bakersfieldspeedway Archives

McGowan Memorial is Saturday at Bakersfield

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Bakersfield Speedway returns to action this Saturday with the Richie McGowan Memorial special. IMCA Modifieds race for $1,000 to win their June 27 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot-qualifying feature. Top prize for the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods is $700. Pit gates open at 3 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Grandstands remain closed and a limit of five people will be allowed into the pit area, including the driver, per race team. The event will be broadcast on pay per view. Pit passes are $35. Pill draw is $10. Information about the draw/redraw show is available on Facebook or by calling 661 393-3373.

Laney, Winebarger win Modified features during emotional weekend at Bakersfield

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Oct. 13-14) – Racing took a backseat to remembering a much loved member of the Bakersfield Speedway family. Bailey Schweitzer, daughter of promoter Scott Schweitzer, was one of the victims of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas. She was remembered in pre-race ceremonies before both nights of the Budweiser Nationals, with a balloon launch held before racing began on Saturday. “This has been a race I’ve always wanted to win and especially being able to do it this year means a lot to me,” said Friday night IMCA Modified winner Cody Laney. “There were a lot of people here and a lot of work went into this weekend. A lot of people came together.” Laney’s 30-lap win on Friday and Collen Winebarger’s 40-lap victory on Saturday both paid $1,500 and were Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events. Robby Sawyer ran up front early on Friday and was in and out of the lead before Laney got there to stay on the 18th lap. After moving to the lower line, Laney [Read More]

Feature

Foulger Scores Third Hetrick Memorial Victory at Antioch

By Candice Martin ANTIOCH, Calif. (Jun. 28, 2025) — Troy Foulger of Oakley won the 20-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. The $1,000 payday came as part of the 10th annual Jerry Hetrick Memorial and marked Foulger’s third career win in the event. It was also his second IMCA Modified victory of the season at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds track, his fifth Shaw Race Cars Western Region triumph of 2025, and his 80th combined career win at the speedway. Looking to repeat as the winner, Andrew Pearce set the early pace ahead of Foulger, but a yellow flag waved for Tyler Browne of Antioch on lap 2. Pearce maintained the lead on the restart with Foulger and Bobby Hogge IV in pursuit. The front two began to pull away from the pack until Foulger made an outside pass on the frontstretch on lap 6 to take over the top spot. A caution flew on lap 8 for Jacob Mallet Jr., bunching the field again. Foulger resumed the lead with Hogge [Read More]

Hobby Stock

Probst Powers From the Back for Arlington Hobby Stock Win

By Susan Allen ARLINGTON, Minn. (June 28, 2025) — Despite morning rain showers that challenged track prep for Holtmeier Construction Night, fans at Arlington Raceway were treated to a thrilling night of racing filled with dominant drives, dramatic comebacks, and season-first wins. Cory Probst refused to let a second-lap caution define his night. Sent to the back of the pack, the defending champion sliced through the field, passing 15 cars on his way to victory—his 16th B&B Racing Chassis Northern Region win of 2025 and fifth at Arlington. Brad Becker led early, trailed closely by Ben Davis and Chad Volk. Probst took the lead on lap eight, while Volk made a last-lap pass to finish second. Davis was third and Becker settled for fourth. Schumacher Charges to Third Arlington Sport Compact Win Gary Schumacher put together a perfect run in the Mach-1 IMCA Sport Compact main event. Starting in the second row, he jumped to the lead and never looked back, holding off Dale Gatton to earn his fourth win of the season and third at [Read More]

Feature

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]