VENTURA HOSTS “ARP 81ST RUNNING OF TURKEY NIGHT GRAND PRIX” DOUBLEHEADER
By Lance Jennings
NOVEMBER 20, 2022... Starting this Friday, November 25th, the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars will return to Ventura Raceway for two nights of action. Promoted by Jim Naylor, the prestigious “ARP 81st Running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix” will begin with a special Friday program for the traditional 360 Sprint Cars and practice sessions for the NOS Energy Drink USAC National Midgets. On Saturday, the Sprints will return with their Consolation, Semi-Mains, and 30-lap feature while the Midgets will run a complete show. The Pit Gates at the “The Best Little Dirt Track in America” will open at 11:00am, the Driver’s Meeting will be held at 2:45pm, the Spectator Gates open at 3:00pm, and practice starts at 3:15pm.
LOCATION: Ventura Raceway is located on the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 10 West Harbor Blvd. in Ventura, California. Advance tickets are on sale and for more event information, visit the track’s website at venturaraceway.com or call 805.648.RACE.
ENTRIES: At press time, there are 41 USAC West Coast Sprint Cars and over 60 USAC National Midgets entered in the Turkey Night Grand Prix. The Sprint Car entry list is at the end of this release, with more expected on race day.
DEFENDING SPRINT CAR WINNER: A.J. Bender.
GRAND MARSHALLS: Dick Woodland & Wally Pankratz.
PIT PARKING: Teams can park their trailers in the pit area on Thursday from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Wednesday arrivals can drop off trailers in the parking lot, but must not block the pit gate to leave an open fire lane. Pit passes are $40-member and $50 non-member on Friday. Pit passes are $50 on Saturday.
FRIDAY SPRINT CAR FORMAT: A pill pick/passing points format will be used. The pill pick will set the six heat races and the earned passing points will set a round of qualifying races. The top-10 in passing points from the heat races and qualifiers will compete in a 15-lap dash paying $1,200-to-win and $150-to-win. The dash lineup will be straight up by points. The overall point leader after the dash will start on the pole position of Saturday’s main event.
FRIDAY DASH PURSE: 1-$1200, 2-$750, 3-$500, 4-$400, 5-$300, 6-$250, 7-$200, 8-$150, 9-$150, 10-$150.
SATURDAY SPRINT CAR FORMAT: Cars finishing eleventh and below after Friday’s passing points will run a Consolation and Semi-Mains. The lineups are based straight up on passing points. Saturday’s 30-lap feature with twenty-two (22) cars will pay $3,000-to-win and $225-to-start.
SATURDAY FEATURE PURSE: 1-$3000, 2-$1500, 3-$800, 4-$750, 5-$700, 6-$650, 7-$600, 8-$500, 9-$400, 10-$300, 11-22-$225.
DRIVER MEMBERSHIPS: USAC licenses ARE NOT REQUIRED for the event.
RACECEIVERS/TRANSPONDERS: Raceceivers and transponders ARE MANDATORY. Transponders are available for rent for $30 total for both nights.
FUEL: High Tech Performance will have fuel available for sale at the race track.
TIRE RULE: Due to the current tire shortages, ANY Hoosier Right Rear Tire is legal for competition until further notice with the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series. All four corners must be Hoosier. High Tech Performance and Hoosier will sell tires at the track.
APPROVED/LEGAL MUFFLERS: EXTREME: 6014-3535, 3615-3535, SCHOENFELD: 14272535, 14272735-78, FLOWMASTER: 53545-10, 13516100, 13516101, COAST FABRICATION: 350x625x17-2S, B&B: FRAC-0375S, SPINTECH: 1545P SUPER STOCK. *Failure to comply with the muffler rule will risk disqualification from the event.
USED/OLD TIRES: Ventura Raceway will deduct $50 from the purse for each used/old tire left in the pit area. Racers must take their discarded/old tires and dispose of them properly.
FRONT AXLE TETHER SYSTEMS: Front Axle Tethers (2-Chassis, 1-King Pin to King Pin) ARE MANDATORY.
FULL CONTAINMENT SEATS: Full containment seats ARE MANDATORY.
COCKPIT ADJUSTABLE SHOCKS: Cockpit adjustable shocks ARE ALLOWED.
RULE BOOK: The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series Rule Book can be found online at usacracing.com.
When the Turkey Night Grand Prix returned to Ventura Raceway in 2016, track promoter Jim Naylor added the USAC West Coast Sprint Cars to the program. “The Human Highlight Reel” Geoff Ensign claimed the victory and the non-winged 360s have been a part of the prestigious event ever since. Last year, A.J. Bender of San Diego, California earned a popular victory and the complete winner’s list for Sprint Cars at the Turkey Night Grand Prix is at the end of this release.
Since April 4, 2009, the Ventura County Fairgrounds has held twenty-three (23) West Coast Sprint Car events and fifteen different drivers have claimed victory. Led by Tristan Guardino, Troy Rutherford, and Jake Swanson with three wins, Rutherford also set the 1-lap track record of 11.941 on June 4, 2022.
The USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series thanks AMSOIL, BR Motorsports, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Extreme Mufflers, FloRacing.com, High Tech Performance, Hoosier Racing Tire, Rod End Supply, ROW Signs and Graphics, Saldana Racing Products, Steve Lafond/Tear-Off Heaven Fotos, Vahlco Wheels, Wilwood Disc Brakes, and Woodland Auto Display for their support. If you or your company would like to become part of the series, email PR Director Lance Jennings at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
For more information on the series, visit usacracing.com and the social media for USAC Racing. You can also find exclusive content at the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.
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USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS: 2009-Justyne Hamblin, 2010-Craig Stidham, 2011-Richard Vander Weerd, 2012-Bud Kaeding, 2013-Danny Faria Jr., 2014-Matt Mitchell, 2015-Danny Faria Jr., 2016-Brody Roa, 2017-Jake Swanson, 2018-Austin Liggett, 2019-Tristan Guardino, 2020-NO AWARD, 2021-D.J. Johnson, 2022-Trent Carter.
TURKEY NIGHT GRAND PRIX SPRINT CAR WINNERS: 2001-Tony Hunt, 2002-Tony Stewart, 2003-Michael Lewis, 2004-Michael Lewis, 2005-Dave Steele, 2006-Tony Hunt, 2007-Bobby Santos III, 2008-Tracy Hines, 2009-Cole Whitt, 2010-Kody Swanson, 2011-Tanner Swanson, 2016-Geoff Ensign, 2017-Tyler Courtney, 2018-Carson Macedo, 2019-Chase Johnson, 2020-CANCELLED, 2021-A.J. Bender. (*2001-2011 = USAC Western Pavement Sprints, 2016-Date = USAC West Coast Sprints)
2022 TURKEY NIGHT GRAND PRIX SPRINT CAR ENTRIES:
Car # - Driver – Hometown – Car Owner
2J-James Turnbull II / Indio, California / James Turnbull Sr.
3-Max Adams / Loomis, California / Kaleb Montgomery
3F-Daniel Whitley / Ferndale, California / Ted Finkenbinder
5J-James Herrera / New Cuyama, California / James Herrera
6-Logan Calderwood / Phoenix, Arizona / Rex Calderwood
8M-Brody Roa / Garden Grove, California / May Motorsports
8W-Chase Johnson / Penngrove, California / May Motorsports
11-Troy Rutherford / Ojai, California / Troy Rutherford
15-Rick Hendrix / Palmdale, California / Rick Hendrix
16J-Elexa Herrera / New Cuyama, California / James Herrera
17-Todd Pratt / Las Vegas, Nevada / Todd Pratt
17A-Tom Dunkel / Menifee, California / Tom Dunkel
19-Dennis Rodriguez / Las Vegas, Nevada / Matt Streeter Racing
20-Shon Deskins / Phoenix, Arizona / Shon Deskins Racing
21-A.J. Bender / San Diego, California / Kim & Richard Bender
21-Austin Ervine / Henderson, Nevada / Jay Ervine
21T-Carson Macedo / Lemoore, California / Tarlton Motorsports
22-Grant Sexton / Lakeside, California / Brent Sexton
25-Chris Muraoka / Makaha, Hawaii / Chris Muraoka
27-Tyler Hatzikian / Murrieta, California / Tyler Hatzikian
29C-Camie Bell / Bakersfield, California / Tim Bell
32-T.J. Smith / Fresno, California / Caden Sarale
35-Albert Pombo / Easton, California / Albert & Megan Pombo
38-Colby Johnson / Penngrove, California / Donny Johnson
39-Kyle Edwards / Fountain Valley, California / Gordon Edwards
39T-Troy DeGaton / Live Oak, California / Troy DeGaton
41-Ricky Lewis / Oxnard, California / Ricky Lewis
43-Hannah Mayhew / Acton, California / Chris Mayhew
45-Joey Bishop / Camarillo, California / Joey Bishop
51-Brody Fuson / Bakersfield, California / Bob & Toni Van Meter
51-Ronald Webster / Chandler, Arizona / Ron & Shea Webster
52-David Lindt / Sebastopol, California / Davis Lindt
54-Nate Robinson / Ventura, California / Bill Perkins
57-Jake Swanson / Anaheim, California / Steve Hix
63D-Jon DeWees / Lemoore, California / Jon DeWees
69-Ron LaPlant / Oroville, California / Ron LaPlant
79-Mark Hanson / Sacramento, California / Danny Matranga
98-Verne Sweeney / Lomita, California / Ken Tracy
98-Michael Pombo / Easton, California / Tony & Susan Pombo
99T- Tanner Boul / Auberry, California / Boul Racing
$-Cash Culp / Apple Valley, California / Cash Culp
VENTURA USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR TRACK RECORD: Troy Rutherford - 11.941 (06/04/22)
VENTURA USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS: (Includes Non-Point Races) 3-Tristan Guardino, 3-Troy Rutherford, 3-Jake Swanson, 2-Ryan Bernal, 2-Chase Johnson, 1-Brady Bacon, 1-A.J. Bender, 1-Tyler Courtney, 1-Geoff Ensign, 1-Johnathon Henry, 1-Austin Liggett, 1-Carson Macedo, 1-Brody Roa, 1-Ryan Timmons, 1-Daniel Whitley.
2022 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR WINS: 2-Brody Fuson, 2-Chase Johnson, 1-Ricky Lewis, 1-Brody Roa, 1-Troy Rutherford, 1-Daniel Whitley.
FINAL 2022 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Trent Carter-531, 2. Troy Rutherford-504, 3. Kyle Edwards-485, 4. Tanner Boul-423, 5. Tyler Hatzikian ®-390, 6. Joey Bishop ®-386, 7. Brent Yarnal ®-350, 8. Hannah Mayhew-348, 9. Ricky Lewis-329, 10. Camie Bell ®-325, 11. Steve Hix-303, 12. Brody Fuson-295, 13. James Herrera-274, 14. Chase Johnson-242, 15. Elexa Herrera ®-224, 16. Cody Majors-212, 17. Rick Hendrix-185, 18. Travis Buckley-155, 19. Logan Calderwood ®-149, 20. Jake Andreotti ®-143, 21. Brody Roa-135, 22. Ryan Timmons-109, 23. Jacob Tuttle-107, 24. Ben Worth ®-104, 25. Nathan Byrd-98, 26. Daniel Whitley ®-81, 27. Jarrett Soares-76, --. Charlie Butcher-76, 29. Matt Day-74, --. Sterling Cling-74, 31. Dawson Faria ®-64, 32. Randy Nelson-63, 33. Troy DeGaton ®-53, 34. Chris Ennis-51, 35. Christopher Muraoka-49, 36. Bryan Whitley-48, 37. Gage Rucker-46, 38. Todd Pratt-45, 39. Jonas Reynolds-35, 40. Dale Curran-33, 41. Tuesday Calderwood ®-13.
2022 USAC WEST COAST SPRINT CAR SERIES SCHEDULE
February 26: The Dirt Track at KCRP – Bakersfield, CA (Winner: Chase Johnson)
March 12: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA (Winner: Ricky Lewis)
May 21: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Winner: Troy Rutherford)
June 4: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Winner: Daniel Whitley)
August 27: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Winner: Brody Roa)
September 10: Bakersfield Speedway – Bakersfield, CA (Winner: Brody Fuson)
September 24: Ventura Raceway – Ventura, CA (Winner: Chase Johnson)
October 15: The Dirt Track at KCRP – Bakersfield, CA (Winner: Brody Fuson)
November 25: Ventura Raceway - Ventura, CA (Turkey Night Grand Prix / SE)
November 26: Ventura Raceway - Ventura, CA (Turkey Night Grand Prix / SE)
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SE = Special Event / Non-Points.
