bakersfieldspeedway Archives

Six tracks host California IMCA Speedweek shows

MERCED, Calif. – California is the place Modified and Northern SportMod drivers will want to be, for the inaugural California IMCA Speedweek Aug. 10-15. IMCA Modifieds race for $1,000 to win their Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying features while Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods chase $750 top checks each night. The inaugural California IMCA Speedweek presented by Hoppes Motorsports opens next Monday at Placerville Speedway, then travels to Petaluma Speedway on Aug. 11; to Antioch Speedway on Aug. 12; to Merced Speedway on Aug. 13; to Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford on Aug. 14; and to Bakersfield Speedway for the Aug. 15 finale. All events are draw/redraw. Modified features pay $100 to start, Northern SportMod features $75, with IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing National, Shaw Race Cars Western Region and KMJ Performance State points, in addition to series points at stake. Top five drivers in standings for each division receive point fund shares, in increments of $1,000, $400, $200, $100 and $100 for the Modifieds and $700, $300, $200, $100 and $100 for the Northern [Read More]

Inaugural California IMCA Modified Speedweek dates announced

By Ben Deatherage MERCED, Calif. – Something exciting is around the bend in the California IMCA Modified scene. Doug Lockwood, promoter at Merced Speedway, has put together the first-ever Modified Speedweek in the State of California. The series will race from Monday, Aug. 10 to Saturday, Aug. 15 at six different racetracks in as many nights. The racing extravaganza will be open to both IMCA Modifieds and Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods. Each race will feature a 20-car main event for $1,000 to win and $50 to start for the Modifieds while SportMods will race for $600 to the winner and $40 to start. Modified features are Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events. Point funds will be up for grabs in both divisions, with $1,000-$400-$200-$100-$100 shares being paid in the Modifieds and $600-$300-$200-$100-$100 shares paid in the SportMods. The whole party kicks off at Placerville Speedway on Aug. 10, before the tour travels west to Petaluma Speedway on Tuesday. Wednesday will be spent at Antioch Speedway while the Thursday date is reserved for Merced Speedway. The series continues its southern [Read More]

Kiefer repeats IMCA Modified triumph at McGowan Memorial

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (June 27) – Racing returned to Bakersfield Speedway and Austin Kiefer returned to victory lane following Saturday’s Richie McGowan Memorial. Kiefer topped the IMCA Modified special ahead of Robby Sawyer for a second straight year, earning $1,000. Jerry Flippo, Cody Laney and Troy Foulger completed the top five. “It was pretty cool deal. To be able to win this race twice in a row means a lot to me,” said Kiefer, already a Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot candidate. “I grew up watching Tina and Brad (Pounds, McGowan’s daughter and son-in-law) race.” Kiefer started outside Sawyer on the front row and led every lap. Sawyer challenged early but there was no catching Kiefer after the sole caution flew at midway. Laney made his way to fourth from 14th starting. Drivers with proven Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod credentials squared off in that $700 to win feature and it was defending track champion Michael Johnson first across the stripe half a car length ahead of defending race winner Jason Nation. Johnson used the higher line to [Read More]

McGowan Memorial is Saturday at Bakersfield

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Bakersfield Speedway returns to action this Saturday with the Richie McGowan Memorial special. IMCA Modifieds race for $1,000 to win their June 27 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot-qualifying feature. Top prize for the Karl Kustoms Northern SportMods is $700. Pit gates open at 3 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Grandstands remain closed and a limit of five people will be allowed into the pit area, including the driver, per race team. The event will be broadcast on pay per view. Pit passes are $35. Pill draw is $10. Information about the draw/redraw show is available on Facebook or by calling 661 393-3373.

Laney, Winebarger win Modified features during emotional weekend at Bakersfield

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Oct. 13-14) – Racing took a backseat to remembering a much loved member of the Bakersfield Speedway family. Bailey Schweitzer, daughter of promoter Scott Schweitzer, was one of the victims of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas. She was remembered in pre-race ceremonies before both nights of the Budweiser Nationals, with a balloon launch held before racing began on Saturday. “This has been a race I’ve always wanted to win and especially being able to do it this year means a lot to me,” said Friday night IMCA Modified winner Cody Laney. “There were a lot of people here and a lot of work went into this weekend. A lot of people came together.” Laney’s 30-lap win on Friday and Collen Winebarger’s 40-lap victory on Saturday both paid $1,500 and were Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying events. Robby Sawyer ran up front early on Friday and was in and out of the lead before Laney got there to stay on the 18th lap. After moving to the lower line, Laney [Read More]

Feature

Rob Parker Takes the Helm at East Moline Speedway for 2025 Season

By Ben Deatherage EAST MOLINE, Ill. (Apr. 18, 2025) — Rob Parker will take over promotional duties at East Moline Speedway for the 2025 season, bringing fresh energy and a lifelong passion for the sport to the historic ¼-mile high-banked clay oval. “I’ve been around racing my whole life and in the East Moline area for the last few years,” said Parker. “When I learned the track was just going to sit, I thought, ‘I guess it’s my time.’ I’m very excited for the opportunity to do this for the racing community.” A first-time promoter, Parker has put together a full slate of Sunday night racing from May through August, featuring four Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing divisions: Friesen Performance IMCA Modifieds, Sunoco IMCA Late Models, Karl Chevrolet IMCA Northern SportMods, and Stealth Racing IMCA STARS Mod Lites. The season kicks off May 4, with championship night wrapping up the campaign on August 24. East Moline Speedway has a strong history with IMCA. The track first sanctioned Modifieds in 1984 and has done so consistently since [Read More]

Feature

Mallicoat Outduels Grabouski in Modified Photo Finish At Eagle

By Greg Soukup EAGLE, Neb. (Apr. 18, 2025) — The 2025 first night of the Ice Breaker Challenge kicked off in spectacular fashion at Eagle Raceway, and the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified main event delivered one of the closest finishes the track has seen in recent memory, as Izac Mallicoat battled to the very last corner with his chassis builder, Jordan Grabouski. Jaxon Saathoff led the initial circuit but would soon be doing battle with Mallicoat. Mallicoat took over the top spot from Saathoff on lap 3 but Grabouski continued to march his way to the front on lap 12, moving to second and then taking the lead from Mallicoat two laps later. The stage was set for one of the most intense battles I’ve seen in a long time. Grabouski barely held off Mallicoat for the lead until five to go when Mallicoat took the top spot. Despite a furious challenge by Grabouski, including a last-ditch effort slide job out of turn four on the last lap Mallicoat held him off, winning by a scant [Read More]

Hobby Stock

Gottschalk Wins Modified Opener At WaKeeney

By Sheldon Wickwar WaKEENEY, Kan. (Apr. 18, 2025) — Daniel Gottschalk made the most of his 2025 debut, outdueling Greg Gustus in a spirited Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature Friday night at WaKeeney Speedway to earn his first score of the year in the Jet Racing Central Region. The race started off with a front row of Greg Gustus and Gottschalk, who battled closely throughout the feature, as each took turns leading at different points. Late in the race, Gottschalk solidified the lead and ran away from Gustus en route to the victoyu. Second was Gustus, while third was Clay Money. Hardcharger in the main event was Brett Berry, who gained seven spots. Burkhart Beats Holzmeister and Pfeifer to Win Stock Car Main The Sunoco IMCA Stock Car finale touched off with a front row of Troy Burkhart and Doug Holzmeister, the duo ran closely throughout the feature until the closing stages, when Holzmeister fell off slightly. Kyle Pfeifer got by Holzmeister late but could not quite make a winning pass on Burkhart. Troy Burkhart grabbed [Read More]