Johnson drives to first Bakersfield Speedway win of 2015
BY MIKE GRIFFITH mgriffith@bakersfield.com
There were plenty of clouds, a good deal of wind, some lightning and even rain.
How’s that for a mid-summer night in Bakersfield?
But that only delayed the racing at Bakersfield Speedway on Saturday night.
A thundershower early into the program stopped racing for more than 90 minutes. Rain fell for more than 20 minutes and it took more than an hour to work the third-mile clay oval track back into racing shape after the rain quit.
Hobby Stocks kicked off the feature racing and bounced back from a blown engine a week ago to get his first win of the season in just his second race.
And the win came with a borrowed engine from Mike Hill Jr.
“I can’ thank Sadie and Mike Hill enough,” he said. “We’re getting our engine rebuilt and my dad worked all week on this car — the tore it apart and put it back together.”
Johnson started third and took the lead from Perry Alderman midway through the 20-lapper.
Alderman held on to finish second, followed by Brent Hosfeldt, Jessie Bowles and Chris Settlemire.
Zach Forster made it six wins in six races in Mod Lites action but this one did not come easy and he was none too happy.
Forster took the lead from Jeff Fry on the 15th lap only to have Fry come flying back. Fry dove low in turn three and made hard contact with Forster, who managed to keep his car under control and take the checkered flag.
“I congratulated him (Fry) last time but that wasn’t cool,” said Forster, after climbing from his car and assessing damage to the right front suspension.
Fry finished second with Jeff Thompson third.
Rick Childress passed Troy Patte right at the finish line to win the IMCA Stock Car 20-lap feature in what was basically a photo finish.
Childress used the high line on the final lap, got a good drive out of turn four and inched ahead at the finish line.
“It was a helluva a race,” said Childress.
It appeared that Patte might have been ahead but the cars are scored using transponders, which are located a few feet behind the front of the car.
“I’m going to be gracious and congratulate him,” Patte said.
The IMCA Modified feature just beat the return of the rain as Griffith led wire-to-wire in the 25-lapper for his first win of the year.
Griffith became the 10th different winner in 11 races.
“I thought with the weather and (earlier rain) we were done,” Griffith said. “We were packed up and ready to leave. I’m glad we stuck around.”
It was a fast-paced race with just a couple of cautions, which was good as it rain started falling midway through the race.
Steve Nolan made a few runs at Griffith but could not complete a pass and finished second. Chad Reichenbach was third, followed by Chett Reeves and Brad Pounds, who moved into the points lead.
The Mini Dwarf races were canceled due to the rain. A make up race date will be scheduled.
