FLOCK, RODELA TITLE FIGHT HEADLINES "TURKEY NIGHT" MIDGET
STORY LINES
NOVEMBER 21, 2005
Robby Flock and Jerome Rodela have stolen the spotlight in
this Thursday night's 64th "Turkey Night Grand Prix" USAC National/Western
Midget race at the Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway. Flock leads Rodela by only
seven points in their battle for the 2005 USAC Western Midget Championship,
which concludes Thursday.
Flock, of Murrieta, Calif., is seeking his fifth series title,
while Rodela, of El Monte, Calif., eyes his first after finishing third,
third and second the last three years. Rodela finished fifth in last year's
100-lapper.
Josh Wise of Riverside, Calif. has already clinched the 2005
USAC National Midget title and leads a contingent of drivers from across
the country into the 50th "Turkey Night" race organized by the famed
Agajanian family.
Defending race champion Bobby East is one of four former race
champions in Thursday night's field. The others are two-time winner Dave
Steele (2001 and 2003), 2002 winner Michael Lewis and 1998 winner Jay
Drake. Steele holds the 1-lap track qualifying record of 108.722 mph, set
in 2003. Steele also holds the 100-lap race record of 84.678 mph., also set
in 2003.
Other entered drivers include USAC Triple Crown Champions J.J.
Yeley and Dave Darland, 2005 USAC/CRA Sprint Car Champ Damion Gardner, 2005
USAC Midget points runner-up Jerry Coons Jr., former USAC Champion Tracy
Hines, 2004 "Turkey Night" fast qualifier Tony Hunt and Bryan Clauson,
USAC's youngest-ever National feature winner.
Wally Pankratz, USAC's 2000 Western Midget Champion is also
slated to make the final appearance of his lengthy USAC career in
Thursday's event. Wally has amassed an amazing 453 total starts in USAC's
Western Midget series since its 1983 debut.
USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1. Josh Wise-1,000
2. Jerry Coons, Jr.-822
3. Brad Kuhn-687
4. Ron Gregory-640
5. Tom Hessert III-612
6. Teddy Beach-591
7. Cole Carter-570
8. Darren Hagen-563
9. Bobby East-475
10. Jay Drake-449
USAC WESTERN MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1. Robby Flock-767
2. Jerome Rodela-760
3. Tyler Brown-650
4. Ryan Kaplan-556
5. Scott Pierovich-475
6. Stephen Graves-469
7. Garrett Hansen-459
8. Brad Galedrige-432
9. Dallen McKenney-428
10. Shannon McQueen-387