bakersfieldspeedway Archives

Hamilton Wins Modified Thriller at Bakersfield

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. [Read More]

Manning Scores Second Straight Bakersfield Win Friday Night at Southwest Shootout

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Mar. 20, 2026) — Racing against one of the strongest Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified fields of the season, Gavyn Manning won his second consecutive feature at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway on Friday night. Manning outfoxed a field of 17 Modifieds for his second win in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region after 30 laps of competition. Manning won a long duel with multi-time champion Brad Pounds for the lead in the first half of the feature, then defended from 2025 IMCA Northern SportMod champion Tyler Bannister over the closing stages. A green-white-checkered finish did not deter Manning, with the 2024 track champion sailing to the win. The win also represented redemption for Manning after a collision with Pounds on opening night bounced him from the event. Bannister finished second while Jake Pike of Pahrump, Nevada finished third from tenth on the grid. Pounds was fourth followed by Fernley, Nevada’s Shawn Natenstedt. Rob Sanders and Manning split the head races. Nicholas Johnson has had an outstanding start to his [Read More]

Johnson Avenges Opening Night Flip with Round Two SportMod Victory in Bakersfield

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Mar. 7, 2026) — Following a prolific 2025 season at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway across various Stock Car classes, Nicholas Johnson took on the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods in 2026. His season opener in February ended on his lid, but he quickly regained his form at the one-third-mile dirt track on Saturday during March Madness with a coveted comeback victory. Johnson dominated his heat race, then lined up third for the 25-lap feature alongside his brother Ethan. Ethan jumped ahead at the start with Nicholas sliding into second. Following a crash in turn one on the opening lap, Nicholas Johnson used the restart to take over the lead on the second lap. Johnson dominated the rest of the feature to score his first Bakersfield SportMod win. Tate Lofts drove from eighth to second, with Chris McKellar, 2024 champion Jason Bannister, and Alyssa Smith rounding out the top five. 2023 and 2024 Bakersfield Speedway Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified champion Gavyn Manning returned to the top step of the podium, winning the [Read More]

Pearce Prevails in Winter Clash Feature at Bakersfield

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 [Read More]

Bakersfield Speedway Season Opener Shifts to One-Day Winter Clash Saturday

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Feb. 19, 2026) — Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway will launch its 2026 campaign with the Winter Clash, now scheduled as a one-day event on Saturday, Feb. 21, following wet weather throughout the week. Originally planned as a two-day program, all Friday racing activities have been consolidated into Saturday, creating a full night of racing for one ticket price. Competition will feature Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds, Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods, and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars, with all divisions competing for championship points. Grandstand gates open at 2 p.m., with hot laps and qualifying set for 2:45 p.m. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for approximately 5 p.m., followed by heat races and main events for all classes. Race fans can save on general admission by purchasing tickets in advance at BakersfieldSpeedway.com. Adult tickets are $22 online, including fees, or $25 at the gate. Kids ages 6–12 are $10 in advance or $12 at the gate, while children five and under are admitted free. Parking is free. Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway is [Read More]

Pounds Powers to Mike Moshier Classic Win, Seals Bakersfield Modified Title

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Aug. 16, 2025) — Rob Sanders led the opening 21 circuits of the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature during the Tenth Annual Mike Moshier Classic at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. Brad Pounds, however, had other plans. Charging from sixth on the grid, Pounds relentlessly pounded the high side until he swept past Sanders for the lead on lap 22. Sanders stuck to the bottom and kept within striking distance, but Pounds was not to be denied. He grabbed his third victory of the season — all three coming in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region — and wrapped up the 2025 track championship in the process. Sanders settled for second with Justin Crockett in third. Bannister Dominates SportMods for Crown Tyler Bannister left zero doubt in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods. Starting from the pole in the 25-lap feature, Bannister checked out from the drop of the green and stretched a 6.6-second advantage at the finish. The Bakersfield standout earned his fifth win of the season [Read More]

Tenth Annual Mike Moshier Classic Serves as Championship Night at Bakersfield

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Aug. 13, 2025) — Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway will celebrate “The Race Doctor” with the 10th annual Mike Moshier Classic on Saturday, August 16. The night’s dirt track action will also serve as the 2025 championship night for all three Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing divisions, with the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, and Sunoco IMCA Stock Cars in competition. The event celebrates Mike Moshier, the late voice of Bakersfield Speedway, known for many catchphrases including “Holy Guacamole.” A large number of Moshier family members will be in attendance. The new Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, located at Enos Ln. and I-5, includes the “Mike Moshier Tower” overlooking the one-third-mile dirt track. Grandstand gates open at 4:30 p.m., with hot laps at 5 p.m. Opening ceremonies are set for approximately 6 p.m., followed by heat races and main events for all five divisions. General admission tickets are on sale now at www.BakersfieldSpeedway.com. Adult tickets are $18; kids ages 6–12 are $10; and kids [Read More]

Robby Sawyer Takes Modified Victory at Bakersfield Speedway

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 [Read More]

Pounds Prevails in Emotional McGowan Memorial Win at Bakersfield

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Jun. 28, 2025) — Brad Pounds delivered an emotional victory in Saturday’s 30-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature, capturing the $1,032-to-win Richie McGowan Memorial at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. The win marked Pounds’ second of the season at Bakersfield Speedway and in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region, coming in tribute to his late father-in-law. Pounds and Bryan Clark shared the front row for the main event, with a four-wide battle on the opening lap quickly sorting out in Pounds’ favor. He took command of the race while Jake Pike gave chase using the high line through lapped traffic. Two late-race restarts inside the final 10 laps gave Pike opportunities, but Pounds held on by a car length for the special win. Rob Sanders rounded out the podium. Brad Pounds celebrates his Richie McGowan Memorial victory with wife Tina after winning the $1,032-to-win Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway on June 28. The race is run annually in honor of Tina’s late father. (Photo [Read More]

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

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 [Read More]