Bakersfield Speedway primes for opening night March 6

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The long-awaited green flag flies for the first time this season Saturday, March 6 at Bakersfield Speedway.

IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods all see action at the California oval idled for much of 2020 by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It was a crazy, weird season last year,” acknowledged Promoter Scott Schweitzer. “It’s exciting to be able to go racing again. We’re not going to be 100 percent back to normal but it’s going to be good to get cars back on the track and get back to racing.” 

The grandstand will be closed and all admission will be to the pit area on opening night. Pit passes will be $40 for drivers and crew members, $20 for family members and non-racers.

Pit gates open at 3 p.m. Hot laps are at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. The race program will be broadcast by Low Budget TV. 

Gates open at 4 p.m. and an open practice for all divisions is from 5-9 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 27. Pit passes are $35. 

Bakersfield hosted a handful of events last year, including a mid-August California IMCA Speedweek show. The track will celebrate its belated 75th anniversary season this year, after fans are allowed back in the stands. 

Newly-sanctioned IMCA STARS Mod Lites make their Bakersfield Speedway debut on March 13.

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