Sawyer adds to IMCA win total at Bakersfield Speedway

There’s a reason Robby Sawyer has the most wins of any IMCA Modified driver at Bakersfield Speedway this year.

In two simple words, he’s fast.

Sawyer dominated the division’s 25-lap feature on Saturday night, leading from start to finish on the third-mile clay oval to earn his third win of 2016.

The Bakersfield driver beat second-place finisher Brad Pounds to the checkered flag by 3.712 seconds.

Robert Sanders was third followed by Rick Childress, Jr., and Bryan Clark.

“It was an all-around good hot rod,” Sawyer said. “I just set it on cruise control and waited to get pressure and it never happened.”

Matt Mayo held off a strong run from Billy Simkins to win the 20-lap Western Pro Stock main event.

Mayo led all 20 laps, but not before Simkins raced up from the back of the field and gave the leader all that he could handle.

“I was just trying to stay nice and smooth,” Mayo said after his second win of the year. “I saw where Billy was running and I just tried to take his line away from him and get the win,”

Tim Randolph was third followed by Tina Bell and Chris Smith.

Loni Spiller took over sole possession of the Mini Stocks points lead by wining the division’s 20-lap feature.

Spiller, who came into the night tied atop the points standings with Andy Boydstun, led the final 13 laps to claim her fourth main event victory of the year.

Doug Shepherd was second. Misty Warren took third. Shawn Schwartzenberger placed fourth and Mike Conway came home in fifth. Boydstun finished eighth.

“Being tied for first, I won it,” Spiller said. “…I feel really good. The track is great.”

Brody Schweitzer ran away from the rest of the field in the 20-lap American Stock feature.

Schweitzer took over the lead on Lap 3 and then pulled away for his third win of the year, beating second-place Brandon Ratcliff to the checkered flag by more than a full straightaway.

“Once I had the lead, I don’t want to say I was comfortable, but the car was working good,” Schweitzer said. “It was a good night.”

Clay Waters, Miranda Scott, and Nicholas Johnson rounded out the top five.

Scott Dobson of Newbury Park passed West Evans of Moorpark with five laps to go to win the 20-lap NMRA TQ Midget main event.

Dobson put heavy pressure on Evans for several laps before making his move for the lead by powering inside of the two-time series champion in Turn 1.

Dobson, the 2009 NMRA TQ Midget champion, went on to beat West, the runner-up, to the checkered flag by 2.744 seconds.

“The track is awesome,” Dobson said. “It’s very racy.”

Dave Lambert was third. Kevin Kale finished fourth and Chuck West took fifth.

John Isabella of Santee won the 20-lap CDCRA feature.

The two-time series champion swapped the lead back and forth with Stephen Brunn early before taking command of the race for good on Lap 5.

Brunn finished second, 4.493 seconds behind Isabella. Justin Jackson was third. Ira Henry placed fourth and L.J. Billings took fifth.