Hagar captures first SportMod feature of year

By Mike Griffith – BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN:  Dakota Brown capped a championship American Stock season with a dramatic victory on Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway.
Five championships were decided on the final regular-season night at the third-mile oval, but the only doubt as to who would be champion was in the American Stock division.
Brown led Trevor Baker by four points with Nicholas Johnson just 10 behind.
Johnson broke in his heat race, making it a two-man shootout in the main.
Miranda Scott took the lead from the front row when the race started and Baker ended up mired in in the middle of the field as Brown worked his way from the rear of the field toward the front and was running third by lap eight.
Brown challenged Scott for the lead on lap 16, but Brody Schweitzer got by both to take the lead on lap 17.
Brown moved into second, and the two came up on slower traffic on the final lap.
Schweitzer went low in turn three and Baker went high as they split the slower car.
Brown trailed as the racers came out of turn four ,but edged ahead just before the finish for his fourth win of the season.
“I just went for it on the last lap,” Brown said. “I’ve got to thank these guys here (his crew), they busted their (butts). There were a lot of long days and long nights.”
Robby Sawyer made it two straight IMCA Modified victories, edging Scott Pounds by a foot at the end of the 25-lap race.
Ricky Childress, who had a large points lead entering the race, locked up the title just by starting. He made a strong run to the lead on lap 17 but spun in turn one.
“We’ve been point racing the last four or five races,” Childress said. “I was going for it. Just driver error.”
Pounds moved into the lead at the start with Sawyer close behind. Sawyer edged ahead of Pounds at one point, but Pounds slid right back in front.
Sawyer stayed close as the laps wound down and made his move in turn three on the final lap.
Pounds was high, Sawyer moved low and Sawyer won the drag race to the flag.
“I was waiting,” Sawyer said of the move. “ I wasn’t going to show my cards too early. We got exactly what we wanted: another trophy.”
Sawyer and Pounds had a dust up last week when Sawyer beat Pounds on a last-lap “slide job” which Pounds did not appreciate.
It was different this time.
“It’s all good,” Pounds said. “My hat’s off to him. He beat me fair and square. I have no problem at all.”
Brad Pounds finished third.
Devan Jones finished up the IMCA Stock regular season with his first win and Steven Johnson capped a dominant season with the championship.
Jones, who started on the front row, led wire-to-wire in the 20-lapper to become just the fourth different winner.
“It helps starting on the front row,” Jones said.
“The car’s been fast every week. It’s just the driver didn’t show up some times.”
Chad Johnson finished second followed by Steven Johnson.
Steven Johnson won nine of the 13 races but said it was not easy
“This was a tough year with (a variety of car problems),” Johnson said. “I have to thank everyone who helped me.”
Johnson also won the IMCA state championship.
Jordan Hagar passed Chris McKellar late in the Sports Mod race and held on for his first win of the season.
McKellar won the championship just by taking the green flag.
Race Liberante finished third with Matt Lewis fourth.
Lloyd Wren Jr. avoided numerous incidents in a caution-plagued Hobby Stock race and emerged with his second win of the season.
To Grzincic was second and Raymond Noland Jr. third.
Mike Hill Jr. won the Hobby Stock championship.