Sanders tops IMCA Modified field
The popular IMCA Modifieds headlined the five division night with 17 cars checked in. Running the final feature e of the night provided plenty of side by side racing on the 1/3 mile high banked clay oval. Robert Sanders of Bakersfield took the impression win over Danny Lauer, Ethan Dotson, John Piker and Brad Pounds. Sanders who normally pilots a late model, brought out his modifieds to play for the night and it proved to be a wise choice.
IMCA Northern SportMods carried the largest car count of 25 cars Saturday night. Four heat race and one B Main event chiseled the field down to 22 A Main starters. Several challengers took shots at passing Kruz Griffith for the lead during the Sports Mod feature Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway. But none was successful at getting around the Bakersfield driver, who earned a hard-fought victory after leading the final 18 laps of the 25-lap race. Gary Dutton and Tina Pounds hounded Griffith for the lead at various points of the race. However, Griffith managed to say out in front despite six caution flags. Pounds ended up in second place. Dutton was fourth, one spot behind Rick Childress Jr. Nick Spainhoward took fifth. “I’m speechless,” Griffith said. “Right now I don’t even know what to say.”
Tina Bell was lightning-fast from start to finish in winning the Mini Stock feature. Bell shot past five cars on the opening lap to grab the lead of the 15-lap race and was never seriously challenged after that, winning for the second time in as many A-main events this year. “I was just trying to stay away from any craziness,” Bell said. Bell’s victory was tempered by a serious early-race wreck that brought out the red flag for about 30 minutes. Bell car’s suffered a broken radiator hose and leaked a great deal of water out onto the track during the long break but that did nothing to slow her down. Roy Maynard Jr. was second followed by Loni Spiller, Billy Winchester, and Ryan Holmes.
NMRA Midgets made their first appearance of 2015 with a 10 car field. Bruce Hiroshima of Camarillo out-dueled Scott Dobson of Port Hueneme to win the 20-lap A-Main event. The NMRA Midgets will make 5 more stops at the historic 1/3 mile clay oval in 2015.
A 14 car field of Hobby Stocks were split into two heat races which were won by Robert Lawler and Ralph Cooke. Aaron Stewart took the early lead of the 20 lap main event and help off Noah Allen for the win followed by Kevin Collier, Robert Lawler and Matt Wankum rounding out the top five finishers.
The Bakersfield speedway will be right back in action next week with its annual Easter celebration. USAC 360 Non Winged Sprint cars headline and great night of dirt track racing action. Hobby Stocks, Pro Stocks, American Stocks and the Hard Tops will also be in action Saturday night. For complete event info call 661-393-3373 or www.bakersfieldspeedway.com
