Reserved Seat Tickets for Turkey Night Classic Now on Sale Through Irwindale Speedway Office
2 October 1999
59th Running of the Thanksgiving Night Tradition at Irwindale Speedway in 1999 Irwindale, Calif. - - Reserved-seat tickets for the 59th running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix for USAC Midgets Presented by Agajanian Enterprises were placed on sale at the Irwindale Speedway box offices today. "We are very proud to be presenting one of the all-time most prestigious midget races as the finale to our 1999 inaugural season," said track VP/COO Ray Wilkings. "We're all aware of the great tradition that this special race represents, and very proud of the trust that the Agajanian family has placed in us to host their time-honored event. Everyone on our staff is really looking forward to it." The Turkey Night Grand Prix was first run at Gilmore Stadium (now the site of the CBS Studios near Farmer's Market at 3rd and Fairfax in Los Angeles) in 1934. It is one of the longest-running series of races in the history of racing and boasts a list of winners which reads like a "Who's Who" of American oval track racing. In its 66-year history the hallowed event has been staged at a number of Los Angeles and southern California venues including Ascot Park (27 times), Saugus Speedway, Perris Auto Speedway, Bakersfield Speedway, and Speedway 605 which was located in Irwindale about a mile or so from where Irwindale Speedway now stands. Winners of the event include such names as: Mel Kenyon, Billy Boat, Norman "Bubby" Jones, Ron Shuman, A. J. Foyt, Stan Fox, Chuck Gurney, Edgar Elder, Johnny Parsons, Parnelli Jones, Ronnie Householder, Bill Vukovich, Tony Simon, Gary Bettenhausen, and many more legends of motorsports. The night is specifically-crafted for families to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving feast in the afternoon, maybe watch a "bowl" game or two, and then head out work off all that rich food with a rousing evening enjoying a spectacular 100-lap USAC Midget feature race (and all the prelims lead up to it) at one of the newest and nicest race tracks in the country. "We are all aware that when we open our doors on November 25th, it will not be just another race day … It will be Turkey Night 1999, one of motorsport's great traditional events," said Wilkings, who hosted the 51st running of the race as GM at Saugus Speedway in 1991. "That was a wonderful night, this one here at Irwindale should be even better." Reserved-seat tickets for the event are priced at $30.00 for adults and $10.00 for the kids ages 6 to 12. Fans are invited to call the Speedway (626-358-1100) during business hours Monday through Friday or to pick up their Turkey Night tickets when they visit the track for any regular Saturday night race from now through November. More information on Turkey Night and all remaining 1999 racing a concert events will be available on the track's website (www. Irwindalespeedway.com) and on its toll-free hot line (888) 954-2500. Printable directions, customized maps and driving instructions to Irwindale Speedway are readily available on the track's website.