Leffler Gets the Win as Stewart’s Car Fails

Irwindale Speedway closed its inaugural racing season Thursday night before a capacity crowd of 6,500 by showcasing one of the most intense and entertaining races in the 59-year history of the Home Depot Turkey Night Midget Grand Prix.

Tony Stewart, who left open-wheel racing this year to become the winningest rookie in NASCAR Winston Cup history, and Jason Leffler, three-time U.S. Auto Club midget car champion--and soon to be Stewart’s NASCAR teammate--raced nose to tail and sometimes side by side for 100 laps around the half-mile paved oval. After swapping the lead six times officially and numerous other times when they passed and repassed each other on the same lap, Leffler swept past Stewart on the first turn of the 99th lap to win midget car racing’s most prestigious event.

Stewart ran the fastest lap of the night on Lap 98 and appeared the likely winner, but the next time around, his engine went sour.

“I don’t think it would have lasted another lap,” said a dejected Stewart, who had not driven an open-wheel car for 14 months before qualifying at 104.919 mph, fastest in the 50-car field.

“Disappointed? Damn right I am, I came here wanting to win this race. Closing close doesn’t do it. A win’s a win in the record books and it will always be Jason’s in 1999.”

Leffler was elated, commenting, “I didn’t think I could race Tony like that all night. It feels great to be able to beat a driver like him.”

It was a big night for car owner Steve Lewis, a publisher-promoter from South Laguna, whose Beasts--named for their builder, Bob East--finished 1-2-3. Dave Darland, who will move into Leffler’s seat in USAC midgets next year, was third.

“Irwindale has brought electricity back to midget racing tonight,” Lewis said. “The atmosphere hasn’t been like this since Ascot closed in 1990. I think the Turkey Night Grand Prix has found another home at last.”

Jim Williams, president of Irwindale Speedway and the man responsible for its having been built, was as pleased as Leffler and Lewis.

“We brought in the big stars and they put on a great show,” he said. “I walked around in the stands and everywhere I heard comments about how much they were enjoying the competition. They were on their feet screaming and yelling most of the time. It was everything we had hoped for when the Agajanians decided to bring the race here.”

Jay Agajanian, whose family owns the sanctioning rights to the race, agreed.

“What a wonderful race in such a wonderful facility,” said Agajanian, whose father, the late J.C. Agajanian, revived the Turkey Night GP in 1955 after it had been abandoned following the closing of Gilmore Stadium in 1950. The first Thanksgiving Day race was in 1934 at Gilmore.

“I think we’ll be here a long, long time.”

When Ascot closed, the race bounced around from Saugus Speedway to Bakersfield Speedway to Ventura Raceway and Perris Auto Speedway.

“I had a heck of a time talking Joe Gibbs [his stock car owner] into letting me drive here tonight, but I’m going to come back here next year if at all possible,” Stewart said. “I’ll tell you that right now.

“Halfway through the race, I told myself that win or lose, this was one of the best midget races I’d ever been in.”

Stewart won the 1995 USAC midget championship and won 36 midget races--plus the sprint car and Silver Crown titles--before moving to the Indy Racing League and then to Winston Cup.

In the early stages of the race, Leffler and Stewart were challenged at times by A.J. Fike, Ronnie Johncox and Clay Klepper, but from the 40th lap, it was a high-speed duel between teammates.

Leffler will join Stewart next year on Gibbs’ team. He will drive a Busch Grand National car.

J.J. Ercse of Camarillo led all 20 laps to win the TQ midget support race. Josh Wise of Riverside finished second and won the series championship.