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Irwindale, CA., Nov. 26–Garrett Peterson, from West Sacramento, started and finished first in a USAC Ford Focus Hoosier Tire 40-lap main event on the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale third-mile paved track Thanksgiving evening. The 23-year old FF Midget veteran drove his own Stewart chassis to a flag-to-flag victory in the first main event of three USAC features during the annual Lucas Oil Turkey Night Grand Prix. He held a lead of 1.778-seconds (40-yards) at the checkers and had three lapped cars between his car and second place. The winner won one of the 19 USAC California FF Pavement Midget Series features on June 27 at the paved All-American track in Roseville. He finished seventh in final 2009 series point standings. “I don't think I had to change a thing all night. Thanks to my dad for wrenching on the car and for putting up with how picky I am,” Peterson said when interviewed at the finish line.
Taylor Ferns, of Shelby Township, Mich., turned 14-years old two weeks before the race and amazed fans on her first visit to the Irwindale track. She won five California Junior FF Series features this year driving a car owned by Cory Kruseman and one paved track race at Roseville in her Ferns No. 55. As third fastest qualifier, the petite blond started fourth in a 25-car field, slipped to fifth on lap 3 and was third by lap 15. She took second place from Nik Romano on lap 27 and held it to the finish line. She drove an ex-Bob East Beast chassis “combo car” owned by her father Jim and sponsored by FatHeadz Sunglasses. She also set the fastest lap in one of two afternoon hot lap sessions
Michael J. Lewis, son on USAC National Midget Series many-time car owner champion Steve Lewis, started second and finished third in one of two Western Speed Racing Gerhardt chassis. He trailed the winner by 3.059 seconds and finished fourth in series points despite not making all the races because of his formula car racing in the USA and abroad. Nik Romero, a 19-year old from Atherton, Calif., finished fourth, 4.936 seconds in back of the winner. He wheeled one of Ron Sutton's Winners Circle K & N Filters Steve Kent-built chassis in which he won two features during October. The series rookie won the 2009 USAC California Pavement FF Series driving title by 83 points. Shawn Buckley came from seventh grid position to earn fifth aboard his own Kent-built midget.
Jake Blackhurst, from Illinois, Zack Stout, Mike Daniels, from Utah, Brody Roa, the 18-year old USAC California Dirt FF Series 2009 champion, and Cody Gerhardt, in the second Western Speed Racing Gerhardt midget, completed the top ten finishers. Gerhardt finished second in in series points and won features at Blythe, California in April and Las Vegas in August. Twenty-four of 25 starters were racing at the finish and 12 drivers completed all 40 laps. The race took 15:09.585 and averaged 52.719 mph after being slowed by caution flags for spins. Gerhardt logged the fastest lap of the race at 14.590 (82.166 mph). Peterson ran the second quickest lap (14.592) and Ferns clocked the third best lap of the race at 14.619.
During 3:30 pm single car time trials, all 25 FF teams ran two consecutive timed laps and only 1.011 seconds separated the fastest and slowest qualifiers. Keegan Walmer, from Portland, Ore., ran the fastest qualifying lap of 14.524 on his first visit to TS@I. The one-lap track record, set in 2003 by Todd Hunsaker, is 14.249 (81.216 mph). Walmer's fast time earned him sixth starting spot based on USAC's inversion of the six fastest qualifiers. Sixth quickest qualifier Peterson received pole position and he maximized that advantage by leading every lap.
(USE BOXSCORE AND POINT STANDINGS FROM USAC HQ.)
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