BAKERSFIELD SPEEDWAY HOSTS SUMMER SPECTACULAR THIS SATURDAY NIGHT
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (July 21, 2026) – 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. Photo by Tom Macht
Pit gates open at 3pm. New 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.
2026 SCHEDULE – SUBJECT TO CHANGE
JULY
25- IMCA MODIFIEDS, SPORT MODS, STOCK CARS, HOBBY STOCKS, AMERICAN STOCKS, MINI STOCKS
AUGUST
29- MIKE MOSHIER CLASSIC – IMCA MODIFIEDS, SPORT MODS, STOCK CARS, HOBBY STOCKS, AMERICAN STOCKS, MINI STOCKS
SEPTEMBER
12- USCS SPRINTS, HOBBY STOCKS, AMERICAN STOCKS, MINI STOCKS, WRA VINTAGE
25- WORLD OF OUTLAWS, CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINTS
26- IMCA MODIFIEDS, SPORT MODS, HOBBY STOCKS, AMERICAN STOCKS, NATIONAL DWARFS, MINI STOCKS
OCTOBER 9-10 BUD NATIONALS – IMCA MODIFIEDS, SPORT MODS, STOCK CARS, HOBBY STOCKS, AMERICAN STOCKS, NATIONAL DWARFS
NOVEMBER 24- JASON LEFFLER MEMORIAL USAC NATIONAL MIDGETS, SPORT MODS
