Irwindale Speedway closed its inaugural racing season Thursday night before a capacity crowd of 6,500 by showcasing one of the most intense and entertaining races in the 59-year history of the Home Depot Turkey Night Midget Grand Prix. Tony Stewart and Jason Leffler, three-time U.S. Auto Club midget car champion–and soon to be Stewart’s NASCAR teammate–raced nose to tail and sometimes side by side for 100 laps around the half-mile paved oval. After swapping the lead six times officially and numerous other times when they passed and repassed each other on the same lap, Leffler swept past Stewart on the first turn of the 99th lap to win midget car racing’s most prestigious event after Stewart’s engine failed. Kenny Irwin also ran the ran( LA Times )
