Sawyer take IMCA win at the Bakersfield Speedway

Robby Sawyer saw victory slip away from him on Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway before grabbing it back in a thrilling IMCA Modified finish on Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway.

Sawyer lost the lead to Bret Bennett on lap 21, got it back on lap 23 and went on to win the 25-lap feature.

Sawyer was well ahead when a caution fell, bunching the field for a five-lap shootout

Sawyer chose to start low on the restart, leaving Bret Bennett the high side. Bennett got a great run out of turn four and soared past Sawyer in turn one on the 21st lap. Sawyer fell a couple of car lengths back, but stormed back a lap later, sailing high in turn one and two and regaining the lead down the backstretch.

“When you’re leading you just don’t know (which groove might be better),” Sawyer said. “You can’t see what the other guys are doing and you’re kind of a sitting duck. I gave it one last ditch effort (the pass on the high side) and she stuck.”

Bennett, who finished second, said his mistake opened the door for Sawyer to regain the lead.

“Congratulations to Robby but I think we just gave one away for sure by bobbling there in turn two,” he said.

Cody Laney finished third, followed by Rick Childress and Roger Holder.

Kyle Wood added his name to a growing list of Hobby Stock winners, no easy feat on a night where there was an abundance of beating, banging and crashing in the 25-lap feature.

Wood took the lead from Karl Noland on lap 14 then pulled away from the field to become the fifth different winner in five races. Noland, who had led from the second lap on, suffered a flat tire right after a restart on lap 13.

Once in front, Wood pulled out to a big lead but then gave a bunch back late in the race with big bobble in turn four.

“The track was getting rough and I lost my brakes with about seven laps to go,” Wood said. “It’s kind of hard to drive this car without brakes.”

Kody Sly edged Johnny Wood for second right at the finish line.

Roy Maynard Jr. took the lead with four laps to go and went on to win the 20-lap Mod Lite feature.

Maynard went high in turn one on lap 17 to take the lead from Anthony Balcazar as Balcazar was slowed by a lapped car. Balcazar finished second with Matt Mayo third.

James Brown started on the front row and led the first nine laps before Jerry Flippo, trying to take the lead, spun in front of him in turn three. That brought out the caution and sent both cars to the rear, putting Balcazar in the lead.

Clay Waters grabbed the lead on the 12th lap and went on to victory in the American Stock feature, becoming the fourth different winner in as many races.

Brandon Ratcliff took the lead on the first lap and Waters moved up to challenge him on the fourth lap. The two raced side-by-side for several laps before Waters finally moved ahead.

Ratcliff held on for second with Brian Childress third.

Steven Johnson continued his dominance in the IMCA Modified class, driving to his third straight victory.

Mike Hill Jr., debuting a new car, led the first five laps before Johnson took the lead. Hill stayed close the rest of the way to finish second in the 20-lapper. Troy Patee was third