Collier grabs another victory for 2015
BY ALLISON GRIFFITH
For The Californian
It was an action-packed Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway, but not before the drivers lined the front straightaway with their cars to join the audience for a moment of silence in memory of Mike Moshier.
Moshier, who was in his 21st year of announcing at the track, died last Sunday after a brief battle with cancer.
Funeral services will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5500 Fruitvale Ave.
As for the racing, Kevin Collier battled Steven Johnson in the final laps of the Hobby Stock 25-lap main, finally taking the lead in the last 10 feet and winning the race.
Johnson appeared headed to his third win of the season, and was several car lengths ahead of Collier, until his car lost power in Turn 4. Collier passed the coasting Johnson just before the finish.
“Unbelievable. I mean, it’s awesome,” Collier said about his finish.
Johnson placed second and Alvin Ince was third.
Zach Forster capped a championship season with his seventh Mod Lite victory of the season.
Forster worked his way through the pack, taking the lead from Jeff Fry on the fifteenth lap. Fry held on for second with Nick Spainhoward third.
“It’s emotional, being with my family and doing this for the last 20 years,” Forster said.
“I’ve been blessed.”
Tim Varny flipped in turn two on the 15th lap, but was uninjured.
Forster also won the Mod Lite Trophy Dash.
Tina Bell moved a step closer to the Mini Stock track chapionship with her seventh win of the season.
With just one race left, all Bell has to do to win the championship is take the green flag next week in the heat race.
“Mike Moshier, I know you’re upstairs watching, this is all for you buddy,” Bell said in victory lane.
Bell started at the rear of the pack and took the lead on the fifth lap of the feature. Doug Shepherd finished second and Kylie Conway was third.
West Evans led all 20 laps to win the NMRA Three-Quater Midget feature.
Bruce Hiroshima challanged Evans throughout the race, but had to settle for second. Right behind Hiroshima was Chuck West.
Lane McDonald took the lead with two laps to go to win the 15-lap Senior Mini Dwarf main.
Seth Wise and Chloe Jones placed second and third, respectively. Jakob Carey emerged with the track championship.
Cade Lewis started out strong and maintained his lead to win the12-lap Jr. Mini Dwarf feature. Mason Ratcliff placed second and Nathaniel Edwards was third. Ratcliff, who won six races, won the championship.
