Hamilton Wins Modified Thriller at Bakersfield

Feature, Modified, News, Northern SportMod, Sprint Car

Eric Hamilton celebrates in victory lane after winning the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature in the Bob Lyon-owned no. 44 on Mar. 21 at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. The win was his first in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region in 2026. (Photo by Tom Macht)

By Steven Blakesley

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Mar. 21, 2026) — Eric Hamilton won his second career Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature on Saturday night in a thriller, topping Tyler Bannister for the final night of the Southwest Shootout.

Hamilton and Bannister engaged in a slide job-filled battle that thrilled the fans and event organizers with perhaps the best feature of the early part of the 2026 season at the one-third-mile dirt track. Bakersfield Speedway merged operations with Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway at the start of the 2025 campaign, with promoters Tim Huddleston and Scott Schweitzer combining efforts.

Hamilton’s victory came over a red-hot Tyler Bannister for his first triumph in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region. Bannister, the 2025 IMCA Northern SportMod track champion, has adapted quickly to the Modifieds in 2026, with a win at Merced and the points lead at Bakersfield Speedway.

Jake Pike of Pahrump, Nevada again was the evening’s hard charger, matching Friday night’s run from tenth to third to run 11th to third on Saturday. Rob Sanders and Shawn Natenstedt rounded out the top-five.

Austin Keifer, Sanders, and Bannister won the heat races.

An outstanding crop of 18 California RaceSaver Sprint Cars took on the Bakersfield Speedway for their first of three appearances in 2026. Fast-time qualifier George Tristao, Jr. won the 25-lap feature with Sedro Woolley, Washington’s Jeff Westergard finishing second. 2025 champion Davey Pombo was third followed by Jeremy Alves and Lance Jackson.

Connor Danell, Tylor Hensen, and Pombo won the heat races.

Jason Bannister of Bakersfield won his second Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod race of 2026, taking the 25-lap feature. Bannister, the final IMCA SportMod champion at the former Bakersfield Speedway facility in 2024, came from tenth on the grid to win. Cale Kanke of Frazier Park marched into second place followed by two-time 2026 winner Nicholas Johnson, Matthew Frazier, and Tate Loftis. Bannister seized the points lead over the weekend, taking a five point lead over Johnson and Loftis.

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