Team Mopar Irwindale preview

TEAM MOPAR GEARS UP FOR USAC NATIONAL MIDGET SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE

* Mopar's Coons Jr. and Wise Lead Championship Chase Into Final Stretch
* Mopar's Presence Dominates Earl's Fast Qualifying Championship
* Event Information
* About DaimlerChrysler's Mopar Brand

Center Line, Mich. -- Team Mopar has its sights set on another USAC National Series Championship, as the 66th Annual Turkey Night Grand Prix event will see Jerry Coons Jr., and defending USAC National Midget Car Series champion Josh Wise go head-to-head in a battle for the 2007 title. Coons Jr., and the Wilke-PAK Racing team hold a 54-point lead over Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises' Wise, as the USAC National Midget Car Series rolls into Irwindale Speedway for the annual Thanksgiving night event. With 66 points available for Thursday night's race, the stage has been set for a showdown between the two Team Mopar powerhouses.

While Coons Jr., and Wise are doing battle for 100 laps on the half-mile paved oval of Irwindale Speedway for the title, Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises' Levi Jones will be contesting a battle of his own. Currently ranked in sixth place in the points championship, Jones is only 38 markers behind fifth-place ranked Bryan Clauson. With a strong performance on Thursday, Jones could earn his first USAC National Midget Car Series championship Top-five finish.

Mopar's Presence Dominates Earl's Fast Qualifying Championship

Wise and Coons Jr., will also be battling for another championship on Thursday, as Wise leads Coons Jr., in the Earl's Fast Qualifying Championship for the USAC National Midget Car Series division. Wise, with 87 points, leads Coons Jr., by 35 points heading into the final qualifying event of the season. Already having locked up the USAC National Sprint Car Series division of the Earl's Fast Qualifying Championship, Wise will look to end the year by earning his second title.

Earl's Fast Qualifying Championship points will be available for Thursday's race, as points are awarded for each USAC event. Points are based on an international system that awards the top-six qualifiers at each event with the following: 1st-- 9, 2nd-- 6, 3rd-- 4, 4th-- 3, 5th-- 2, 6th-- 1. All Earl's Qualifying Champions will be honored at the USAC Champions Night ceremony in Indianapolis, Indiana, in January 2007.

Event Information

The 66th running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix will take place on Thursday, November 23, at Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, California. A practice night is scheduled for Wednesday, November 22, from 3 to 7 p.m. PST. Gates will open to the public at 4 p.m. PST on Thursday, November 23. An autograph session is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. PST, with racing set to begin at 7 p.m. PST on Thanksgiving night.

The event will feature a 100-lap feature for the USAC National Midget Car Series, a 40-lap feature for the USAC Western States Sprint Car Series and a 50-lap feature event for the USAC Ford Focus Midget Series. For entry lists, a schedule of events, or to purchase tickets, log on to www.irwindalespeedway.com. For information regarding USAC Racing or the Earl's Fast Qualifying Championship, log on to www.usacracing.com.

-credit: irwindalespeedway.com