February 22, 2026

Pearce Prevails in Winter Clash Feature at Bakersfield

Feature, Modified, News, Northern SportMod, Stock Car

MOD Andrew Pearce OT PB Tom Macht — Andrew Pearce races to victory in the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified Winter Clash season opener on Feb. 21 at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway. (Photo by Tom Macht)

By Steven Blakesley

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (February 21, 2026) — Eighth-starting Andrew Pearce of Oakley won the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified 30-lap season opener during the Winter Clash at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. 2025 champion Brad Pounds and 2024 champion Gavyn Manning collided while battling for the lead in turn one on lap 11, thrusting 2025 Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod champion Tyler Bannister into the top spot.

Pearce searched all over the speedway for a way to get around Bannister before the caution flew for Pounds with an apparent oil line fire underneath his machine on lap 18. Bannister restarted with a mechanical failure on his left front wheel, and Pearce took advantage of the wounded machine to make the decisive pass for the lead on lap 19. Markus Frazier of Santa Maria then flipped in turns one and two to bring out a red flag.

Pearce led the final 10 laps for his first DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region win of 2026, while Race Liberante drove into second place. Bannister held on for third, followed by Tyson Talkington and Wayne Coffman.

Bakersfield veteran Jason Bannister won the opening night 25-lap feature for the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, which also saw a top contender suffer a flip. Nicholas Johnson jumped ahead at the start and kept Bannister at bay until trouble struck on lap 11 when Johnson went upside down in turn one to end his evening. Johnson emerged from his car unscathed.

Bannister inherited the lead and never relinquished it for the coveted season-opening win, his first of 2026. Tate Loftis finished second, followed by Chris McKellar, Cale Kanke, and Matthew Frazier.

Jacob Van Essen of Visalia scored the victory in the 20-lap Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature with Billy Simkins and Austin Pugh in pursuit. It was Van Essen’s first win of the year in the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region. 2025 track champion Raymond Noland won the heat race before finishing fourth in the feature, while Blaze Hill completed the top five.

The night’s action aired live on IMCA.TV affiliate TrackVision TV powered by Low Budget TV. Catch every lap again with an IMCA.TV Replay Subscription for just $24.99/month. Plus, stream Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries exclusively on IMCA.TV.

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