“TURKEY NIGHT” RETURNS TO VENTURA FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY TWO DECADES
Thursday’s 76th “Turkey Night Grand Prix” returns to California’s Ventura Raceway for the first time since 1997, concluding a 2016 USAC points racing calendar that features a four-way battle for the USAC National Midget Championship.
Among the four drivers who mathematically have a shot at winning the title are Nevada’s Tanner Thorson, the defending “Turkey Night” Champion, who holds a slim nine-point edge over runner-up Spencer Bayston from Indiana.
Both are seeking their initial series titles, while Chat Boat and Brady Bacon have long-shot hopes of overhauling the leaders, trailing Thorson by 65 points each.
Ronnie Gardner of Corona, Calif. virtually locked up his record fourth consecutive USAC Western States Midget crown Saturday night at Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway. He passed Frankie Guerrini on lap 21 at Bakersfield and led the final 10 laps in his Baldozier Racing/Esslinger Engineering Stewart/Esslinger.
Trailing the Woodland Auto Display fast qualifier at the checkered flag were Guerrini, Chad Boat, Cory Elliott and the series’ top rookie in points, Courtney Crone.
A stout field of “Turkey Night” combatants is expected to include former winners Thorson (2015) and Kyle Larson (2012), plus 2016 Western States Champ Gardner, 2016 AMSOIL National Sprint Champ Brady Bacon, 2016 AMSOIL USAC/CRA Champ Damion Gardner, 2016 USAC Southwest Sprint Champ R.J. Johnson and 2016 USAC Indiana Midget Champ Carson Macedo.
Fan Favorite Rico Abreu is also among pre-race favorites as he seeks his initial “Turkey Night” victory.
Winners of the 1997 “Turkey Night Grand Prix” at Ventura, Billy Boat and car owner John Lawson, will serve as Grand Marshals Thursday.
“Turkey Night” is one of America’s most storied motorsports histories, dating back to 1934 and having been won by many of the sport’s most accomplished champions.
The “Turkey Night Grand Prix” begins Wednesday at Ventura with an open practice for the USAC Midgets. Furthermore, an autograph session featuring all the star drivers will be held at the track during intermission.
In addition to the midgets, the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars will be competing both nights. On Wednesday, they will qualify, race heats and compete in a 25-lap feature event. On Thursday, the sprint cars will return with semi-feature events, followed by a 30-lap feature.
Advance tickets for the 76th Turkey Night Grand Prix are available by calling 805-648-7223.
Both Wednesday and Thursday night, the pit gates will 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.
If you cannot make it to the event in person, both nights of “Turkey Night” will be streamed LIVE on http://www.loudpedal.tv/live!
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UPCOMING USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT:
DATE: Thursday, November 24, 2016
SERIES: USAC Midget National Championship/USAC Western States Midget Championship and USAC West Coast Sprint Car Championship
TRACK: Ventura Raceway (Ventura, California) – 1/5-mile, dirt oval
EVENT: 76th running of the “Turkey Night Grand Prix” featuring the USAC Midget National Championship & USAC Western States Midget Championship
STARTING TIMES: Pit sweep to clear pits prior to pit gate opening at 11am. Pit windows open at 11:45am. Pit gates open at noon. Tech open/Pill picks from noon to 2:45pm. Drivers Meeting at 2:45pm. Cars on track at 3:30pm. Racing begins at 5:30pm.
TICKETS: General Admission: $35. Reserved/Pre-Sale Seats: $45. Pit Passes: $50.
TRACK ADDRESS: 10 West Harbor Blvd., Ventura, CA 93001
TRACK PHONE: (805) 648-RACE
TRACK WEBSITE: http://www.venturaraceway.com/index.html
MEDIA COVERAGE: Streamed LIVE on http://www.loudpedal.tv/live. Live updates on https://www.facebook.com/usacracing/ and https://twitter.com/USACNation and available on the Race Monitor app on your phone.
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2016 USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10):
1. (1005) Ronnie Gardner (Corona, CA)
2. (850) Michael Faccinto (Hanford, CA)
3. (790) Cory Elliott (Bakersfield, CA)
4. (749) Frankie Guerrini (San Rafael, CA)
5. (690) Courtney Crone (Corona, CA)
6. (585) Maria Cofer (Macdoel, CA)
7. (582) Robert Dalby (Anaheim, CA)
8. (573) Randi Pankratz (Atascadero, CA)
9. (564) Cody Swanson (Norco, CA)
10. (475) Tyler Dolacki (Fresno, CA)
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2016 USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET CHAMPIONSHIP OWNER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10):
1. (1005) Six8 Motorsports #68
2. (850) MF Racing #35F
3. (790) Cory Elliott #11E
4. (701) Frankie Guerrini #63
5. (690) Jerome Rodela #25
6. (585) Cofer Racing #57
7. (582) Robert Dalby #4D
8. (573) Wally Pankratz #8
9. (564) Kirk Swanson #71s
10. (475) Robert Dolacki #18
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2016 USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE & RESULTS:
Mar 23: Placerville, CA - Placerville Speedway
WINNER: Ronnie Gardner
Apr 9: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway
WINNER: Rained Out
Apr 30: Bakersfield, CA - Bakersfield Speedway
WINNER: Ronnie Gardner
May 21: Ventura, CA - Ventura Raceway
WINNER: Ronnie Gardner
Jun 4: Bakersfield, CA - Bakersfield Speedway
WINNER: Michael Faccinto
Jun 25: Hanford, CA - Keller Auto Speedway at Kings Fairgrounds
WINNER: Ronnie Gardner
Jul 16: Petaluma, CA - Petaluma Speedway
WINNER: Alex Schutte
Sep 3: Calistoga, CA - Calistoga Speedway
WINNER: Tanner Thorson
Sep 4: Calistoga, CA - Calistoga Speedway
WINNER: Michael Faccinto
Sep 8: Chico, CA - Silver Dollar Speedway
WINNER: Alex Schutte
Sep 17: Santa Maria, CA - Santa Maria Raceway
WINNER: Cody Swanson
Oct 8: Tulare, CA - Thunderbowl Raceway
WINNER: Ronnie Gardner
Oct 29: Ventura, CA - Ventura Raceway
WINNER: Robby Josett
Nov 19: Bakersfield, CA - Bakersfield Speedway
WINNER: Ronnie Gardner
Nov 24: ### Ventura, CA - Ventura Raceway
**Races noted with ### represent a race with the USAC National Midget Series.
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2016 USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET CHAMPIONSHIP FEATURE WINS:
1. (6) Ronnie Gardner (Placerville Speedway on March 23, Bakersfield Speedway on April 30, Ventura Raceway on May 21, Santa Maria Raceway on June 25, Thunderbowl Raceway on Oct. 8 and Bakersfield Speedway on Nov. 19)
2. (2) Michael Faccinto (Bakersfield Speedway on June 4 and Calistoga Speedway on Sept. 4)
(2) Alex Schutte (Petaluma Speedway on July 16 and Silver Dollar Speedway on Sept. 8)
4. (1) Robby Josett (Ventura Raceway on Oct. 29)
(1) Cody Swanson (Santa Maria Raceway on Sept. 17)
(1) Tanner Thorson (Calistoga Speedway on Sept. 3)
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ALL-TIME USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET CHAMPIONSHIP FEATURE WINS:
1. [104 wins] Sleepy Tripp
2. [52 wins] Robby Flock
3. [41 wins] Billy Boat
4. [19 wins] Ronnie Gardner & Wally Pankratz
6. [18 wins] Page Jones
7. [16 wins] P.J. Jones, Jason Leffler & Rusty Rasmussen
10. [14 wins] Garrett Hansen
11. [13 wins] Jimmy Sills & Tony Stewart
13. [12 wins] Jay Drake & Tommy White
15. [11 wins] Josh Wise
16. [10 wins] Johnny Cofer, Jerry Coons, Jr., Dave Darland, Cory Kruseman & Ron Shuman
21. [9 wins] Bobby East, Tracy Hines, Kasey Kahne & Rich Vogler
25. [8 wins] Stan Fox, Michael Lewis, Steve Paden, Dave Steele & Danny Stratton
30. [7 wins] Rick Hendrix, Chad Nichols & Kody Swanson
33. [6 wins] Rico Abreu, Bryan Clauson, Johnathon Henry, Ken Nichols, Brad Noffsinger & Dave Strickland Jr.
39. [5 wins] Tommy Astone, Christopher Bell, Bob Davison, Ronnie Day, Robert Dolacki, Davey Hamilton, Tony Hunt, Brad Kuhn, Alex Schutte & J.J. Yeley
49. [4 wins] Tyler Brown, Hank Butcher, Nick Chivello, Marc DeBeaumont, Nic Faas, Michael Faccinto, Josh Ford, Chuck Gurney, Darren Hagen, Jordan Hermansader, Robby Josett, Ryan Kaplan, Thomas Meseraull, Frank Pedregon, Chris Rahe, Keith Rauch, Jerome Rodela, Johnny Rodriguez, Shane Scully, Ricky Shelton, Tanner Swanson, Brad Sweet & Billy Wease
72. [3 wins] Ryan Bernal, Bobby Boone, Mario Bringetto, Jr., Danny Ebberts, Shane Golobic, Jeff Gordon, Scott Hansen, Alex Harris, Trey Marcham, Danny McKnight, Ryan Newman, Johnny Parsons, Scott Pierovich, Troy Rutherford & Chuck West
86. [2 wins] Floyd Alvis, Alex Bowman, Rick Bussell, Tony Elliott, Terry Farrar, Mike Figliomeni, Bobby Grewohl, Darryl Haugh, Dennis Hart, Jeff Heywood, Gary Howard, R.J. Johnson, Josh Lakatos, Kyle Larson, Evan Margeson, Matt Mitchell, Rory Price, Stevie Reeves, Bobby Santos, Darin Snider, Michael Snider, Bryan Stanfill, Cody Swanson & Tanner Thorson
111. [1 win] Mike Appio, Caleb Armstrong, Brady Bacon, Donnie Beechler, Wayne Bennet, Pat Bliss, Garratt Boyden, Greg Bragg, Larry Brown, Keith Chrisco, Michelle Decker, Larry Derwin, Kevin Doty, Dan Drinan, Dale Durbin Jr., Cory Elliott, Bob Ellis, Tommie Estes Jr., Duane Feduska, Billy Felts Jr., A.J. Fike, Joe Gaerte, Russ Gamester, Brian Gard, Damion Gardner, Cody Gerhardt, Rick Gerhardt, Frankie Guerrini, Jac Haudenschild, Lloyd Hemman, Nathan High, Rick Hood, Kenny Irwin Jr., A.J. Johnson, Jim Keene, Steve Knepper, Brad Loyet, Dallen McKenney, Shannon McQueen, Lealand McSpadden, Jeff Meyer, Andy Michner, Kevin Olson, Aaron Pollock, David Prickett, Davey Ray, C.J. Sarna, Zach Schiff, Ryan Scott, Jeremy Sherman, Graham Standring, John Starks, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chase Stockon, Matt Streeter, Jake Swanson, Sammy Swindell, Richard Vander Weerd, Eric Wilkins, Rip Williams & Paul Zimmerly
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ALL-TIME USAC WESTERN STATES MIDGET CHAMPIONS
1982: **Jeff Heywood; 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 (Overall), Chad Nichols (Pave) & David Prickett (Dirt); 2013: Ronnie Gardner (Overall), Chad Nichols (Pave) & Ronnie Gardner (Dirt); 2014: Ronnie Gardner (Overall), Chad Nichols (Pavement), Ronnie Gardner (Dirt); 2015: Ronnie Gardner
**The 1982 Western Midget championship was derived from finishes posted in a number of “west coast” races held under National sanction. These events were NOT promoted, recognized or reported as “western” races and no series standings were generated.