WM: Irwindale Turkey Night report

Steele 2-time "Turkey Night Grand Prix" winner!
Leads all but 9 laps at Irwindale Speedway

Dave Steele of Tampa, Fla. became a two-time winner of the prestigious Mopar "Turkey Night Grand Prix," dominating Thursday night's 63rd running of one of America's most traditional motorsports event.s at the Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway.

Steele led all but the first nine laps of the 100-lap USAC National/Western Midget Car race in his Mopar/Finish Line Towing Beast/Mopar. He passed early leader Bobby East on lap 10 and led the rest of the way to beat defending race winner Michael Lewis of Noblesville, Ind. and 2003 Western Midget Car Champion Steve Paden of Downey, Calif.

Steele also won the race in 2001 and finished Thursday night's race with a 6.1-second margin over Lewis at the checkered flag. Rounding out the "top-10" were Teddy Beach (fourth), J.J. Yeley (fifth), East (sixth), Tracy Hines (seventh), Cole Carter (eighth), Josh Wise (ninth) and "Rookie of the Race" Ryan Durst (tenth).

"Winning never gets old," admitted Steele after the race. "Our car was great from the time we unloaded it and we seemed to have a tire advantage in the early laps allowing me to move to the front."

Steele also posted the fastest qualifying time for Thursday night's race, while Josh Wise won a 12-lap "qualifying race" which preceded the feature.

USAC NATIONAL MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1. J.J. Yeley-1,504
2. Tracy Hines-1,383
3. Bobby East-1,376
4. Jay Drake-1,151
5. A.J. Fike-1,112
6. Teddy Beach-939
7. Aaron Fike-878
8. Dave Darland-811
9. Tom Hessert-657
10. Ryan Durst-626

USAC WESTERN MIDGET CAR SERIES STANDINGS
1. Steve Paden-652
2. Josh Wise-545
3. Jerome Rodela-480
4. J.J. Yeley-446
5. Bobby East-439
6. Michael Lewis-400
7. Tracy Hines-386
8. Johnny Rodriguez-373
9. Van Knill-370
10. Wally Pankratz-368

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