West Coast Late Model Shootout Prepares for Return to Bakersfield Speedway

SANTA MARIA, Cali. – For
the first time since October of 2011 the West Coast Late Model Shootout will
compete at Bakersfield Speedway on August 10th. The series was scheduled to
make an appearance in March however Mother Nature won the battle. They will
also return to the third of a mile clay oval on August 31st.

The West Coast Late Model Shootout was scheduled to race at Napa Valley’s
scenic half mile, Calistoga Speedway on August 3rd however renovations forced
track officials to cancel the event. “I called Chris Kearns after hearing
about the cancellation of Calistoga and asked him if he needed a date and we
were able to schedule one for August 10th,” commented Bakersfield Speedway
promoter Scott Schweitzer. “It was originally scheduled to be a local show
but I know how important it is to have a decent amount of races for a traveling
series. Chris and I have always worked well with each other and the West Coast
Late Model Shootout always displays a great race at Bakersfield Speedway.”

“Myself and the West Coast Late Model Shootout really appreciate Scott
adding this event to his schedule,” stated series promoter Chris Kearns.
“It is a lot bigger of a purse than a weekly Late Model show and I really
appreciate him doing this.”

Bakersfield’s “Dominator” Brad Pounds is the most recent West Coast
Late Model Shootout winner at Bakersfield Speedway, winning the Budweiser
Nationals in 2011 and has since picked up numerous victories aboard his Scott
Pounds Racing No. 1P. Two-time defending West Coast Late Model Shootout
Champion Clay Daly has had recent success at the Central Valley track and looks
to score his first West Coast Late Model Shootout victory of the season for
Pete Van Iderstine Racing.

Going into the event, San Luis Obispo’s Steve “The Snake” Drake holds
a slim two point advantage over Tony Toste in the point’s championship. Drake
has one win on the season at Hanford’s Kings Speedway for the Gary Jacob
Memorial, leading wire-to-wire in a battle with Salinas’ Bobby Hogge IV. El
Segundo’s Nick Bartels sits 21 points behind Toste with Jason Papich trailing
him. Papich will be making his return since competing in the Midwest with the
Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series and SummerNationals Hell Tour. Rookie of the
Year contender Randy Brown completes the top five.

For more information on this event please visit www.BakersfieldSpeedway.com or www.WestCoastLateModels.com.