VENTURA, Calif. — USAC Western States Midget champions Robby Flock and Johnny Cofer have been named co-grand marshals for the 80th running of the ARP Turkey Night Grand Prix on Nov. 27 at Ventura Raceway.
Flock captured four USAC Western States Midget titles in three different decades – the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. He earned his first in 1986, then was crowned as champion again in 1989, 1993 and 2002. His 51 USAC Western States feature victories rank second all-time, five of which came at Ventura.
Additionally, six USAC National Midget wins are a part of Flock’s résumé, with three in 1989 at Eagle, Neb., at Yuma, Ariz., and at Eldora Speedway’s 4-Crown Nationals in Rossburg, Ohio. Further National wins came at El Centro, Calif. in 1992, the Belleville (Kan.) Midget Nationals in 1996 and at Mount Lawn Speedway in New Castle, Ind., in 1997.
Additionally, Flock made 12 Turkey Night Grand Prix starts between 1982 and 2005, finishing a best of second in the 1993 race.
Standing beside Flock on the podium that night in the third position was Cofer, which was his best result in five Turkey Night midget starts between 1988 and 1996.
The 1994 USAC Western States Midget titlist tallied half of his 10 career series wins at Ventura, and his lap of 11.675 seconds from 1995 still remains the one-lap track record to this day after 26 seasons.
Cofer can count two USAC National Midget wins to his credit with his first coming in 1991 at Rocky Mountain Speedway in Denver, Colo., while the second came arrived at Ventura during the 1994 campaign.
The 80th running of the ARP Turkey Night Grand Prix will pay $10,000 to the winner of the storied USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship event.
ARP, the world leader in fastener technology, is the title sponsor for the for the famed race. The event dates back to the origins of midget racing and maintains its prestige today as one of the crown jewels of dirt track auto racing.
For the first time, the Turkey Night Grand Prix will be contested on Saturday, Nov. 27, with practice and sprint car prelims the night before on Friday, Nov. 26.