MIDGETS CLOSE 2015 AT “TURKEY NIGHT” NOVEMBER 26;

CLAUSON’S “LEFFLER MEMORIAL” VICTORY WORTH $20,000

One race remains in Tracy Hines’ quest to join the elusive list of USAC Triple Crown Champions. He emerged from Friday night’s “Jason Leffler Memorial” at Wayne County Speedway in Wayne City, Ill. with a 27-point cushion over Kevin Thomas, Jr. and a 33-point lead over Tanner Thorson. The three will settle the championship November 26 in the 75th “Turkey Night Grand Prix” at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway.

Hines, of New Castle, Ind., finished 12th in Friday’s 40-lap race, which was won by Bryan Clauson. Thomas was 10th and Thorson 16th. A fifth-place finish or better at Perris would assure Hines of the title to accompany his 2000 Silver Crown and 2002 Sprint car crowns.

Clauson led all but one lap of Friday’s race, which was sponsored by Great Clips and co-sanctioned by POWRi. The race carried a $20,000 paycheck for Clauson and his RKR/Dooling Racing team as he led the final 11 laps in his Jonathan Byrd’s Racing/B & H Contractors Spike/Stanton Mopar. Rico Abreu, who led lap 29, finished second ahead of 2013 race winner Zach Daum, 2014 race winner Daryn Pittman and Payton Pierce. Clauson’s victory was his 36th in USAC National Midget competition, now leading all other active drivers, and is now seventh on USAC’s all-time Midget winners list.

Abreu continues to hold a slim chance at the 2015 title, trailing Hines by 56 points, with 74 points available at Perris. Abreu is the defending Honda National Midget king.

Christopher Bell won last year’s “Turkey Night Grand Prix” and is expected to join teammates Thomas, Thorson, Kyle Larson and Abreu for the series finale at Perris. Eight-time “Turkey Night” winner Ron Shuman will serve as the race’s Grand Marshal.