Johnson forced to works hard for first win

JOHNSON WORKS HARD FOR FIRST MAIN EVENT WIN

Memorial Day weekend is a busy racing weekend and the Bakersfield Speedway showed that Saturday night. 18 IMCA Northern SportMods checked in to do cars took to do battle on the 1/3 mile clay oval. Kevin Johnson of Bakersfield had to work hard to grab his first SportMod victory of the season. Johnson had the early lead of the 25 lap main event as Ricky Childress Jr worked his way up to challenge Johnson for the lead at the half way mark. The two car put on a good clean race before Childress took over the lead and begun to stretch it out over the field. After a restart for a late caution gave Johnson the chance he needed to retake the lead and hold on for the victory. Childress finished 2nd followed by Nick Spainhoward and Jordan Hagar.

A short field of IMCA Stock cars produced another great battle for the winners check Saturday night. Loren De Armond of Lemoore CA had to stay up on the wheel for the entire 20 lap main event as Ron Hurt and Rick Childress Sr both took plenty of shots at De Armond on the hooked up race surface. De Armond was able to keep the lead and grab another win at the Bakersfield Speedway followed by Ron Hurt, Cory McDonald and Rick Childress Sr.

14 Mini Stocks checked in for the night of dirt track action. 2014 Champion Tina Bell again captured the victory on a caution free race. Bell is proving that she fully intends to repeat as track champion as she came from deep in the field to win the 20 lap feature. Doug Shepherd finished 2nd followed by Kenny White, Loni Spiller and Roy Maynard Jr.

Diamond IT Mod Lites hit the 1/3 mile clay oval with an another impressive 12 cars for newly formed division Saturday night. Zack Forster again captured the win followed by Jeff Fry, Jeff Thompson, Anthony Balcazar and Brian Puckett. Tim Varney took a scary ride after the checkered flag flew as his car broke something in the front end that caused the car to hit back straight wall. Varney was checked out by EMT’s and walked away under his own power. This new up and coming division is showing some great excitment and should be the class to watch in 2015.

Both Jr. & Sr. GoLiveStream.net Mini dwarfs were in action on the Memorial Day racing card. 12 Jr. Cars did battle with Mason Ratcliff grabbing an early lead and he held on for another feature win. Cade Lewis was a close second followed by Trenton Rickel and Ethan Johnson.

Troy Morris III was in the right place at the right time late in the 15 lap feature as the first two cars tangled in turn four giving Morris the lead and he powered on to win the event. Kaden Cochrun finished in second followed by Kercie Jung and Cheyenne Flippo.

Bakersfield Speedway wraps up the month of May this Saturday night May 30th with another night of dirt racing. IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, American Stocks and Hard Tops will all be in action Saturday. 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