Cannon Fires the First Shot: McIntosh Tops Turkey Night Practice
Ventura, California (November 26, 2021)………Cannon McIntosh led all challengers as the fastest driver in Friday night’s USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship practice at California’s Ventura Raceway.
The Bixby, Okla. native timed in with an 11.827-second lap in his Dave Mac Motorsports/DriveWFX.com – D.A. McIntosh – Smith Titanium/Spike/Speedway Toyota around the 1/5-mile dirt oval during the session, which was the final tune-up prior the 80th running of the ARP Turkey Night Grand Prix at Ventura on Saturday, November 27.
McIntosh took the track on Friday in the Dave Mac Motorsports No. 17B, renumbered to his traditional No. 08 for this weekend’s activity. The No. 08 was out of commission following a last-lap incident during Wednesday night’s feature at Merced (Calif.) Speedway.
The last, and only prior visit by McIntosh to Ventura and Turkey Night, came in 2019 when he led a race-high 67 laps before finishing 2nd to Kyle Larson in the 98-lapper, and was subsequently named the Don Basile Rookie of the Race.
USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship point leader Buddy Kofoid was second overall in practice at 11.842. Kofoid (Penngrove, Calif.) holds a 47-point lead over defending series champion Chris Windom entering the season finale on Saturday. Windom (Canton, Ill.) was eighth overall.
Thomas Meseraull (San Jose, Calif.) timed in third overall at 11.874 while Ryan Bernal (Hollister, Calif.) was fourth at 11.903 and the fastest Turkey Night Rookie, Mitchel Moles (Raisin City, Calif.), was fifth at 11.954.
Forty-four cars took time in the practice. Three-time Turkey Night Grand Prix winner and 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson (Elk Grove, Calif.) did not participate in practice nor did Turkey Night Rookie and 2020 NASCAR Cup Series titlist Chase Elliott (Dawsonville, Calif.) due to prior obligations.
Larson’s No. 1K was driven in practice by Kevin Thomas Jr. (Cullman, Ala.) who was 29th quickest in the car. Thomas also practiced in his ride for Saturday’s race, the Petry Motorsports No. 5, and timed in 20th quickest. Shane Golobic (Fremont, Calif.) practiced Elliott’s No. 9, timing in 22nd overall. Golobic will compete in Matt Wood Racing’s No. 17w on Saturday.
Automotive Racing Products, the title sponsor of the 80th running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix, has added $15,000 to the event purse from top-to-bottom for the $10,000-to-win USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship event at Ventura on Saturday night, November 27.
USAC Western States Midget champions Robby Flock (1986-1989-1993-2002) and Johnny Cofer (1994) will serve as co-grand marshals for Saturday’s race.
Saturday’s program features single-car qualifying, three last chance races and a 98-lap feature event for the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship along with a USAC West Coast Sprint Car semi-feature and feature.
On Saturday, pits open at 11am Pacific, with the drivers meeting at 2:30pm, the grandstands opening at 3pm and cars on track at 3:30pm, followed by qualifying and racing.
On Saturday, all tickets that are not reserved are $35. Reserved seats are $45 for ages 13 and older and $25 for ages 12 and under. Pit passes are $45 for members & $50 for non-members.
Race tickets are available now at www.venturaraceway.net.
The Turkey Night Grand Prix at Ventura will be streamed live on FloRacing at https://bit.ly/2ZpafUr.
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USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PRACTICE RESULTS: November 26, 2021 – Ventura Raceway Speedway – Ventura, California – 1/5-Mile Dirt Oval – 80th ARP Turkey Night Grand Prix
PRACTICE: 1. Cannon McIntosh, 08, Dave Mac-11.827; 2. Buddy Kofoid, 67, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-11.842; 3. Thomas Meseraull, 7x, RMS-11.874; 4. Ryan Bernal, 87w, Wood-11.903; 5. Mitchel Moles, 07w, Wood-11.954; 6. Taylor Reimer, 25K, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-11.970; 7. Zeb Wise, 37w, Wood-12.019; 8. Chris Windom, 89, CBI-12.036; 9. Mariah Ede, 71E, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.042; 10. Kaylee Bryson, 71, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.048; 11. Chase Johnson, 68, Six8-12.084; 12. Bryant Wiedeman, 01, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.089; 13. Justin Grant, 2J, RMS-12.095; 14. Emerson Axsom, 15, Petry-12.125; 15. Tanner Carrick, 71K, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.143; 16. Chase Randall, 19A, Reinbold/Underwood-12.161; 17. Jade Avedisian, 86, CBI-12.182; 18. Carson Macedo, 21, Tarlton-12.197; 19. Ryan Timms, 85T, CBI-12.205; 20. Kevin Thomas Jr., 5, Petry-12.207; 21. Matt Mitchell, 37, Mitchell-12.218; 22. Shane Golobic, 9, Larson-12.224; 23. Brenham Crouch, 97, Kunz/Curb-Agajanian-12.235; 24. Maria Cofer, 57, Abacus-12.283; 25. Max Adams, 7NZ, BSL-12.314; 26. Chance Crum, 26R, Rudeen-12.316; 27. Kaleb Montgomery, 8w, Woodland-12.411; 28. C.J. Leary, 89x, Ford-12.413; 29. Kevin Thomas Jr., 1K, Larson-12.427; 30. Hayden Reinbold, 19AZ, Reinbold/Underwood-12.433; 31. Carson Garrett, 15x, Garrett-12.437; 32. Caden Sarale, 32, Sarale-12.441; 33. Ben Worth, 5K, Alexander-12.458; 34. Dylan Ito, 73, Ford-12.460; 35. Brody Fuson, 51, Carlile-12.490; 36. Ricky Lewis, 1EM, NP-12.524; 37. Tyler Dolacki, 35, MF-12.631; 38. Terry Nichols, 1p, NP-12.681; 39. C.J. Sarna, 20, Sarna-12.780; 40. Sage Bordenave, 35x, MF-12.869; 41. Jarrett Soares, 12, Soares-12.900; 42. Joey Bishop, 45, Bishop-13.018; 43. Ron Hazelton, 15ws, Hazelton-13.063; 44. Tanner Thorson, 19T, Reinbold/Underwood-13.142.
NEXT USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE: November 27, 2021 – Ventura Raceway Speedway – Ventura, California – 1/5-Mile Dirt Oval – 80th ARP Turkey Night Grand Prix
Sources: Richie Murray – USAC Media
Cannon McIntosh (Bixby, Okla.) was the fastest overall in Friday night’s USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship practice at California’s Ventura Raceway, the final tune-up prior to Saturday night’s 80th running of the event. (Rich Forman Photo)