GARDNER STILL #1 AFTER STOP IN BAKERSFIELD

Defending Honda USAC Western Midget Champion Ronnie Gardner of Norco, Calif. picked up right where he left off in 2014 by winning the 2015 series opener Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway. Gardner caught Trey Marcham on lap 16 and led the final five laps in his Baldozier Racing/Esslinger Engineering Stewart/Esslinger to beat Marcham, Scott Pierovich, David Prickett and Randi Pankratz.

Gary Dutton of Bakersfield grabbed to win in an exciting Motor City GMC IMCA Northern SportMod main event. 16 cars battled for 25 laps and it all came down to the last lap for Dutton to grab the win from Nick Spainhoward, Micael Johnson and Tina Pounds.

2014 Melo’s Gas & Gear American Stock champion Brian Childress got his first win of 2015 Saturday night. With an rough first appreance for Childress on opening night, he rebounded in dominate fashion beating Kody Sly, Mark Irwin, Traci Childress and Charles Morrison rounding out the top 5.

The CA Lightning Sprints made their first stop in Bakersfield for 2015 and checked in with 28 entries. Bobby Michnowicz edged out Scott Kinney for the win with a margin of victory of .053 seconds for the evenings most exciting main event finish. Jeff Dyer and Scott Brown rounded out the top four.

IMCA Race Saver Sprints also made their first appearance at the west’s fastest 1/3 clay oval on Saturday night. Chris Ennis grabbed the debut feature win followed by Jesse Mack and Scott Meisner. This new division will be growing week to week and should a division to watch in 2015.

Bakersfield Speedway returns back to action next week March 28th with a full field of house divisions. IMCA Modifieds headline the action packed night of racing. Also on top for Saturda night is the IMCA SportMods, Hobby Stocks, Mini Stocks and NMRA 3/4 Midgets. Gates open at 4:00pm with racing getting underway at 6:00pm. Bakersfield speedway is located at 5001 N Chester Ext Bakersfield, CA. 93308. For complete race info 661-393-3373 or www.bakersfieldspeedway.com