July 28, 2025

Robby Sawyer Takes Modified Victory at Bakersfield Speedway

Modified, News, Northern SportMod, Results, Stock Car

MOD Robby Sawyer VL — Robby Sawyer earned his third Friesen Performance IMCA Modified win of the season on July 26 at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. (Track Photo)

By Steven Blakesley

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (July 26, 2025) — Robby Sawyer won his third Friesen Pefromance IMCA Modified feature of 2025 at the new Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, persevering over an opening lap melee to win the 30-lap main event.

Michael Scruggs jumped ahead of the 14-car field at the start of the feature. Scruggs then abruptly slowed and spun in turn four, gobbling up multiple cars for a large crash. Sawyer was able to drive through the carnage but clipped Scruggs for right side damage. Ricky Childress, Jr., Brad Watkins, and Bryan Clark were among the drivers unable to continue.

Sawyer drove around Austin Kiefer on the restart to take control of the 30-lap contest, then pulled away for a commanding win — his third of the year in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Kiefer held off Brad Pounds to finish second.

Tyler Bannister of Bakersfield won the 25-lap Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod feature after starting seventh. Bannister took over second from Matthew Frazier on lap 13. Landon King had accumulated a nearly three second advantage by that stage of the event. Bannister ran down the teenage rookie. Bannister nabbed the lead on the penultimate lap of the race for an exciting fourth win at Bakersfield in 2025 and his sixth overall of the season. King finished second followed by Frazier.

Nicholas Johnson marched from ninth starting position into the lead by lap seven of the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature, then never relinquished the point for his third win at Bakersfield Speedway this season in the class and eighth in the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region. Roger Holder drove away from points leader Raymond Noland for second at the conclusion of 20 laps of action.

bakersfieldspeedway

McKellar wins battle at Bakersfield

By Ben Deatherage BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Sept. 21, 2024) – In a display of sheer determination, Chris McKellar, starting from the ninth position, clinched a thrilling victory on the last corner of the last lap in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod feature at Bakersfield Speedway. After a relentless chase throughout the main event, the hometown driver, with unwavering faith in the high side, overtook the race leader to secure his first win of the season. Markus Frazier was the dominant force for much of the race, skillfully fending off occasional challenges and striving to widen the gap from the rest of the pack. The race took a dramatic turn when the final caution was displayed, setting the stage for a thrilling four-lap shootout. As the race neared its end, McKellar maintained a steady pace at the top of the track, while Adam Baker fiercely battled on the bottom for second place. The outcome seemed set until McKellar summoned his last burst of energy for a dramatic overtake for the lead on the final lap. Frazier [Read More]

Hamilton Tops Modified Feature at Bakersfield

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (May 30, 2025) — A strong Friesen Performance IMCA Modified field put on a show Friday night at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway, where Harvick was on hand serving as Grand Marshal. The 30-lap main event featured wheel-to-wheel battles, heartbreak, and a breakthrough win for Eric Hamilton. Bakersfield’s Robby Sawyer opened the feature with a thrilling three-wide move to take the lead. Behind him, Eric Hamilton, in the Bob Lyon-owned no 44, fought off champions Brad Pounds and Gavyn Manning in a fierce chase. Sawyer, aiming for his second win of the season, was sidelined by mechanical issues in turn four on lap 12. Hamilton inherited the lead and opened up a solid advantage. Manning tracked him down but slowed with mechanical trouble of his own, drawing a caution with nine laps to go. Brad Pounds mounted several late-race challenges, but Hamilton stood his ground and held on for the $750 payday — his first win of the season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region. Pounds was second, [Read More]

Kiefer repeats IMCA Modified triumph at McGowan Memorial

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (June 27) – Racing returned to Bakersfield Speedway and Austin Kiefer returned to victory lane following Saturday’s Richie McGowan Memorial. Kiefer topped the IMCA Modified special ahead of Robby Sawyer for a second straight year, earning $1,000. Jerry Flippo, Cody Laney and Troy Foulger completed the top five. “It was pretty cool deal. To be able to win this race twice in a row means a lot to me,” said Kiefer, already a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot candidate. “I grew up watching Tina and Brad (Pounds, McGowan’s daughter and son-in-law) race.” Kiefer started outside Sawyer on the front row and led every lap. Sawyer challenged early but there was no catching Kiefer after the sole caution flew at midway. Laney made his way to fourth from 14th starting. Drivers with proven Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod credentials squared off in that $700 to win feature and it was defending track champion Michael Johnson first across the stripe half a car length ahead of defending race winner Jason Nation. Johnson used the higher line to [Read More]

Feature

Loverude Wins Modified Thriller by Inches at Arlington

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (July 26, 2025) – The Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature had the fans at Arlington Raceway on the edge of their seats with five different leaders in a race packed with drama. Jason Schroeder led the opening lap, but Todd Stinehart, who started eighth, wasted no time and took over on lap two. Trent Loverude, racing with a broken foot, worked his way into the battle by lap six, trading the lead back and forth with Stinehart. Clint Hatlestad was also right there, making it a thrilling three-way contest. A caution on lap 14 flew when Wayne Govig spun and collected J.J. Reimers. On the restart, Hatlestad powered around Stinehart, setting up a showdown with Loverude. The two exchanged the top spot three different times on the final lap alone. Coming out of turn four, Hatlestad appeared to have it—but at the line, it was the fifth starting Loverude scoring the win by mere inches. It was his sixth Razor Chassis North Central Region win of 2025, five of which have [Read More]

Feature

Spangler Family Sweeps SportMod Podium at Cortez

By Suzan McCoy CORTEZ, Colo. (July 26, 2025) — The Dove Creek-based Spangler family stole the spotlight Saturday night at Cortez Fairgrounds Speedway, sweeping the podium in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod division with an unforgettable 1-2-3 finish. Aaron Spangler was the class of the field, charging from the seventh starting position and methodically working his way to the front. Once there, he never looked back, holding off his younger family members with veteran savvy. The win marked Aaron’s fourth of the season and second at Cortez, and it adds to his growing success in the 2025 campaign. Brody Spangler, who started second, kept things steady and fast all night to secure the runner-up spot. Camron Spangler completed the family sweep with a fantastic drive from 10th to third, thrilling the home crowd. Seidel Scores Modified Victory Troy Seidel of Cheyenne, Wyoming, delivered a commanding performance in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature. Starting third, he quickly found his rhythm and drove to his fourth win of the year—but his first in the 2025 Shaw [Read More]

Feature

Hellman Sweeps Stock Cars to Win Governor’s Cup Title

By Becca Pelkey MANDAN, N.D. (July 26, 2025) — Dacotah Speedway hosted the North Dakota Governor’s Cup Auto Races on July 25 and 26. First held in the early 1990s under the vision of then-Governor George Sinner, the event was designed to be a marquee racing showcase for drivers across North Dakota. Originally rotating between tracks, it found a permanent home at Dacotah Speedway by the mid-1990s. Now more than three decades later, the Governor’s Cup still draws top-tier competition from across the Midwest to the high banks of Mandan. On Friday night, Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars took center stage as Andrew Jochim and Jonny Carter led the field to green after scoring the most passing points in their heats. Jonny Carter led the opening laps but faced immediate pressure from Jochim and Geoff Hellman. The three traded positions in an exciting battle while Matt Dosch lurked just behind. Hellman used the high line to clear Jochim for second and then set his sights on Carter. With five laps to go, Hellman pulled a big slider [Read More]

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