EAST FEAST; Bobby East takes the Turkey Night Grand Prix.(Motorsports)

Byline: PATRICK C. PATERNIE

As most of the country lounged contented Thanksgiving night before their televisions, tripping on tryptophan, more than 6000 midget racing devotees gathered at Irwindale Speedway for the latest episode in one of auto racing's longest-running reality shows.

It was the 64th running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix, a Southern California Thanksgiving tradition that began in 1934 at Gilmore Speedway in Los Angeles. The names of past winners, listed below a bronzed Stetson once worn by promoter J.C. Agajanian that adorns the Turkey Night trophy, reads like a Google search for American oval racing legends. Among them, and on hand this year, were Danny Oakes (1945), Tony Simon (1972) and Parnelli Jones (1964, 1966). Joining Jones as he roamed among the 124 sprint cars and midgets entered in the night's activities was his son P.J., whose best finish was second in eight Turkey Night appearances. Other famous faces in the crowd included Tommy Kendall, Bryan Herta and Eddie Lawson.

Turkey Night is special because it bridges the gap between racing generations. Take 86-year-old Bob Higman, a man who has fielded cars for many of the drivers on that trophy, and who still travels from his Indiana home to Turkey Night with his racing family. Higman prowled the paddock in an electric cart with the No. 20 on its flanks, a gift from Tony Stewart.

"We go back a long way,'' Higman said of Stewart. "I still have the announcement and picture his parents sent us when Tony was born.''

Stewart, the 2000 winner, was one of four former winners, including Michael Lewis (2002), Dave Steele (2001, 2003) and Jason Leffler (1999), who returned for this year's race.

"I am proud to have my name on the list of winners. I wouldn't miss this for the world,'' Stewart said during the autograph session preceding the races.