Toyota drivers led 81 of 98 laps but fell just short of the victory at the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series’ 83rd running of the ARP Turkey Night Grand Prix at Ventura Raceway as Buddy Kofoid finished second with Daison Pursley placing third to lead Toyota. With the podium finish, Pursley locked up the 2024 USAC national championship.
Pole-sitter Jacob Denney took the lead at the green flag and proceeded to maintain the point position until Kofoid would take the top spot on lap 26, sliding Denney through turns three and four for the lead.
As the race passed the midway point, Denney would retake the lead on lap 50, followed by Kofoid and Pursley.
Eventual race-winner Corey Day would overtake Denney for the lead going to the bottom in turn two on lap 82, just before a lap 83 caution. On the restart, Denney would slip up in turn two allowing Kofoid to go past him for second on lap 84, with Pursley moving past Denney on lap 87.
The top four would stay intact over the final 12 laps with Day taking the win ahead of Kofoid, Pursley and Denney.
Pursley closed out his championship season with seven wins and 16 top-five finishes, both series highs, as he won the title by 59 points over fellow Toyota driver Cannon McIntosh. With Pursley’s title, Toyota-powered drivers swept all three national midget league championships after McIntosh won both the Xtreme Outlaw and POWRi crowns.
Pursley’s CB Industries teammate Zach Wigal earned the Rookie of the Race with an 11th-place finish which also secured him the 2024 USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Rookie of the Year.
The 2025 season kicks off with the 39th annual Chili Bowl Nationals January 12-18 at the Tulsa Expo Square.
Toyota-Powered Drivers Turkey Night Grand Prix Feature Results
Daison Pursley – 3rd
Jacob Denney – 4th
Gavin Miller – 6th
Justin Grant – 7th
Kale Drake – 8th
Tanner Carrick – 10th
Zach Wigal – 11th
Cannon McIntosh – 12th
Tyler Courtney – 13th
Tanner Thorson – 14th
Cade Lewis –16th
C.J. Leary – 17th
Dalten Gabbard – 18th
Kyle Larson – 20th
Emerson Axsom – 21st
Ryan Timms – 26th
Toyota USAC PR
