Sawyer grabs the win from the top side
BY MIKE GRIFFITH The Bakersfield Californian mgriffith@bakersfield.com
From the first feature of the night to the final 25-lap IMCA race, there was one constant on Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway: The high side of the track was the fast way around. Robby Sawyer slid past Troy Morris II early in the 25-lap IMCA feature, then stayed glued to the high groove to become the fourth different winner in as many races.
“I knew it was a one-lane dominant track, and knew I had to get to the front,” said Sawyer, who fell in behind Morris at the start. “I did the dirty slide job (going low, then sliding up in front of the other driver) to get the lead — then just went.” Sawyer was chased by Brad Pounds from the 10th lap on, and Pounds tried to make the low side work a couple of times, but could not get enough bite to get past Sawyer.
“That’s one guy you don’t want to see behind you,” said Sawyer, later adding: “I like beating the guy in the ’15’ car (Pounds). He’s my favorite driver to beat.” Morris finished third, followed by Roger Holder and Ethan Dotson.
Levi Keifer shot into the lead at the start of the Sports Mod feature, and stayed there for all 25 laps to become the first repeat winner this season. It was the second straight win for Keifer, who ran on the high side of the track throughout the race. “There was a lot of moisture up there and I figured (if anyone) was going to pass me, it would have to be on a slide job from the inside,” Keifer said. Rick Childress Jr. made the strongest bid for victory, diving low in turn three to get alongside Keifer. But Childress could not hold his line and spun in turn four. Billy Simkins, who started mid-pack in the 21-car, finished second, followed by Cale Kanke and Nick Spainhoward. “This car was really good in the middle of the track, but by the time I got (into second), Keifer was there,” said Simkins, who won the season-opening race.
Loren De Armond got by Rick Childress with four laps to go to win the 20-lap IMCA Street Stock. “That was some of the funnest racing I’ve done in a long time,” De Armond said of the race-long battle with Childress, who had to settle for second. Childress took the lead at the start and stayed glued to the high side of the track as he fended off several challenges from De Armond. De Armond went by on the low side, then slid right back up high and pulled away. Tony Patee was third and Ryan Rice fourth.
Doug Shepherd drove to victory in the 20-lap Mini Stock feature, snapping Tina Bell’s three-race winning streak. Shepherd took the lead on the 12th lap, with Bell moving into second at the same time. Bell was right on Shepherd’s bumper as the two came up on the slower car of Amanda McGowan on the 17th lap, and that encounter was the difference. Shepherd got by then McGowan pushed a bit high, slowing Bell’s momentum as Shepherd pulled away. “Right there toward the end someone was bumping me and I knew it was (Bell),” Shepherd said. “When I got around that lapped car I just got on the bottom (to protect his lead).”
But Bell was too far back to mount a final challenge and had to settle for second. Shannon Treide was third with Roy Maynard Jr. fourth.
There was no catching Doug Nunes in the 20-lap California Lightning Sprint feature as he led wire-to-wire in the 18-car field. Nunes started on the outside of the front row and quickly pulled out to a full straightaway lead. Two caution periods pulled him back to the field, but he quickly powered away on both restarts, the last coming on lap 12. Bobby Michnowicz finished second with Jeff Dye third.
