Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway: DIRT TRACK

BAKERSFIELD SPEEDWAY HOSTS SUMMER SPECTACULAR THIS SATURDAY NIGHT

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway returns to dirt slinging action on Saturday night with the Summer Spectacular, featuring six divisions of championship racing on the one-third mile dirt track. The event features the South Valley AC & Heating IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, American Stocks, and Mini Stocks on the card.

Pit gates open at 3pm. Race teams are encouraged to join the action, with any driver making their first start of the 2026 season receiving one free pit pass. Grandstands open at 5:30pm with Opening Ceremonies at 7pm. Race fans can save $2 on general admission tickets by grabbing them in advance at www.BakersfieldSpeedway.com General Admission is $18 online including all fees or $20 at the gates. Kids 6-12 are $10 in advance or $12 at the gates. Kids 5 and under are always free!

Parking is free of charge. Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway is located at 13500 Raceway Blvd, near Enos Ln and Interstate 5 in Bakersfield.

IMCA Modifieds compete for a $750 prize in the 25-lap feature with drivers chasing Bakersfield’s Tyler Bannister. Bannister has three victories in his rookie season and a perfect eight-for-eight top-five finishes. Gavyn Manning is second in the points followed by Markus Frazier, Rob Sanders, and Brad Pounds.

Tyler Bannister’s father Jason has scored on four occasions in the IMCA SportMod battle as well, leading Matthew Frazier in the championship. Ethan Johnson, Nicholas Johnson, and Alyssa Smith are in pursuit from the balance of the top-five. The IMCA SportMods also race for 25-laps with a $600 prize on tap.

IMCA Stock Cars make their fifth appearance of the year and have been dominated by Jacob VanEssen so far. VanEssen has visited victory lane at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway three times. Billy Simkins is just seven points out of the lead in second followed by Justin Villanueva, Raymond Noland, and Austin Pugh.

Ricky Childress, Jr. used the break between races at Bakersfield Speedway to travel and score additional victories in his lucrative season. Childress returns for Saturday’s Hobby Stock action on the strength of seven 2026 victories in Bakersfield. Brooke Cimental runs in the second position ahead of Marcus Wankum, Casey Johnson, and Stephen Johnson.

Carson Conway has also had a hot hand in the American Stocks, storming to four wins to accumulate a 44-point lead with a 20-lap feature scheduled. Dan Bryant, Robert Swearengin, Tyler Weeks, and Grant Perkins round out the top-five drivers.

The Mini Stocks make their second appearance of the year with a 20-lap feature planned. Jason Cook, Jr. of Porterville won the season opener. Drivers from up and down California competed in the first round with new faces expected to join the action in round two.

For more information on Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, visit www.BakersfieldSpeedway.com or follow the speedway on social media. Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway is located at 13500 Raceway Blvd, near Enos Ln and Interstate 5 in Bakersfield.

Bakersfield is the place to race this Saturday night for dirt track racing action in California! Any driver making their first start at the speedway this year will be given a free pit pass for the night. Come on out to see IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, American Stocks, and Mini Stocks competing. Pits open at 3pm with opening ceremonies at 7pm. More info at www.bakersfieldspeedway.com

🇺🇸 JUST ADDED: Happy Hour, Live Music & More! 🇺🇸

Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway with an unforgettable Fourth of July Celebration featuring NASCAR racing, destruction entertainment, live music, giveaways, delicious food, and one of the Central Valley’s biggest professional fireworks spectaculars!

⏰ Times to Know
🅿️ Spectator Parking Opens – 3:00 PM
🟢 Green Flag Drop (Gates Open) – 4:00 PM
🍺 Happy Hour – 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
• $5 Select Beers
• $5 Hot Dogs
• $5 Nachos
🎶 Live Music – 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
✍️ On-Track Autograph Session – 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM
🏁 Main Events Begin – 7:00 PM
🎆 Professional Fireworks Spectacular immediately following the races!

🔥 Featuring:
🏎️ NASCAR Limited Late Models
🏎️ NASCAR Spec Racers
💥 Drag-A-Boat Destruction Race
🎁 Giveaways
🎶 Live Entertainment
🇺🇸 Patriotic Family Fun

🎟️ Buy your tickets now and save before race day!

Bring the whole family and celebrate Independence Day with an action-packed evening of racing, entertainment, and fireworks at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway and California Resources Corporation

Here's a preview of the hardware up for grabs this Saturday night in the 15th annual Richie McGowan Memorial! See the Hobby Stocks in a 32-lap feature for $632 to win plus the $1032 to win South Valley AC & Heading IMCA Modifieds, $632 to win IMCA SportMods, and American Stocks. Come early for the on-track autograph session before racing begins at 7pm. Save $2 on tickets by buying them in advance at www.BakersfieldSpeedway.com

15TH ANNUAL RICHIE MCGOWAN MEMORIAL THIS SATURDAY AT BAKERSFIELD SPEEDWAY

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (June 23, 2026) – Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway honors a great supporter of racing during the 15th annual Richie McGowan Memorial, headlined by the $632 to win Hobby Stock 32-lap feature presented by MMI. Racing action will also include the $1032 to win South Valley AC & Heating IMCA Modifieds, $632 to win IMCA SportMods, and American Stocks. All four divisions will be a draw / re-draw format.

Grandstands open at 5:30pm with free on track autographs beginning at 6:30pm. Opening Ceremonies are at 7pm. Race fans can save $2 on general admission tickets by grabbing them in advance at www.BakersfieldSpeedway.com General Admission is $18 online including all fees or $20 at the gates. Kids 6-12 are $10 in advance or $12 at the gates. Kids 5 and under are always free!

Parking is free of charge. Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway is located at 13500 Raceway Blvd, near Enos Ln and Interstate 5 in Bakersfield.

McGowan was an important figure at Bakersfield Speedway as a racer and fellow competitor, along with his daughter Tina. His memorial race has served as one of the most cherished events of the season throughout its 15 editions.

Bakersfield’s Nicholas Johnson has won back-to-back editions of the McGowan Memorial, spanning both the N. Chester Ave facility and the current Enos Ln. facility. Six-time 2026 feature winner Ricky Childress, Jr. leads the current Hobby Stock standings, followed by Brooke Cimental, the other winner this year in Stephen Johnson, Ryan Barnes, and Marcus Wankum.

Tyler Bannister has had a brilliant rookie campaign in the South Valley AC & Heating IMCA Modifieds and leads the points with two wins. 2024 champion Gavyn Manning is second, also with two wins, followed by Markus Frazier, Rob Sanders, and Justin Crockett. 2025 champion Brad Pounds scored in the 2025 McGowan Memorial, signaling that a good run in Saturday’s $1032 to win feature could be a harbinger of future championship glory for one of the contenders.

Jason Bannister won the 2025 McGowan Memorial for IMCA SportMods and leads the 2026 IMCA SportMod championship standings. His three victories have lifted him to a narrow two-point advantage over Matthew Frazier. Ethan Johnson, Nicholas Johnson, and Santiago Lopez make up the balance of the top-five heading into Saturday’s 25-lap feature.

Carson Conway has three victories and possession of the American Stocks points lead. Like in the Modifieds, the 2025 McGowan Memorial winner of Kyle Wood went on to win the season championship.
Dan Bryant, Robert Swearengin, Tyler Weeks, and Grant Perkins are in pursuit of Conway with a 20-lap feature on tap.

For more information on Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, visit www.BakersfieldSpeedway.com or follow the speedway on social media. Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway is located at 13500 Raceway Blvd, near Enos Ln and Interstate 5 in Bakersfield.

It is race day at Kern! Online Sign Up is closed, but you can sign up to race at the track between 2:15pm and 4:40 PM! Spectators welcome all access passes $25 adults kids 12 and under free!

School is out for summer and it's time to go racing! All kids 18 and under are free to celebrate the kick off for summer this Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway! Come on out for a later start time to enjoy six divisions of dirt track thrills! More info at www.bakersfieldspeedway.com

Let's go dirt track racing this Saturday night! School is out for summer and it's time to enjoy racing under the lights!

School is out for the summer and the bell has rung for dirt track racing! Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway hosts the IMCA South Valley AC & Heating Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, American Stocks, and National Dwarfs. Kick off summer with six divisions of dirt track racing thrills!

SCHEDULE:
3pm Pits Open
5:30pm Grandstands Open
6pm Hot Laps
7pm Opening Ceremonies

TICKETS:
Adults $18 online - $20 day of show
All Students and Kids under 18 admitted FREE!

It's race day! If you are a racer who hasn't signed up yet you can do so at the track between 230 and 4:30 PM! Spectators and fans are welcome and $25 get you all access all day, including pits and free parking! Kids 12 and under can spectate for free!

One day away! Looking forward to a great evening of racing tomorrow come and join us!