VENTURA, Calif. — The ARP Turkey Night time Grand Prix Offered by the West Coast Inventory Automobile/Motorsports Corridor of Fame yearly presents the Don Basile Rookie of the Race Award, honoring the highest efficiency by a first-time characteristic starter within the 98-lap basic every year.
The 2025 crop of 29 Turkey Night time Rookies arrive to stake their declare and make their preliminary mark on the nice race that includes USAC’s NOS Power Drink Midget Nationwide Championship, which is able to happen for the 84th time this Saturday evening, November 29, at California’s Ventura Raceway.
No Rookie has received the race since Warren Mockler’s final lap heroics in 1986. Zach Wigal topped the sphere of Turkey Night time debut starters within the 2024 race, ending eleventh.
Greater than half of this yr’s 50-car area might be in competition for the Don Basile Rookie of the Race as they try to make their first Turkey Night time midget characteristic begin.
This yr’s checklist consists of 2025 USAC Nationwide Midget Rookie of the 12 months Steven Snyder Jr., USAC Nationwide Midget winner Drake Edwards, winged dash automotive standout Justin Peck, NASCAR’s Ty Gibbs, USAC Nationwide Dash Automobile Rookie of the 12 months Gunnar Setser, USAC Western States Midget champion Caden Sarale, plus USAC Western States Midget winners Jett Yantis and Dane Culver.
The Turkey Night time Rookie checklist additionally consists of Connor Lundy, Anthony Bruno, Jakeb Boxell, Connor Speir, Austin Wooden, Grant Schaadt, Drake Cardey, Todd Hawse, Brecken Reese, Kyle Hawse, Karter Sarff, Kyle Jones, Joey Bishop, Cole Wakim, Cale Coons, T.J. Smith, Bryan Drollinger, Preston Norbury and Brody Wake, all seeking to crack the Turkey Night time beginning area for the primary time.
Worldwide aptitude within the rookie class belongs to New Zealand’s Mathew Radisich and England’s Brandon Carr, making the journey throughout the pond.
The award, named in reminiscence of observe proprietor, promoter and 1999 Nationwide Dash Automobile Corridor of Fame inductee Don Basile, made its debut in 1998 with Kasey Kahne the primary recipient.
Over time, the Don Basile Rookie of the Race honors at Turkey Night time have been awarded to among the most gifted younger racers in America. A look on the checklist reveals among the prime names from the game over the previous 20 years, together with two race winners – Kyle Larson (2011) and Corey Day (2023), plus Carson Macedo (2016), Cannon McIntosh (2019) and Jake Andreotti (2022).
