bakersfieldspeedway Archives

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]

Combs, Wilson, Johnson Crowned Central California Clash Champions

By Ben Deatherage VINTON, Iowa (May 28, 2025) — Josh Combs, Dylan Wilson, and Nicholas Johnson each made history with their first career Central California Clash championships in their respective Speedway Motors IMCA divisions, capping a competitive four-race tour across the Golden State. Roseville’s Josh Combs clinched the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified title with a strong and consistent week. After opening with a ninth-place finish at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway Park, he stormed to victory at Santa Maria. Combs followed that with a runner-up finish at Merced before closing the series with a fifth-place run at Petaluma. Bakersfield youngster Gavyn Manning was runner-up in points after finishing second on opening night, taking ninth at Santa Maria, winning at Merced, and wrapping up the week 10th at Petaluma. Third in points went to Keith Brown Jr., now based in Greenbrier, Ark. Brown’s week included a 10th at Bakersfield, third at Santa Maria, eighth at Merced, and 12th at Petaluma. Dylan Wilson of Bakersfield earned the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod championship with a [Read More]

Pounds Prevails in Three-Car Modified Melee at Bakersfield

By Ben Deatherage BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (May 22, 2025) — The Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds kicked off the Central California Clash with a wild 30-lap main event at the new Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway. Local standout Brad Pounds, a six-time Bakersfield Speedway champion, emerged victorious in dramatic fashion to claim his first career series win and first Shaw Race Cars Western Region triumph of 2025. The race started with Markus Frazier showing the early way before Larry Wise took control on lap two. Pounds powered to the lead following a restart on the fourth circuit and appeared to be in control until traffic brought challengers into the mix. Former California State and Bakersfield track champion Robby Sawyer closed the gap and briefly took over the lead on lap 19, while young gun Gavyn Manning also joined the fight to make it a thrilling three-car showdown. Brad Pounds (15B) and Robby Sawyer (X) battle for the lead during the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway. Pounds [Read More]

Manning Rolls to Second IMCA Modified Win at Bakersfield

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (May 10, 2025) – 2024 Bakersfield Speedway champion Gavyn Manning continued to build momentum towards a 2025 title, winning his second Friesen Performance IMCA Modified race of the season during round four at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway on Saturday night. Manning and Austin Kiefer claimed the IMCA Modified heat races before Manning lined up tenth for the 30-lap, $750-to-win feature. Incoming second in points Brad Pounds tagged the turn four wall for a caution on lap nine. The restart allowed Kiefer and Manning to challenge race leader Justin Crockett. Kiefer slid Crockett in turn two and went wide, opening the bottom for Manning to drive underneath and lead lap 10. Manning led the rest of the way for the convincing win, his third in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region, followed by Kiefer and Bryan Clark. Ninth-starting Tyler Bannister charged into the lead by lap 10 in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA SportMods 25-lap feature and never relinquished it for a $600 score. Baypoint’s Danny Wagner led the first [Read More]

Manning Finally Gets a Modified Win At Bakersfield

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Apr. 18, 2025) — 2024 Bakersfield Speedway champion Gavyn Manning finally prevailed at the all-new speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, winning Friday’s 30-lap IMCA Modified feature during the special Friday Night Lights program at the 1/3-mile dirt track. Manning had finished runner-up in both events to open the 2025 season before finally achieving victory, but his second in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region after a big win at Mohave Valley Raceway’s Bill & Shirley Meyer Memorial late last month. Outside polesitter Dalton Houghton made a strong move to take the lead on the opening circuit of the feature race. Ninth-starting Manning took advantage of multiple early race restarts to work the inside line and take over the lead by the fourth lap of the feature. Manning accumulated a five-second lead that was nullified by a caution on lap 22. Opening night winner Robby Sawyer, in the Joe Gallaher-fielded No. X, soldiered on with early damage, running in the third position for most of the main event. Sawyer then retired [Read More]

Rasmussen Rallies to Second Straight California RaceSaver Win

By Ben Deatherage BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Apr. 12, 2025) — The California RaceSaver Sprint Series delivered a thriller Saturday night, where Clovis chauffeur Kyle Rasmussen charged from sixth to win the 25-lap RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car main event at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway. Rasmussen made his move into second just before Pombo hit lapped traffic. With the field bunching up ahead of the leader, Rasmussen seized his opportunity—sliding under Pombo to take command entering turn one on lap 16. From there, Rasmussen never looked back. He powered away from the pack to secure his second straight win with the California RaceSaver Series in as many events. Pombo held on for second, with Phil Heynan completing the podium in third. The event was streamed live on IMCA TV affiliate Track Vision TV powered by Low Budget TV. The full replay is now available to subscribers through the IMCA TV Replay Subscription for just $24.99. Already subscribed? Don’t miss the upcoming premiere of the second season of the Boone Docuseries, coming soon to the IMCA TV [Read More]

Pike Rules IMCA Modifieds at Bakersfield

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Mar. 29, 2025) – Pahrump, Nevada’s Jake Pike battled past Bakersfield’s Gavyn Manning over the final three laps to win the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. 22 IMCA Modifieds took the green flag for the 30-lap feature. Pike started eighth and advanced into the lead past Austin Keifer of Corona on lap 13. Keifer tracked him back down before a caution flew on lap 17. Pike held court on the subsequent restart. 11th-starting Gavyn Manning and 13th-starting B-Main transfer Ricky Childress, Jr. battled for second position. Childress retired from the race on lap 20, however. A caution on lap 27 set up a three-lap shootout between Pike and Manning. Manning drove inside Pike and the pair raced side-by-side through turns three and four. Manning pushed up the track with his front wheels in the air, allowing Pike to drive around the outside to maintain the lead. Pike grabbed the $750 checkered flag, his first this season in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region, [Read More]

Robby Sawyer Kicks Off Bakersfield Speedway With IMCA Modified Triumph

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Mar. 8, 2025) – Bakersfield’s Robby Sawyer kicked off the new era of dirt track racing at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, using a last lap slidejob to win the 2025 Opening Night Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature. The feature win paid $750 and was the inaugural event of the partnership of the two speedways, racing at the newly redesigned one-third mile dirt track adjacent to Kern Raceway. “We lost our brakes early in the race. I didn’t think I had anything. I was just trying to stay consistent. I don’t think I was the better car,” Sawyer said. “Rob Gallaher – I’ve been driving for him for two years and I had yet to win for him. So to do it at home is huge!” The season is a new partnership between Bakersfield Speedway promoter Scott Schweitzer and Kern Raceway promoter Tim Huddleston, with racing taking place at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway dirt track. A strong crowd filled the new grandstands at the one-third mile dirt track. Sawyer [Read More]

Bakersfield Speedway and Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway team up for 2025 dirt racing season

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (January 25, 2025) – The 80th season of dirt track racing in Bakersfield and Kern County will be an impactful one, as Scott Schweitzer at Bakersfield Speedway along with Tim Huddleston at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway have announced an exciting partnership. Bakersfield Speedway’s 2025 operations will relocate to the one-third mile Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway Dirt Track with a full season of championship dirt track racing. Bakersfield Speedway held 79 years of dirt track racing thrills at its current home on Chester Ave. Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway at Enos Lane and I-5 opened in 2013 while its dirt track began operations in 2015. Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway combines two of California’s signature venues into one racing season. The Kern Raceway dirt track is undergoing a transformation with a reshaping of the exit of turn two into the entrance to turn three. Over 2000 additional seats will be added along with a new VIP Booth, scoring tower, and press box are also planned. Track championships will be awarded in the IMCA Modifieds, [Read More]

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]