USAC: 59th Turkey Night Grand Prix at Irwindale Anchors 1999 'Western' Swing Season Finales
4 November 1999
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
The "Turkey Night Grand Prix" returns to the Los Angeles arena for
only the
second time in eight years when it arrives at its new home November 25 -
the
Irwindale Speedway.The 59th running of America's most traditional Midget Car event unfolds on Thanksgiving night within sight of the 1975 classic and takes to the pavement for only the third time in its storied history. In 1975 the race was held at the now-defunct 605 Speedway in Irwindale, won by the legendary Mel Kenyon. In 1991, after the demise of Ascot Park in Gardena, Calif., the race was held at Saugus Speedway in Santa Clarita, Calif., with Stan Fox the winner.
"Turkey Night," continues a tradition nurtured by the famed Agajanian family, who have organized the event for a half-century. Nearly every top Midget Car driver has competed in the race and its list of winners reads like a who's-who of the sport. It features a 100-lap race on the 1/2-mile paved Irwindale oval following qualifications and "qualifying races."
Jay Drake of Val Verde, Calif. won last year's "Turkey Night" classic, held at Bakersfield, Calif., and is expected to be a top threat to repeat. The last driver to repeat was Stan Fox, who won at Ascot Park in 1990 and Saugus in 1991.
The USAC MCI WorldCom Midget Cars will conclude their 1999 campaign with dirt-track races November 20 at Bakersfield and November 27 at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix, Ariz. in addition to "Turkey Night." Year-end point rankings in both the MCI WorldCom National and Western Midget Car Series will be affected by all three events.
Jason Leffler of Long Beach, Calif. is headed for his third consecutive MCI WorldCom National title, thus becoming the first driver since Jimmy Davies (1960-62) to accomplish that feat. Marc DeBeaumont of Clayton, Calif. and Shane Scully of Encino, Calif. are embroiled in a terrific duel for the "Western" title entering the final events on the calendar.
Leffler finished second to Drake in last year's "Turkey Night" race and tuned up for this year's classic with an October 16 Midget Car and Silver Bullet win at Irwindale.
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.