CRA features during his two championship years. Brad, 55, also runs Frank's team for him as the crew chief/mechanic. Brad keeps Frank's race cars, along with his own fleet of open-wheel cars, at his spacious Noffsinger Race Driving School race shop in Concord, N.C.
Brad was set to drive Frank's GMC 3500 HD tow vehicle and dual rear-axle Intech Trailer solo from N.C. to Perris. He phoned friend Stan Atherton, a Fullerton resident and fellow CRA sprint car feature winner in the 1980s. He asked Stan, now 60, if he wanted to fly to Charlotte and drive west with him. Stan, a railroad locomotive engineer retired for years on disability,said sure. So the two of them drove west together and Stan assisted Brad working on Frank's midget in the pits. They had an unexpected repair after Thursday hot laps. The No. 76m midget rear end broke and they had to remove and replace it, missing time trials. Bacon had to start last in his heat race and the main event.
Brad's wife Robin flew to California and rode back to N.C. with Brad so he would not drive straight through non-stop. Stan's wife Diane also was in the PAS pits with Stan. Their two sons are in their 30s and not into racing. One is a plumber and one works for the telephone company. Stan said the CRA sprint car No. 391, owned by Joe Kasperoff, was his favorite ride. Joe, in his 80s, resides in Pasadena.
Noffsinger said he has outgrown his 10,000 square foot shop in N.C. He is looking for a larger site for his and Frank's fleet of race cars. His current race school headquarters has 20-cars including his Ford Focus midgets--six paved and four dirt track, four sprint cars (two winged and two non-winged), two USAC Silver Crown cars, including the No. 40 he drove in the early 1990s with Agajanian/Mike Curb sponsorship. Brad said his racing school uses the paved half-mile Concord (N.C) Speedway and three-eighths mile Hickory (N.C) Speedway and Milldridge as his dirt track. He also uses Bear Ridge Speedway, clay quarter mile in Vermont, and the Fonda (N.Y) Speedway half-mile clay track for his training sessions in the northeast.
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