bakersfieldspeedway Archives

Tyler Bannister Captures Richie McGowan Memorial at Bakersfield

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (June 27, 2026) — Tyler Bannister added another major victory to his impressive rookie Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified season Saturday night, leading all 25 laps to capture the 15th annual Richie McGowan Memorial at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. The prestigious event served as a qualifier for the Fast Shafts All-Star Modified Invitational. Bannister was already eligible to attempt to qualify for the invitational during the Speedway Motors IMCA Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s. Bannister started on the front row and never relinquished the lead, pulling away to a 3.696-second victory in the 25-lap feature. The Bakersfield driver earned his eighth DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region victory of the season and third triumph of 2026 at Bakersfield Speedway. Austin Kiefer finished second, while defending McGowan Memorial winner Brad Pounds charged from 10th to complete the podium. Former track champion Gavyn Manning rallied from ninth to fourth, with Dalton Houghton rounding out the top five. Bannister and Eric Hamilton claimed heat race victories. Jason Bannister Collects Fourth SportMod Victory Jason [Read More]

15th Annual Richie McGowan Memorial This Saturday at Bakersfield Speedway

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (June 23, 2026) – Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway honors one of the facility’s most beloved supporters this Saturday with the 15th annual Richie McGowan Memorial on June 27. The event features Karl Kustoms IMCA Modifieds and Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMods. The IMCA Modifieds will race for $1,032 to win, while the IMCA Northern SportMods will compete for a $632 winner’s share. Both divisions will utilize a draw/redraw format. Grandstands open at 5:30 p.m., with free on-track autographs beginning at 6:30 p.m. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 7 p.m. Race fans can save $2 on general admission tickets by purchasing in advance at BakersfieldSpeedway.com. General admission is $18 online, including all fees, or $20 at the gate. Tickets for children ages 6-12 are $10 in advance or $12 at the gate, while children ages 5 and under are admitted free. Parking is free of charge. Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway is located at 13500 Raceway Blvd. near Enos Lane and Interstate 5 in Bakersfield. McGowan was an important figure at [Read More]

Bannister Leads Every Lap for Bakersfield Modified Win

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (June 13, 2026) — Points leader Bannister dominated the 25-lap Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway, leading all the way from the pole position after winning his heat race earlier in the evening. The Bakersfield driver scored his seventh victory of the season in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region and his second at Bakersfield in 2026. One of the night’s biggest storylines involved 2024 track champion Gavyn Manning, who was among four drivers attempting double-duty between Santa Maria Speedway and Bakersfield Speedway. After winning earlier in the evening at Santa Maria, Manning charged into second place before mechanical issues ended his bid for another victory. Race Liberante finished second, followed by Markus Frazier and Rob Sanders, who were also among the double-duty competitors. Pat Petrie completed the top five. Jason Bannister led all 25 laps of the Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod feature to secure his third victory of the season, with all three wins coming at Bakersfield Speedway. Dylan Wilson delivered [Read More]

Tristao Leads Wire-to-Wire for Bakersfield Sprint Car Victory

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (May 30, 2026) — George Tristao Jr. made the most of his pole position start Saturday night, leading all 25 laps to capture the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car feature at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway with the California RaceSaver Sprint Series. The Tulare driver grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag and never relinquished the top spot, keeping a comfortable advantage as the battle behind him intensified throughout the main event. While Tristao controlled the race from the front, Davey Pombo worked his way forward from fourth on the starting grid to claim the runner-up position. Jeremy Alves remained among the leaders throughout the feature and finished third after starting alongside Tristao on the front row. Rino Felicioni crossed the stripe fourth while Phil Heynen 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 $25.99/month. Plus, stream Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries exclusively on IMCA [Read More]

Pounds Powers to Bakersfield Modified Win

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (May 2, 2026) — Bakersfield’s Brad Pounds advanced from the fourth starting position to capture the Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified feature Saturday at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. Pounds worked his way to the front and went on to secure his first win of the season in the DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region. Tyler Bannister gained five positions to finish second, while pole sitter Markus Frazier held on for third. Bryan Clark and Brad Watkins completed the top five. Ethan Johnson, also of Bakersfield, scored his first career win in Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod competition with a strong drive from third. Nicholas Johnson made an impressive run from 10th to finish second, while Matthew Frazier advanced from ninth to third. Adam Baker earned hard charger honors, rallying from 15th to fourth, and Sunnie Simkins rounded out 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 $25.99/month. Plus, stream Season 2 [Read More]

Bannister Blasts from Eighth to Bakersfield Modified Victory

By Steven Blakesley BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (April 18, 2026) — Tyler Bannister earned his first Bakersfield Karl Kustoms IMCA Modified victory Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway. It marked his second DeVilbiss Racing Chassis Western Region win of the season. Markus Frazier seized the lead early from his third starting position while Bannister stormed from eighth on the grid to second by lap seven. Bannister then knifed underneath Frazier exiting turn two to take the lead on lap ten and drove away to a straightaway advantage for the win. Pounds won an exciting battle with Rob Sanders and Gavyn Manning for second, while Frazier settled for fifth. In Karl Kustoms IMCA Northern SportMod action, a strong 15-car field was split across two heat races, with Ethan Johnson and Tyler Irwin winning the eight-lap preliminaries. Alyssa Smith led early in the 25-lap feature ahead of Johnson before Matthew Frazier methodically advanced from sixth starting position. Frazier took over the lead on lap 13 and withstood a restart to secure his first win of [Read More]

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]