BANNISTER, FRAZIER, CHILDRESS, AND CONWAY ROLL TO BAKERSFIELD SPEEDWAY VICTORIES

BANNISTER, FRAZIER, CHILDRESS, AND CONWAY ROLL TO BAKERSFIELD SPEEDWAY VICTORIES

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (April 19, 2026) – Tyler Bannister won his first Bakersfield IMCA Modified victory while Matthew Frazier, Ricky Childress, Jr., and Carson Conway also scored in dirt track racing at the Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway on Saturday night. Photo by Tom Macht

Tyler Irwin won $150 for the IMCA SportMod trophy dash while Cale Kanke was awarded $100 for the second dash win, courtesy of multiple partners who stepped up to support the night. Other dash winners were Stephen Johnson in Hobby Stocks and John Robinson in American Stocks.

The South Valley AC & Heating IMCA Modifieds featured another race full of champions including the 2025 IMCA SportMod champion Bannister and multi-time champion Brad Pounds winning the heat races, setting the stage for the 30-lap main event with $750 on the line.

Markus Frazier seized the lead quickly from his third starting position while Bannister stormed from eighth on the grid to second by just lap seven. Bannister then knifed underneath Frazier exiting turn two, taking the lead on lap ten. Bannister drove off to a straightaway advantage for his first Bakersfield Speedway IMCA Modified victory. Pounds won an exciting battle with Rob Sanders and Gavyn Manning for second with Frazier finishing fifth.

In SportMod action, a strong 15-car field were split across two heat races with Ethan Johnson and Tyler Irwin winning the eight-lap races. Alyssa Smith led over Ethan Johnson for the first half of the 25-lap feature with $600 in their sights. Matthew Frazier methodically moved forward from sixth starting position, overhauling Smtih to lead lap 13. Frazier withstood a restart and maintained the lead, topping Chad Johnson, Paul Brown, Smith, and Brian Baker as the top-five finishers.

Matt Wankum and Stephen Johnson won the Hobby Stock heat races but it was Ricky Childress, Jr. yet again in victory lane after the 20-lap feature. The victory marks his fourth win in five tries this season. Johnson was second followed by Eric Cimental and Brooke Cimental. Ryan Barnes rounded out the top-five.

Carson Conway earned his third American Stock checkered flag of 2026 in a 20-lap affair. Tyler Weeks and John Robinson won the heat races. Conway then led Robinson and Weeks at the finish of the feature with Dan Bryant in fourth and Jon McKinley Sr. in fifth.

Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway races again on May 2nd with California Lightning Sprints added to the full card of championship racing action.

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 Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway April 18, 2026 – Race Results

IMCA Modifieds South Valley AC Heating A Feature 1 (30 Laps): 1. 151-Tyler Bannister[8]; 2. 15B-Brad Pounds[5]; 3. 10N-Rob Sanders[4]; 4. 51G-Gavyn Manning[7]; 5. 15F-Markus Frazier[3]; 6. 21JT-Justin Crockett[6]; 7. 55-Brad Watkins[9]; 8. 12-Michael Scruggs[2]; 9. 25-Marcus Ford[1]

IMCA Sport Mods Hoosier Tire West A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 15F-Matthew Frazier[6]; 2. 1N-Chad Johnson[10]; 3. 99B-Paul Brown[3]; 4. 31A-Alyssa Smith[2]; 5. 11B-Brian Baker[9]; 6. 40-Nick Spainhoward[11]; 7. 33-Cale Kanke[7]; 8. 172-Tyler Irwin[5]; 9. 43K-Landon King[15]; 10. 21B-Braxton James[1]; 11. 17A-Adam Baker[13]; 12. 68-Santiago Lopez[12]; 13. 51-Jason Bannister[8]; 14. 11-Ethan Johnson[4]; 15. (DNS) 68S-Sunnie Simkins

Hobby Stocks HS Body Works and Towing A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 16-Ricky Childress Jr[9]; 2. 26S-Stephen Johnson[8]; 3. 28X-Eric Cimental[7]; 4. 25B-Brooke Cimental[2]; 5. 79-Ryan Barnes[1]; 6. 13-Casey Johnson[6]; 7. 47-Brock Crawford[4]; 8. 91C-Matt Wankum[5]; 9. 13XXX-Bryson Wood[3]

American Stocks Haddad Dodge A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 25-Carson Conway[9]; 2. 954-John Robinson[2]; 3. 69X-Tyler Weeks[8]; 4. 2B-Dan Bryant[4]; 5. 70-Jon McKinley Sr[10]; 6. 13-Paige Maddox[3]; 7. 19-Ronald Lookadoo[1]; 8. 43-Grant Perkins[11]; 9. 72-Mason Conway[5]; 10. 33-Robert Swearengin[7]; 11. 01-Colton Hay[6]; 12. 7-Ian Crawford[12]; 13. (DNS) 0-Gene Glover