Johnson captures his first American Stock victory for 2016

BY BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN, Steve Drake hails from San Luis Obispo, but the veteran Late Model driver feels right at home on Bakersfield Speedway’s third-mile clay oval.

Drake dominated the 20-lap feature held at the local track on Saturday night, leading the caution-free race from start to finish.

With the win, Drake now has three wins and a third place finish in four races at Bakersfield Speedway this year.

“It’s been good to us this year,” Drake said. “We hit on something a little bit during the Bud Nationals last year and we’ve just stuck with it.”

Nick Bartels finished second, .931 seconds behind Drake. Larry Childress was third and Ron Bartels took fourth.

The IMCA Northern SportMod feature was marred by a fiery crash.

With six laps to go in the scheduled 25-lap event, race leader Gary Dutton hit the Turn 3 wall and stopped. Moments later Austin Manzella accidentally slid into the back of Dutton’s car causing his car to instantly go up in a huge ball of fire. Dutton’s car was also devoured by flames.

Both drivers were able to escape the wreck and appeared not to have any injuries.

Manzella led the first 15 laps. Dutton passed him for the top spot on Lap 16 and was sailing along up front when he lost control of his car driving it hard into Turn 3.

Due to all the water sprayed on the track putting out the fires, the remainder of race had to be canceled.

Brylon Holder, who was running third at the time of the crash, was ruled to be the race winner.

Steven Johnson demonstrated both patience and skill in winning the IMCA Stock feature.

Johnson methodically stalked Ron Hurt, who led the race’s first 15 laps, before making his move for the lead in Turn 2.

Once up front Johnson pulled away, beating Hurt to the checkered flag by 2.702 seconds.

“This was a one groove track tonight,” Johnson said. “It was good down low so I did a slide job on him (Hurt) and it worked.”

The win is Johnson’s seventh in a row.

Troy Patee was third. Gina Hendrix took fourth and Chad Johnson finished fifth.

Doug Shepherd out-dueled Misty Warren to win the 20-lap Mini Stock main event.

After early leader Jason Cook had to be pushed off the track due a mechanical issue, Shepherd and Warren swapped the lead a couple of times before things between them stabilized with six laps to go.

“I am real happy that I did as well as I did,” Shepherd said. “It was a hard-fought battle.”

Warren held on to finish second. Loni Spiller, Billy Winchester , III and Andy Boydstun rounded out the top five.

Nicholas Johnson passed Rick Childress, Jr., on Lap 4 of the 20-lap American Stock feature and then held off a late charge by Trevor Baker to claim his first win of the season.

Johnson came into the night fourth in points and with four top fives including one runner-up finish.

Childress, making his first start in the division this year, started on the pole and led the first three laps running the high line.

But it didn’t take long for Johnson, using shorter way around the track, to power inside of him for the lead.

A late caution caused the race end in a tree-white-checkered finish, with Johnston using the low groove to edge Baker for the victory.

Brandon Ratcliff was third followed by Bob Ellis and Clay Waters.

“I was watching the track up top,” Johnson said. “I saw that some drivers were running up there, but it wasn’t as fast.”

Points-leader Dakota Brown suffered a right-rear flat with two laps remaining.