Turkey Night Grand Prix facts for kids

The Automotive Racing Products Turkey Night Grand Prix is an exciting annual race. It features special small, powerful race cars called midget cars. This race is one of the oldest in the United States. Only the Indianapolis 500 and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb have been around longer.

The race has usually taken place on Thanksgiving night. It started way back in 1934. Earl Gilmore created the race at his Gilmore Stadium in Los Angeles. It stayed there until 1950. Since then, it has moved to different race tracks in Southern California. Since 1955, the J. C. Agajanian family has helped organize the race. It was traditionally held on dirt tracks. Sometimes it was on asphalt in the early 2000s. However, it returned to dirt tracks in 2012. The main race is 98 laps long. This number was chosen because it was special to the Agajanian family.

The Turkey Night Grand Prix is usually the last big race of the year. It marks the end of the midget and sprint car racing season in North America. Many top drivers then travel to Australia or New Zealand. They race there during the Southern Hemisphere's summer. This is called the "international season."

There were no races in 1942, 1943, or 1944 because of World War II. Also, there was no race in 2020 due to California's pandemic rules. In 2021, the race changed to a two-day event. This was part of a "California Midget Week." This week includes three big midget car races in eight days. The Turkey Night Grand Prix is seen as one of the three most important midget races each year. The other two are the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the Bryan Clauson Classic at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Amazing Drivers at Turkey Night

This event is a very important race in the midget car world. It often brings in famous drivers from other types of racing. Many drivers who have raced at the highest levels of auto racing come to compete. This is because their main racing seasons usually end before Thanksgiving. So, they are free to join the Turkey Night Grand Prix.

Some of the famous drivers who have raced here include:

• Parnelli Jones
• A. J. Foyt
• Johnnie Parsons
• Bill Vukovich
• Danny Oakes
• Jeff Gordon
• Tony Stewart
• J. J. Yeley
• Jason Leffler
• Kasey Kahne
• Kyle Larson

In 2021, Kaylee Bryson made history. She was the fastest qualifier for the race. This made her the first woman to start in the pole position (first place) in the event's 80-year history. Her teammate, Taylor Reimer, qualified second. This was the first time two women started first and second in a USAC National Midget race. Kaylee Bryson also led the first 17 laps. This made her the first woman to lead the Turkey Night Grand Prix.

Where the Race Has Been Held

The Turkey Night Grand Prix has been held at many different places over the years. Here are some of the tracks that have hosted this historic race:

• Gilmore Stadium (1934–1950) – This place is now Television City Studios.
• Gardena Stadium (1955–1959)
• Ascot Park (1960–1974, 1976–1990)
• Speedway 605 (1975)
• Saugus Speedway (1991)
• Bakersfield Speedway (1992–1995, 1998)
• Perris Auto Speedway (1996, 2012–2015)
• Ventura Raceway (1997, 2016–present)
• Irwindale Speedway (1999–2011)

List of Winners

Here is a list of the drivers who have won the Turkey Night Grand Prix: