VENTURA, Calif. — The crown jewel of all crown jewels!
The 2024 ARP Turkey Night Grand Prix Presented By the West Coast Stock Car/Motorsports Hall of Fame enters its 83rd edition on Saturday night, November 30, at the scenic Ventura Raceway, the racy one-fifth-mile dirt oval nestled right along the Pacific Ocean in southern California.
It’s the United States of America’s longest running midget racing tradition, and a victory in one of these events instantly goes right to the top of every driver’s racing resume. At press time, 55 midget drivers are entered for the event with a couple more surprises expected to enter in time for race day.
Four drivers in this year’s Agajanian Promotions Turkey Night field have experienced that feeling in recent years, all of whom are once again chasing the increased winner’s share of $15,000 in the 98-lap main event.
Kyle Larson has captured four Turkey Night midget victories in 2012-’16-’19-’23, second most all-time behind Ron Shuman’s eight. One-time winners Justin Grant (2022), Logan Seavey (2021) and Tanner Thorson (2015) are also all hungry to add another triumph to the collection.
Four more drivers have previously finished as a Turkey Night runner-up and are now vying for a first victory in the event. J.J. Yeley returns to the race after a 19-year hiatus and finished second on the pavement when the show was held at Irwindale Speedway in 2001. Cannon McIntosh led extensively in 2019 before coming home second. Buddy Kofoid closed out his 2021 series title season with a second. Corey Day earned Rookie of the Race honors a year ago in 2023 with a stellar second place drive.
Carson Macedo took third in both 2016 and 2023 while Zach Daum returns to Turkey Night for the first time in 10 years after placing fourth in each of his two most recent starts in 2013 and 2014. Jake Andreotti scored a career best fourth in 2022 while Ronnie Gardner (2013), Tyler Courtney (2018), Jacob Denney (2023) and Kaylee Bryson (2021) each crossed the line with a best performance of fifth. Bryson also became the first woman to start on the pole of Turkey Night in 2021.
Looking to top their previous top-10 Turkey Night performances are Emerson Axsom (6th in 2023) and Tanner Carrick who finished 6th after starting from the pole position in 2018. USAC Western States Midget champions held their own in their home state – Michael Faccinto (10th in 2017) and Cade Lewis (10th in 2023).
Turkey Night veterans returning to the lineup include wheelmen Gavin Miller (13th in 2023), two-time Turkey Night sprint car winner Ryan Timms (14th in 2022), series point leader Daison Pursley (14th in 2023) and Kale Drake (16th in 2023). Chase McDermand (17th in 2023) is back as is Randi Pankratz (19th in 2015), C.J. Leary (20th in 2018), C.J. Sarna (21st in 2019), Brody Fuson (24th in 2022) and Tyler Edwards (26th in 2017).
This year’s race is chockfull of Don Basile Rookie of the Race contenders, 26 in fact, who’ve not yet started a Turkey Night Grand Prix midget feature. USAC Midget newcomer, and two-time NASCAR Cup Series titlist, Kyle Busch will make his first Turkey Night run as will Cale Coons, son of USAC Career Triple Crown champ Cale Coons and leading USAC National Midget Rookie of the Year contender Zach Wigal.
USAC Western States Midget feature winners Drake Edwards and Caden Sarale will also attempt to make their first Turkey Night field as will Stevie Sussex, Karter Sarff, Terry Nichols, Jim Vanzant, Mathew Radisich, Tom Dunkel, cousins Todd Hawse and Kyle Hawse, plus Alex Karpowicz, Barrie Valentino, Peter Paulson, T.J. Smith, Troy DeGaton, Dane Culver, Abby Hohlbein, Ben Covich, Bryan Drollinger, Cole Wakim, Dalten Gabbard, Austin Torgerson and Broedy Graham.
Nine states and three countries are represented on this year’s entry list so far: California (24), Arizona (7), Oklahoma (6), Indiana (4), Illinois (3), Nevada (3), Ohio (3), Pennsylvania (1) and Texas (1). The United States is represented by 52 of the 55 drivers while New Zealand has two and Australia one.
Three women drivers will also compete in the race: four-time starter Randi Pankratz, two-time starter Kaylee Bryson and Rookie Abby Hohlbein.