By Ben Deatherage
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Apr. 4, 2025) — On March 22nd this year, Bakersfield native Gavyn Manning embarked on what would become one of the most unforgettable nights of his young career. Competing at the Bill and Shirley Meyer Memorial at Mohave Valley Raceway in Bullhead City, Arizona, Manning flipped his car during hot laps—a chaotic beginning to what would soon become a rare and remarkable comeback story.
“I was going to try and go to the top of the board in hot laps, but I didn’t realize how greasy the track was,” Manning explained. “I hit some grease going into turn three and blew off the top and rolled and ended on top of the tractor tires. More than anything, it was sheet metal damage, but it really bent the J-bar. We beat out the roof, the sail panels, and the deck and had to scramble and find a new J-bar, and made it just in time for the heat race.”
What followed was the kind of story race fans live for. With adrenaline high and time short, Manning and his crew thrashed in the pits to get the car back on track. Just hours after flipping, he rolled into the feature like nothing had happened—ready to hunt down the front of the field. He started eighth in the feature and charged to the front, taking the lead on lap seven and never looking back.
“When we fired off, I knew the top was good,” he said. “After the first lap or so, I sent it to the top, and everyone was scrambling for the bottom. That’s how I made a bunch of my passes. I kept charging on the top until we got the lead on the restart.”
The win marked his first of the 2025 season and extended a strong stretch of performances.
At just 21 years old, Manning is already making a name for himself with his poise and grit under pressure. Manning has now finished on the podium in each of his last three starts—including two runner-ups at the Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway Park.
“2024 was my best season yet,” Manning said. “The first race this year, we went to Ventura to shake the car down but battled carb issues, so I’m glad we got those all out of the way. Both races at Bakersfield we’ve been battling for the win and obviously got the win at Mohave. It’s been a heck of a start to the season.”
Racing Journey and Family Roots
Manning’s path started in Mini Dwarfs and Junior Trophy Trucks, but it was his time at the Bakersfield Karting Experience—racing Kage Karts—that truly caught the eye of his maternal grandfather, Don Clark, after Gavyn charged from the back of the pack to finish third one night. Impressed by his natural instincts and drive, Clark helped him move into a Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMod in 2019. The following year, Manning transitioned into the Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, competing in the Shaw Race Cars Western Region.
“For the few years of my IMCA career, they were nothing special,” Manning said. “We’ve had to work our tails off and had to learn so much—how to run up front, being aggressive at the start of races, how to throw sliders.”
That hard work has paid off. Manning captured the track championship at Bakersfield Speedway the last two seasons and racked up several feature wins throughout last year’s campaign.
Racing runs deep in Manning’s blood. His paternal grandfather was a regular at Bakersfield Speedway, and his father, Eric Manning, followed in his footsteps competing in the IMCA Northern SportMods. His uncle, Bryan Clark, is also a longtime IMCA Modified competitor. Gavyn has proudly taken up the family torch.
Continuing the legacy on both sides of his family, Manning, along with his uncle Bryan, runs the #51 in honor of one of Don Clark’s close friends—a go-kart racer who passed away. The number has become a lasting tribute the family proudly carries on.
Following in the tire tracks of the Pounds, Morris, Dotson, Bannister, and Blankenship families—as well as the likes of Cody Laney, Jerry Flippo, Dylan Thornton, Robby Sawyer, and many more—Manning is quickly becoming a force on the Central California scene. Many drivers who’ve cut their teeth at Bakersfield have gone on to succeed across the nation, and Manning looks poised to do the same.
Balancing work and racing, Manning holds down a full-time job Monday through Friday. But when the workday ends, he shifts gears—literally—devoting his nights and weekends to maintaining, fine-tuning, and improving his car. The ultimate goal remains clear: to one day turn his racing passion into a full-time career.
Eyes on Bud Nationals
Among all the races on his radar, the famed Bud Nationals in October is the one he most wants to win. A lifelong goal since childhood, Manning won the preliminary night of the fall special last year and finished second in the finale.
“Since I was a kid my biggest goal has been to win the Bud Nats,” he said. “To win one of the nights last year was a dream come true.”
With a growing list of podiums, a headline-making win in Arizona, and a deep family foundation, Gavyn Manning is proving himself as one of the next breakout stars in West Coast dirt track racing. His relentless work ethic, deep respect for the sport’s roots, and unshakable focus make it clear—this is only the beginning of something special.
