Ronald McDonald House big winner at Speedway

By Mike Griffith BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN – There was already a big winner at Bakersfield Speedway before the first engine was fired for the first main event.

The winner was the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House, as $24,356 was raised in the third annual Racing for Ronald event at the third-mile clay oval.
The Team Sidney dunk tank raised $1,131, which meanS a lot of people went underwater during the afternoon pre-race carnival, and $10,000 came from 500 raffle tickets sold at $20 each for a brand new American Stock race car.
“Wow, thank you,” said Sadie Hill, an event organizer, before announcing the total.
As for the racing, Robby Sawyer started the night off by winning the IMCA Stock Car 20-lap feature, stopping Michael Johnson’s win streak at eight.
Devan Jones was second and Michael Johnson third.
The IMCA Sport Mod and Hobby Stock races were not complete at The Californian’s print deadline.
Sawyer jumped into the lead at the start but had to fend off a serious challenge from Devan Jones, including several bumps, over the final laps.
“The car got real loose, I don’t know what it was, so I just tried to hold it on the bottom,” Sawyer said. “I knew if I slipped up they’d go around.”
Jones said his car was really fast on the bottom and that he wasn’t trying to wreck Sawyer, through Sawyer may have felt differently.
“He told me I was No. 1 in his book (on the cool-down lap),” Jones said. “But that’s OK.”
Johnson, who started at the rear of the 10-car field, said he was hoping for a two-groove track, but with just one fast way around he did not have enough time to get to the front.
In Mini Stock action, points leader Lonnie Spiller took the lead on the seventh lap and went on to her sixth win of the season.
Misty Warren led the first six laps before Spiller went to the high side in turns three and four to power past as the two headed down the front straight.
Spiller started the season with three straight wins and has now won three more in a row.
“I was worried about this one,” said Spiller, who really had little to worry about as she maintained a several car-length lead once in front. “I just tried to stay patient and calm.”
Warren was second, with Shawn Schwartzenberger third and Mike Conway fourth.
Scott Niven won the 20-lap MNRA Three-Quarter Midget feature. West Evans was second and Chuck West was third.
By the time the Sport Mod division took to Bakersfield Speedway for the final race on Saturday night there was one fast way around the third-mile clay oval – down low.
So when the green flag fell on the 25-lap feature, the race to the bottom was on.
Levi Keifer, who started on the inside of the second row, got there on the second lap and led the rest of the way for his second win of the season.
“I was kind of hoping I could get to the bottom before (his competitors) did,” Keifer said. “I just wanted to keep it on the bottom and not make any mistakes.”
Michael Johnson was right on Keifer’s bumper the final few laps but had to settle for second. Brylon Holder was third, followed by Jason Nation and Billy Simkins.
Tyler Johnson took the lead from Mike Hill Jr. with six laps to go and went on to win the Hobby Stock feature.
“First off I have to thank Don Mead for letting me drive this car, it’s a good car,” said Johnson, who was making his first Hobby Stock start of the year.
Lloyd Wren Jr. had a strong run late to finish second, followed by Hill and Kevin Collier.
There were seven different leaders and six cautions in the 25-lapper.