USAC National Midget Series Turkey Night Grand Prix at 10 p.m. (ET) Nov. 25.

[gbfan]

Per Indycar.com

Between family, football and turkey watch to see who gets the national championship and graduates to Indy Lights!!

:trophy::trophy::trophy::trophy::trophy::trophy:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/usac---pitpass

Bryan Clauson seeks to lock up a pair of championships when the USAC national midget series competes in the 70th Turkey Night Grand Prix in Irwindale, Calif., on Nov. 25.

The 21-year-old from Noblesville, Ind., can claim the USAC Mopar National Midget championship and the USAC National Drivers Championship.

The feature is part of a tripleheader program that also includes the AMSOIL Western Sprint cars and the Western Ford Focuses and will be streamed live starting at 10 p.m. (ET).

Clauson leads Levi Jones of Olney, Ill., by five points entering the Turkey Night Grand Prix. The USAC National Drivers Championship carries a $40,000 first prize as well as a $300,000 Firestone Indy Lights scholarship program, which will find the winner competing in the six oval races on the schedule in 2011, including the Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May.

Clauson's best 25 finishes this year have included nine feature wins, nine seconds and seven thirds. Jones has 10 feature wins, six seconds, five thirds and four fourths.

Clauson, who won the 98-lap Thanksgiving Night event in 2009, could be the first back-to-back race winner since Billy Boat won three in a row (1995-97). Bobby Santos III (2008), Jason Leffler (1999 and 2005) and Bobby East (2004) are the others looking to repeat as winners of the race.

[Oben]

I'm sure Levi's a great guy, but I'm rooting for Bryan. Not sure what it is, but I like that kid.

[Mindervillain]

I'll be there.

Every year, ever since Turkey Night moved to Irwindale, the family has Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma's in Anaheim. Afterwards, all the guys push away from the table and head to the track while the girls do dishes and figure out where they'll spend our money on Friday. Great show, plus it keeps us from having to host Thanksgiving up in the cold of Northern Nevada. As always, the big question of the night will be, "Is Tony here?" And will he get t-boned and sent quietly to the hospital like a few years ago? At least they no longer have to keep it secret from Gibbs.

[sweaty]

I wish it could be run at Ascot or maybe Gardina(sp)

[voice_of_reason]

I wish it could be run at Ascot or maybe Gardina(sp)

Huh?

[RacingPortaJohn]

You can also link to it from IndyCar.com (links to same place)

[The Stickman]

They awarded it to Bryan Clauson. Watching it now

[indyandy]

It's pretty cool to see :rb there hand-delivering the check to Clauson.

[The Stickman]

Great to have Page there too. What a remarkable story. He has really fought back.

[Fro]

Glad Clauson was able to bring it home... let's get him into IndyCar for 2012.

[Oben]

It's pretty cool to see :rb there hand-delivering the check to Clauson.

Aw man!... I missed it. Late Turkey party out here on the left coast. Oh well, glad Bryan hung in there. What can you say about Randy... that guy sure as hell won't fail for lack of trying.

[Mindervillain]

It's almost 0100; just got back to the in-law's house in Anaheim after dropping my brother-in-law off in Corona. As usual, great show in Irwindale. Clauson is a driver and a racer, but so are a lot of the guys there - wish they all we're in Indy Cars. Don't mean to be xenophobic, but it seems to me that folks with more than four consonants in their names should be required to run a last chance race to qualify for any IndyCar show.

Hung out for a while with the vintage car folks. Chatted with Ken Hillberg whose card says he buys and sellls old race cars. Chatted with a guy even older than me - by a lot - who was showing a midget he built himself in the late '30s. Had a great conversation as long as I stayed on the same side as his good ear - before he ran midgets he raced hardtops at the Contra Costa Speedway in Pacheco California. Didn't get his name, but I probably watched him race when I was about 16.

In the pits my brother-in-law and I spent a few minutes with a young Ford Focus guy from Salt Lake - I'd already figured out that the quick way to tell a Focus midget from a full midget is to glance at the rear wheels - the Focus folks shorten the wheelbase by moving the rear axle forward. Noticeably. Plus I learned that they use a hand operated clutch, no in/out box, and change ratios at the front of the drive shaft. We chatted about their minimum weight rule, but he said that, since the minimum includes the driver, he doesn't know much about it - perhaps the skinny drivers have to add weight; he doesn't.

After a few more adventures, we headed out. Satisfied. We'd seen real racers on a real race track race real race cars against one another. In front of real race fans.

I've spectated races and I've been paid to work races. I get it that around the Midwest, and, particularly around Indy, y'all see as much racing as you can stand. I've worked there - I know. I envy all of you, even while I wonder if your point of view is a bit jaded.

But I just enjoyed myself at a race track as much as I ever have and in the same fashion that I've enjoyed racing all my life. And I truly feel sorry for the folks on TF who worry about sponsorships and ride buys and whether or not they're seeing the latest in technology. Get out to a real race track and enjoy a real race evening. Given a little time and, if you stay with what you love, the big guys who run the big tracks will come to you. Trust me - where else can they go?

[indyandy]

Aw man!... I missed it. Late Turkey party out here on the left coast. Oh well, glad Bryan hung in there. What can you say about Randy... that guy sure as hell won't fail for lack of trying.

What I liked the most about :rb appearance: He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, tennis shoes, and a ball cap. The guy knows how to connect with all types of people from all types of backgrounds, ranging from the local, dirt track fan to the wealthiest and most debonair motorsport partakers.

[Professor Joe]

We'd seen real racers on a real race track race real race cars against one another. In front of real race fans.

I'm glad you had a good time. That's what the racetrack is for!

I get it that around the Midwest, and, particularly around Indy, y'all see as much racing as you can stand. I've worked there - I know. I envy all of you, even while I wonder if your point of view is a bit jaded.

We do get spoiled around here. I get to see all of the main national USAC runners at least 5 times this season and was disappointed that the number was down from where it used to be. Plus, within just over an hour from my house, there are at least 4 tracks running high-quality sprint car shows from Friday night to Sunday evening all summer.

But I just enjoyed myself at a race track as much as I ever have and in the same fashion that I've enjoyed racing all my life. And I truly feel sorry for the folks on TF who worry about sponsorships and ride buys and whether or not they're seeing the latest in technology. Get out to a real race track and enjoy a real race evening. Given a little time and, if you stay with what you love, the big guys who run the big tracks will come to you. Trust me - where else can they go?

Well said!

[Gabe Atthausx]

I wish it could be run at Ascot or maybe Gardina(sp)

Ascot which USED to be in Gardena has been closed and gone for about 20 years.