14th Annual Richie McGowan Memorial and Bakersfield’s Biggest Fireworks Show This Saturday at Bakersfield Speedway

Events, Feature, Modified, News, Northern SportMod, Stock Car

By Steven Blakesley

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Jun. 24, 2025) – This Saturday June 28th, Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway honors a great racer and honors America with the 14th Annual Richie McGowan Memorial, featuring Bakersfield’s biggest fireworks show, plus racing for the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars.

Saturday’s event is the first time Kern Raceway at Enos Ln & I-5 will host the McGowan Memorial.

Grandstand gates open at 4pm with hot laps at 5pm. On Track Autographs are scheduled by 5:30pm followed by opening ceremonies, heat races, and main events. Bakersfield’s Biggest Fireworks Show closes the show.

General Admission tickets are on sale now at www.BakersfieldSpeedway.com. Adult general admission tickets are $25 with kids ages 6-12 admitted for $15 while kids five and under are free! Parking is free of charge.

McGowan was an important figure at Bakersfield Speedway as a racer and fellow competitor, along with his daughter Tina. His memorial race has served as one of the most cherished events of the season throughout its 14 editions.

Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds will duel to a special prize of $1032 to win in their 30-lap feature. 2024 track champion Gavyn Manning of Bakersfield is locked into a narrow battle for his title defense, leading Bryan Clark by just eight markers. 2025 round two winner Jake Pike of Pahrump, Nevada snared the 2024 Richie McGowan Memorial win.

Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods race for 25-laps on Saturday with $732 on the line for the winner. Bakersfield’s Jason Bannister on the feature last season, which he parlayed into the 2024 Bakersfield Speedway championship. Tyler Bannister leads his father Jason in the 2025 battle, with just four points between them.

Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars will compete in the Richie McGowan Memorial for the first time with a 20-lap feature. Raymond Noland of Porterville stands tall at the top of the championship despite no wins in the series. The entire top-three in the championship are still searching for a win, with Justin Schweitzer of Bakersfield and Visalia’s Jason Van Essen in pursuit of Noland.

For more information on Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, visit www.BakersfieldSpeedway.com or follow the speedway on social media. Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway is located at 13500 Raceway Blvd, near Enos Ln and Interstate 5 in Bakersfield.

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