By Steven Blakesley
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Apr. 18, 2025) — 2024 Bakersfield Speedway champion Gavyn Manning finally prevailed at the all-new speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, winning Friday’s 30-lap IMCA Modified feature during the special Friday Night Lights program at the 1/3-mile dirt track. Manning had finished runner-up in both events to open the 2025 season before finally achieving victory, but his second in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region after a big win at Mohave Valley Raceway’s Bill & Shirley Meyer Memorial late last month.
Outside polesitter Dalton Houghton made a strong move to take the lead on the opening circuit of the feature race. Ninth-starting Manning took advantage of multiple early race restarts to work the inside line and take over the lead by the fourth lap of the feature. Manning accumulated a five-second lead that was nullified by a caution on lap 22.
Opening night winner Robby Sawyer, in the Joe Gallaher-fielded No. X, soldiered on with early damage, running in the third position for most of the main event. Sawyer then retired to the infield with just three laps remaining due to an ill handling race car.
Manning managed to build up his lead again over the final eight laps to a sizeable 3.7 second lead. Gavyn Manning dominated for the $750 prize, followed by Dalton Houghton in second. Brad Pounds recovered from an early spin to charge back to third.
“I finished second twice here so I showed up with one goal: dominate. And we did that,” Manning said. “We just got through the holes and made it happen.”
McKellar Masters the SportMods
Bakersfield’s Chris McKellar put a stop to the Bannister Racing dominance in the Karl Chevrolet IMCA Sport Modifieds by winning the 25-lap feature worth $600. Two-time 2025 winner Tyler Bannister was involved in an early race incident that required a pit stop for repairs and put him in a come from behind position throughout the feature. Emali Van Hoff suffered damage in an incident involving Tate Loftis, ending her event in turn three on lap two.
McKellar drove into the lead by lap 6, passing Danny Wagner for the top spot. 2024 Bakersfield Speedway champion Jason Bannister challenged McKellar in the final laps of the feature. Bannister dove inside McKellar in turn one on the final circuit but spun out of contention. McKellar stormed ahead for victory, his first of 2025, followed by Dylan Wilson and Loftis.
Holder Hustles to Stock Car Victory
Roger Holder of Bakersfield won the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car 20-lap feature. Jacob Van Essen started third but used a three-wide move on the inside of the backstretch to nab the lead over Billy Simkins. Simkins briefly challenged Van Essen for the lead but to no avail.
Eighth-starting Holder challenged Van Essen from both the top and bottom, before using the bottom to muscle through to lead lap 15. Holder held the point the rest of the way to score his first win of the year in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region. Van Essen and Simkins were second and third.
The event was broadcast live on IMCA TV affiliate Track Vision TV powered by Low Budget TV. Full replays are available anytime through the IMCA TV Replay Subscription, just $24.99/month. Already subscribed? Don’t miss the highly anticipated Season 2 of the Boone Docuseries, now streaming exclusively to the IMCA TV Replay platform.
