Dotson takes SportMod win at Speedway

BY MIKE GRIFFITH BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN  Wayne Dotson started on the pole and led all 25 laps to win the Sports Mod feature on Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway.

Jason Nation ran second all race. He nearly got by Dotson on the low side on a couple of restarts, but Dotson had a better run up high and edged back ahead each time.

“The top side had a little moisture, and my car reacted better to it.” Dotson said.

“I tried to drive him clean,” Nation said. “I thought I was going to get him on the restarts, but I left him a little room.”

Brylon Holder finished third with Clint Reichenbach, who started near the rear of the field, making a hard charge to take fourth.

Steven Johnson took the lead midway through the IMCA Stock Car feature and and raced to his third straight victory.

“We’ve been working on (the car) every week, and we made a shock change right before the main event; that might have helped,” said Johnson.

Ron Hurt started on the pole and led the first nine laps before giving way to Johnson.

Johnson first tried to get around Johnson on the low side, then tried to make the pass in the high groove following a restart on lap six. He finally made the pass by going low in turns three and four. Hurt lost traction out of the turn and dropped to fourth.

Troy Patee finished second with Mike Hill Jr. third.

There was no catching Jerry Flippo in the 20-lap Mod Lite feature.

Flippo took the lead on the sixth lap then pulled away for his second straight victory.

“I’ve got to thank my dad and grandpa for giving me a good car to race,” Flippo said.

Flippo started in the sixth row and was running second to Ray Maynard Jr. by lap three. Maynard held Flippo at bay for a couple of laps before Flippo got by coming out of turn two on the sixth lap.

Maynard was second with Anthony Balcazar third.

Shawn Schwartzenberger took the lead with two laps to go to win the 20-lap Mini Stock feature.

“It’s the first win since I started racing,” said Schwartzenberger, who had to work hard for it.

First he battled with Andy Boydstun for second, then he fought Misty Warren before finally getting by with two laps to go.

Loni Spiller, who had won the first three races, worked her way through the field and finished a close second. Warren was third.

Cason Sylvester took the lead early and went on to win the 15-lap Senior Mini Dwarf feature. Chloie Jones finished second with Ryley Millard third.

Jett Yantis took the lead three laps from the finish to win a caution-plagued 10-lap Junior Mini Dwarf feature. Mason Ratcliff was second with Hank Hall third. Tommy Swearengin flipped in turn one late in the race but was OK.