Sixty USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midgets have been entered for the 81st running of the prestigious 98-lap ARP Turkey Night Grand Prix California’s Ventura Raceway on Saturday, Nov. 26.

The Agajanian Promotions event at Jim Naylor's Ventura’s 1/5-mile seaside dirt oval includes two past Turkey Night Grand Prix midget winners. 

Logan Seavey (Sutter, California) comes in as the defending race victor from 2021, while Tanner Thorson (Minden, Nevada) captured the event win in 2015.

Seavey (2018) and Thorson (2016) are two of the five past USAC National Midget champions in the lineup, along with Lebanon, Indiana’s Spencer Bayston (2017), Indianapolis’ Tyler Courtney (2019) and Penngrove, California’s Buddy Kofoid (2021). 

Recently crowned USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Champion Justin Grant (Ione, California) will be gunning for his first Turkey Night victory.

All the aforementioned drivers have captured USAC National Midget feature wins in their careers and are among the 17 drivers who’ve tallied series feature wins. 

The list of those seeking a first Turkey Night Grand Prix score includes 2022 series winners Cannon McIntosh (Bixby, Oklahoma), Thomas Meseraull (San Jose, California), Jacob Denney (Galloway, Ohio), Mitchel Moles (Raisin City, California) and Ryan Timms (Oklahoma City).

Additional USAC National Midget feature winners in the Turkey Night field include Corey Day (Clovis, California), Kevin Thomas Jr. (Cullman, Alababa), Shane Golobic (Fremont, California), Emerson Axsom (Franklin, Indiana), Jason McDougal (Broken Arrow, Oklahoma) and Daison Pursley (Locust Grove, Oklahoma).

Furthermore, a trio of USAC Western States Midget champions will take on the national stars, a list of consisting of Hanford, California’s Michael Faccinto (2018 & 2022), Brentwood, California’s Blake Bower (2021) and Downey, California’s Steve Paden (2003).

Last year’s members of an all-female front row will return to the Turkey Night lineup this year – pole winner Kaylee Bryson (Muskogee, Oklahoma) and outside front row starter Taylor Reimer (Bixby). 

Additionally, 2016 USAC National Midget Rookie of the Year Carson Macedo (Lemoore, California) is back in the seat of a midget, after scoring a series-high 11 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car wins in 2022.

Day, Denney and Bower are in the mix for the Don Basile Rookie of the Race award, which, thus far, encompasses 23 drivers. 

The award was captured in 2021 by third-place finisher Moles. The most recent rookie driver to win the Turkey Night Grand Prix was Warren Mockler in 1986 – 36 years ago.

Race Details

The ARP Turkey Night Grand Prix officially gets underway on Friday, Nov. 25, with racing action from the USAC West Coast/VRA Sprint Cars, as well as USAC Midget practice.

On Friday and Saturday, the pits will open at 11 a.m. Pacific, with the drivers' meeting at 2:30 p.m., the grandstands opening at 3 p.m. and cars hitting the track at 3:30 p.m.

Friday’s tickets are $22 for adult general admission, $18 for senior/military/students and free for children under 12. Pit passes are $45 apiece for members and $50 for non-members.

On Saturday, all tickets that are not reserved are $35. Reserved seats are $45 for ages 13 and older and $25 for ages 12 and under. Pit passes are $45 for members and $50 for non-members.