Bakersfield.com Local Racing

Even after 2-year hiatus, Pounds finds victory lane

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 22:43:00 PDT

Scott Pounds made a last-lap pass of 2008 track champion Gary Dutton to win an exciting 30-lap IMCA Modified main event Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway.

Dutton dominated most of the race but a late race caution allowed Pounds to get close enough to make a move underneath him coming off the final turn and win a drag race to the finish line.

Sylvester dominates Super Street Stock

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 23:09:00 PDT

Special to The Californian

An excited Nick Sylvester got out his car and pounded his fist on the roof after winning the Super Street Stock main event Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway.

Hansen captures USAC Midget feature at Speedway

mgriffith@bakersfield.com (MIKE GRIFFITH) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 22:31:00 PDT

Garrett Hansen made the most of his pole position starting position, leading all 30 laps to win the USAC Western State Midget race Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway.

Randi Pankratz chased Hansen the entire distance but could not find a way around on a track the proved to be tough for passing.

USAC Midget series rolls

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:09:00 PDT

THE 2009 USAC WESTERN MIDGET CAMPAIGN RESUMES TONIGHT AT THE BAKERSFIELD SPEEDWAY AND A COMPLETE SHAKEUP IN THE STANDINGS IS IN THE OFFING.

FOLLOWING THE FEBRUARY NATIONAL/WESTERN MIDGET OPENERS IN ARIZONA, NEVADA AND CALIFORNIA, NATIONAL DRIVERS OCCUPY THE TOP SPOTS IN THE CURRENT STANDINGS, BUT THAT SHOULD CHANGE AS THE WESTERN REGULARS FORGE TO THE FRONT TONIGHT. THE BAKERSFIELD OPEN-WHEEL TRIPLEHEADER ALSO FEATURES CALIFORNIA DIRT FORD FOCUS AND JUNIOR FORD FOCUS RACING. ROUNDING OUT THE PROGRAM ARE HOBBY STOCKS.

Glaser wins Super Late Model main

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:31:00 PDT

Trevor Glaser of Bend, Ore., passed Mike Johnson with just more than two laps remaining to win the 40-lap Super Late Model Division Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway.

The race featured six lead changes among four different drivers.

DQs mar Mini Stock main event at Speedway

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:43:00 PDT

A weakened economy didn't hamper attendance at Bakersfield Speedway Saturday nght. Fans packed the grandstands of the third-mile clay oval for the second straight week to watch four divisions compete in an action-packed evening of racing.

There were 30 entrants in the Late Model Division, the largest number since 2007. The Late Model feature race was not completed at press time.

Mike Griffith: Late Models slated to run at Speedway

mgriffith@bakersfield.com (MIKE GRIFFITH) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:07:00 PDT

The fastest, most powerful stock cars on dirt — Late Models — roll into Bakersfield Speedway on Saturday night for the first of just four regular-season races.

Just how many drivers show up for this race, and the others this season, may dictate what role Late Models play in the future at the third-mile clay oval.

Harris keeps it in the family at Famoso

mgriffith@bakersfield.com (MIKE GRIFFITH ) — Sun, 8 Mar 2009 23:25:00 PDT

It doesn't seem to much matter which Harris climbs into the Nitro Thunder Top Fuel dragster.

Brett Harris of Kaysville, Utah proved that once again Sunday at the 51st March Meet came to a conclusion at Auto Club Famoso Raceway.

Randolph wins late Speedway race

Sun, 8 Mar 2009 23:21:00 PDT

Defending series champion Tim Randolph raced to victory Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway in an East vs.West Street Stock race.

Randolph took the lead from Bakersfield's Lonnie Welch on the third lap and ran unchallenged the rest of the way to win the 30-lap feature.

Funny Cars on the rise at March Meet

mgriffith@bakersfield.com (MIKE GRIFFITH ) — Sat, 7 Mar 2009 22:59:00 PST

Throughout the years, dragsters have ruled supreme at the the March Meet.

From Art Chrisman's victory in the inaugural race in 1959, through the 1970s when local favorite James Warren was winning three straight races, and on into the present nostalgia era which started in the 1990s, Top Fuel has been king.

Sanford's late pass overtakes Dutton at Bakersfield Speedway

mgriffith@bakersfield.com (MIKE GRIFFITH) — Sat, 7 Mar 2009 22:59:00 PST

It took six restarts, but Alex Sanford finally found a way around Gary Dutton Saturday night in the season-opening IMCA Modified race at Bakersfield Speedway.

Dutton, the two-time defending track champion from Bakersfield, started on the pole and led from the outset, but a string of cautions from the ninth lap on kept pulling him back to the field.

McLennan's experiment stands out at March Meet

mgriffith@bakersfield.com (MIKE GRIFFITH) — Fri, 6 Mar 2009 22:47:00 PST

Bob McLennan was looking for something different when a new Champion Speed Shop front-motored Top Fuel car was on the drawing board and he certainly achieved it.

In class class where about the only tell-tale difference between cars is whether they are wrapped in a full body or have what is called a "business coupe" look, the new Champion Speed Shop car definitely stands out.

Special events will highlight 63rd season at Bakersfield Speedway

mgriffith@bakersfield.com (MIKE GRIFFITH) — Fri, 6 Mar 2009 22:47:00 PST

It's been working the past few seasons, and with the current economic conditions, Bakersfield Speedway owner Scott Schweitzer wasn't about to go out on a limb for 2009.

The Speedway begins its 63rd straight season of operation tonight and Schweitzer said the schedule at the third-mile clay oval features lots of house shows along with a few special events.

Famoso gears up for high-octane weekend

mgriffith@bakersfield.com (MIKE GRIFFITH) — Wed, 4 Mar 2009 23:15:00 PST

Campers have moved into position, racers will be arriving today, rain on Wednesday provided dust control and all systems are "go" for the annual March Meet drag races at Auto Club Famoso Raceway.

A previously set limit of 500 racers is expected for the 51-year old event, which begins a three-day run Friday.

Bakersfield Speedway, Famoso Raceway offer weekend practices

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:31:00 PST

Bakersfield Speedway is holding an open practice Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pit gates open at 10 a.m. Practice is open to all divisions except mini-dwarfs, which will practice on Sunday afternoon.

Cost to enter the pits is $30. There is no charge to sit in the grandstands.

Mears to make quick pit stop in town tonight

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:22:12 PST

Casey Mears will make his first promotional stop for Jack Daniel’s Racing in the town where it all started.

Not the Tennessee Whiskey, the driver.

Bakersfield's Harvick, Mears will race on the same team for first time

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:05:10 PST

In a way, Bakersfield natives Kevin Harvick and Casey Mears have become NASCAR’s twin sons of different mothers. Yes, they are from the same city, and that’s a bit unusual for drivers who don’t happen to come from the same family. Every region of the country is represented by at least a smattering of Sprint Cup drivers.

Harvick, 33, and Mears, 30, knew each other growing up, but their paths to NASCAR’s highest level were markedly dissimilar.

March Meet will kick off exciting year at Famoso

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 22:57:00 PST

Race fans will get their money's worth at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in 2009. A full schedule of events at the legendary track has been announced, including next month's March Meet, which inaugurated top-level drag racing in Bakersfield and features nostalgia drag racing in 12 classes. Events currently on the calendar for 2009 include:

March

Longtime racer, promoter Simkins dies at 88

mgriffith@bakersfield.com (MIKE GRIFFITH) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 22:45:00 PST

There's no doubt J.T. "Spud" Simkins left an impression on just about every one he met.

Simkins, a racer, promoter and card player extraordinaire died Saturday in Bakersfield. He was 88.

Dutton earns victory in 100-lap Hobby Stock Shootout

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:01:00 PDT

Two-time IMCA Modified track champion Gary Dutton added to an already impressive racing resume by winning the 2nd Annual 100-Lap Hobby Stock Shootout Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway.

Dutton held off a relentless Darrell Hughes of Escalon to collect $5,000 of the $15,000-plus in prize money allocated to the 22 drivers in the field.