Turkey Night Midget Race Stays on Track at Saugus

When Ascot Park in Gardena closed last November, the Turkey Night Midget Grand Prix, a racing staple since 1934, was put in jeopardy because it had no site.

Saugus Speedway approached the Agajanian family, the owners of Ascot Park, and the United States Auto Club, the sanctioning body, with an offer to play host to the event and a deal was struck.

Tonight at 8 at Saugus, the 51st edition of the 100-lap Thanksgiving classic will get under way, keeping alive a season-ending tradition.

Among those scheduled to race are Stan Fox of Janesville, Wis., an Indy 500 veteran and the defending Turkey Night champion. Fox finished seventh at Indianapolis in 1987 and eighth in 1991, and he overtook P. J. Jones after 50 laps to win last year’s Thanksgiving race.

Jones and his brother Page, both of Rolling Hills, are entered in tonight’s race and hope to add to the event’s lore.

P. J. and Page are the sons of 1963 Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones. Parnelli also was a Turkey Night champion in 1964 and 1966. Should either of the Joneses win, they would form only the second father-son combination to win Turkey Night Grand Prix events. In 1967, Gary Bettenhausen joined his father Tony (1959) in the winner’s circle.

Other notables scheduled to race tonight include former Turkey Night champion Chuck Gurney of Livermore; current USAC sprint car champion Robbie Stanley of Brownsburg, Ind.; current USAC midget points leader Stevie Reeves of Indianapolis; and local favorites Sleepy Tripp of Costa Mesa and Robby Flock of Temecula.