Daves dominates in IMCA Modifieds race

BY STEPHEN LYNCH Special to The Californian

Ryan Daves didn’t have much to say at the conclusion of the IMCA Modified feature Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway.

Daves let his driving skills do all of his talking instead. The Bakersfield driver dominated the race, leading all but the first lap of the 25-lap event.

“Thank you,” was all Daves said when interviewed in Victory Lane about his first-ever win in an IMCA Modified by track announcer Steve Hughes.

Troy Morris Jr., who closely stalked Daves the entire race, took second. Points leader Kyle Heckman was third. Justin Schweitzer came home in fourth.

Brad Pounds, who was recently voted a spot into next month’s IMCA Super Nationals at Boone, Iowa, rallied to finish fifth after he had to go to the pits during the middle of the race to repair body damage to his car.

Robby Sawyer, the division’s winner last week, was involved in an early wreck that knocked him out of the race.

The IMCA Sports Mod and IMCA Stock Car feature races were not finished by press time.

Johnny Winchester out-dueled Steve Roark to win the 20-lap Mini Stock main event.

Winchester led the entire race. But he was closely challenged nearly the entire way but Roark, who finished second.

“This is the first ever in six seasons,” Winchester said. “I’m so excited.”

Gary Spiller Jr. was third followed by points leader Tina Bell and Doug Shepherd.

Anthony Balcazar claimed his fifth Sr Mini Dwarf feature win of the season with an impressive performance.

Balcazar, the points leader, blew past Sunny Simkins for the lead on Lap 8 and then held off the field on a restart with three laps remaining in the 15-lap race.

Kaden Cochrun got around Simkins late to finish second. Brock McLaughlin was fourth. Nicholas Johnson took fifth.

Kyleigh Forster made a daring last-lap pass to win the Jr Mini Dwarf main event.