HINES WINS NATIONAL MIDGET TITLE, EARNS "TRIPLE CROWN;"
KUNZ/CURB-AGAJANIAN & SIX8 MOTORSPORTS EARN NATIONAL, WESTERN OWNER TITLES RESPECTIVELY
THORSON WINS 75TH "TURKEY NIGHT GRAND PRIX"
Tracy Hines, who finished sixth in last Thursday's 75th "Turkey Night Grand Prix," claimed the USAC Honda National Midget driving title, completing his pursuit of the sixth USAC "Triple Crown" career, while Dave Darland, who finished ninth, earned the Mike Curb Super License. Fourteenth place driver Robert Dalby was named the Don Basile "Rookie of the Race."
The Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian and Six8 Motorsports teams emerged as respective car owner champions in USAC's 2015 Honda National and Western Midget Series following "Turkey Night" finale at Perris (Calif.) Auto Speedway.
It's the seventh National title for Kunz Motorsports of Columbus, Ind. and the fourth in a row for Curb-Agajanian, while Six8 Motorsports of Burbank, Calif. earned its second consecutive crown in the Western series as its driver, Ronnie Gardner of Corona, Calif., recorded his third consecutive series crown.
The National car owner title for Curb-Agajanian marked the 50th time one of their cars had earned a "top-10" USAC National point ranking. Tanner Thorson of Minden, Nev. piloted a Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Toyota TRD Bullet/Speedway Toyota to victory in Thursday's "Turkey Night" 98-lapper, leading the final six laps after passing teammate Christopher Bell on lap 93. Kyle Larson, in a Kunz/Curb-Agajanian team car as well, finished second ahead of Damion Gardner, Bryan Clauson and Kevin Thomas Jr.
Rico Abreu, who finished 11th, was the night's ProSource fastest qualifier. Clauson led the first 35 laps of the race before his car encountered mechanical trouble. He returned to the race, ultimately finishing in the 4th position.
USAC's National champions will be honored December 11 in Indianapolis, Ind., while the 2015 Western champions will be honored in early 2016 in Las Vegas, Nev.
The next USAC Midget event on the 2015 calendar is the inaugural "Junior Knepper 55," a non-points, special event, indoor dirt race to be held on December 19 in DuQuoin, Ill. at the Southern Illinois Center.