bakersfieldspeedway Archives

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]

Morris has prescription for special win at Bakersfield

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Aug. 17, 2024) – Troy Morris III had the right prescription for winning the race dedicated to the memory of The Race Doctor. Morris led 46 of 50 Friesen Performance IMCA Modified circuits Saturday at hometown Bakersfield Speedway, topping the Mike Moshier Classic ahead of Gavyn Manning. The win, Morris’ 10th this season and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying sixth, paid $1,200. Moshier, aka The Race Doctor, was the long-time announcer at Bakersfield and died in 2015 at the age of 69. “This win was special,” said Morris. “I grew up listening to him (Moshier) announce at the track. He called my first win and interviewed me when I was six and racing a mini dwarf.” Morris got to the front early from his inside row three start and built a seven second advantage before the scheduled stoppage at lap 25. Tyler Blankenship found his way to the lead following the restart with Manning challenging in third; issues at the front, however, saw Blankenship drive off to the work area and Morris restart at the [Read More]

Bannister rallies at Bakersfield, completes sweep of IMCA Central California Clash

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (May 7, 2023) – He was the defending tour champion but Tyler Bannister admittedly went into opening night of the IMCA Central California Clash with low expectations. Four wins – the last of them best described as improbable – in as many races later, the Bakersfield driver was a repeat champion in the Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod portion of the tour. “Our goal had been to show up and turn laps,” said Bannister, forced into father Jason’s 2019 Victory Circle ride after totaling his own mount late last month. “I’d finished second in my only other start in that car but we struggled to do that and there were a lot of things we had to change.” “We ended up having a pretty good week,” he continued, “and to get our first wins of the season in our home state was great.” Getting his fourth win of the week, and first of 2023 at his hometown track was even better. Feature wins at Antioch Speedway, Kings Speedway and Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway … [Read More]

Green flag flies Wednesday for IMCA Central California Clash

ANTIOCH, Calif. (May 1, 2023) – Wednesday night is opening night for the fourth annual IMCA Central California Clash. Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds run for $1,000 to win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars for $750 to win and B & B Racing Chassis All-Star qualifying eligibility, and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods for $750 to win each night of the May 3-7 tour. Following the opening night show at Antioch Speedway are dates Thursday, May 4 at Merced Speedway; Friday, May 5 at Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford; Saturday, May 6 at Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway; and Sunday, May 7 at Bakersfield Speedway. IMCA.TV broadcasts each night of the tour and the top drivers in point standings for each division also become eligible to qualify for their respective race of champions event during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Shaw Race Cars Western Region and EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region and California State points will be awarded all five [Read More]

Central California Clash set for May 3-7, IMCA.TV broadcasts each night of tour

ANTIOCH, Calif. (March 21, 2023) – Three champions will be crowned in the upcoming IMCA Central California Clash May 3-7. IMCA.TV broadcasts each night of the fourth annual tour, which features Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMods. Opening night is Wednesday, May 3 at Antioch Speedway. The Central California Clash travels to Merced Speedway on Thursday, May 4, to Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford on Friday, May 5 and to Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway on Saturday, May 6 before concluding Sunday, May 7 at Bakersfield Speedway. Modifieds run for $1,000 to win and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility, Stock Cars for $750 to win and B & B Racing Chassis All-Star qualifying eligibility, and Northern SportMods for $750 to win each night. Top drivers in point standings for each division also become eligible to qualify for their respective race of champions event during the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s in September. IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Shaw Race Cars Western Region and EQ [Read More]

Dotson, Johnson are best at Bakersfield

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (April 9, 2022) – Bakersfield Speedway fired the engines back up for another exciting installment of the 2022 season, with IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars on the Saturday night card. Ethan Dotson stormed to P1 when racing got underway in the Modified main. The Bakersfield native, racing for car owner Troy Morris Jr., drove a flawless race despite four stoppages. Dotson was fantastic on restarts as Jerry Flippo brought a tad bit of heat in the last few laps. Dotson kept calm, cool and collected to pick up the main event victory. Flippo held onto second with Cody Laney, piloting the Terry Henry-fielded entry, in third. In the Stock Car main, things started with a bang with a three-car fight for the lead. Justin Schweitzer managed to beat Dakota Schweitzer and Miranda Scott. Justin managed to beat out the competition on lap one, but the second circuit had Scott as the pacesetter. Justin Schweitzer managed to get back to the point on lap three and began to take off. However, just [Read More]

Baker’s IMCA Northern SportMod win is first in 10 years at home track Bakersfield

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (April 4, 2022) – A driver who admittedly hasn’t led a lot of laps finally led the most important one Saturday night. Brian Baker won the April 2 IMCA Northern SportMod feature at Bakersfield Speedway. While it wasn’t his first win in the sanctioned division, the checkers were his first in 10 years in the class at his hometown track. “I’d never finished in the top four here. There’s no place I’d rather win at than Bakersfield,” said Baker. “We won our heat race and when we pulled the one out of the bucket to start on the pole, we knew we’d have to get out and go.” Baker stayed in front all 25 times around the track, holding off all challengers following numerous cautions. “There were some of the best drivers in California behind me,” said Baker, ultimately the winner ahead of hard-charging Garrett Jernagan, Levi Kiefer, Nick Spainhoward and Jason Bannister. “There was definitely an uneasy feeling for a driver who hasn’t led a lot of laps.” “We had every different [Read More]

Dotson goes 4-for-4 at Bakersfield CK Nationals

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (May 29-30) – A 4-for-4 holiday weekend wrapped up with Ethan Dotson adding $5,000 to his IMCA winnings. Dotson swept IMCA Modified and IMCA Sunoco Stock Car features at hometown Bakersfield Speedway’s CK Nationals, putting on the final touches with a flag-to-flag run in front of Sunday’s $5,000 to win Modified headliner. “It’s cool,” said Dotson, adding plugs for event promoter Chris Kearns and Salty’s BBQ and Catering. “It was a pretty good weekend.” He battled eventual runner-up Kyle Heckman in both Saturday features, pocketing $1,200 for the Modified win and another $500 for the Stock Car victory. Cody Laney, Troy Morris III and Dylan Thornton completed the opening night Modified top five while Steve Johnson, Justin Schweitzer and Cody Johnson were third through fifth, respectively, in the Stocks. Dotson broke free from a four-car tussle on lap seven and pulled away to Sunday’s $750 win, pursued by Steven Johnson, Heckman, Schweitzer and Rick Diaz. The Modified finale ended with a long green flag run. Oregon visitor Collen Winebarger chased but couldn’t catch [Read More]