MANNING, PIKER, AND VAN ESSEN SCORE IN IMCA ACTION AT BAKERSFIELD SPEEDWAY

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (July 26, 2026) – 2024 Bakersfield Speedway champion Gavyn Manning of Bakersfield returned to victory lane on Saturday, claiming his third 25-lap South Valley AC & Heating feature of 2026 during the Summer Spectacular at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. John Piker of Bakersfield won in the IMCA SportMods while Jacob Van Essen led the IMCA Stock Car action as well, part of a six division line-up at the one-third mile dirt track. Photo by Tom Macht

Manning used the high side to edge ahead of Rob Sanders for the lead at the start of the feature, then Sanders spun in turn two on lap three to bring out a caution flag.

2025 champion Brad Pounds ran down Manning for the lead. Pounds threw a slide job attempt on Manning in turn one but Manning retook the lead in turn three with 11 laps remaining. Manning and Pounds drove around the top of the track with Manning maintaining the top spot to the checkered flag. Austin Keifer finished third while points leader Tyler Bannister finished fourth. Sanders rounded out the top-five. Bannister and Manning won the heat races.

John Piker in the IMCA SportMods grabbed victory in 25-laps of action, taking the trophy from the pole position. Nicholas Johnson drove into the lead at the halfway point of the feature before having to retire the car on lap 20 with a mechanical issue.

Piker reassumed the lead and held off points leader and 2024 champion Jason Bannister. Bannister finished second ahead of Paul Brown, Sunnie Simkins, and Santiago Lopez. Bannister and Tyler Irwin were the heat race victors.

The IMCA Stock Cars was one of the most competitive features of the night with points leader Jacob Van Essen earning his fourth win of the year after starting sixth. Justin Schweitzer and Billy Simkins battled for the lead before Simkins slipped backwards. 2025 champion Raymond Noland drove inside for the top spot. Van Essen then passed Schweitzer a few laps later.

Van Essen tracked down Noland in the final laps. Noland slowed with a flat right rear tire and Jacob Van Essen soared by to take the lead last pass for the win. Schweitzer finished second followed by Noland, Mike Villanueva and Justin Villanueva rounded out the top-five. Tony Smith and Raymond Noland won the heat races.

Ricky Childress, Jr. claimed win number eight of the 2026 season in the Hobby Stocks 20-lap feature. 13 entries took the green flag. Matt Wankrum finished second followed by Casey Johnson, Cameron Campbell, and Tom Stevens. Wankum and Cody Sly won the heat races.

Spencer Vasquez came from deepest in the field for a Summer Spectacular victory from eighth on the grid in the American Stocks. Robert Swearengin, Sr. and Jon McKinley tangled for the top spot in turn four, parting the seas for Vasquez to inherit the lead. Vasquez topped a resurgent McKinley, Dakota Brown, Ronald Lookadoo, and Tyler Weeks at the checkered flag. Will Simco and points leader Carson Conway won the heat races.

Dennis Cosens III won the 15-lap Mini Stock feature over Gene Glover. Round one Mini Stock winner Jason Cook, Jr. finished third. Cosens also won the heat race.

The Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway returns for the Mike Moshier Classic on August 29th.

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 July 25, 2026 – Race Results

IMCA Modifieds South Valley AC Heating A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 51G-Gavyn Manning[2]; 2. 15B-Brad Pounds[6]; 3. 3AC-Austin Kiefer[5]; 4. 151-Tyler Bannister[7]; 5. 10N-Rob Sanders[1]; 6. X-Robby Sawyer[8]; 7. 15F-Markus Frazier[4]; 8. (DNF) 21JT-Justin Crockett[3]

IMCA Sport Mods Hoosier Tire West A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 28P-John Piker[1]; 2. 51-Jason Bannister[8]; 3. 99B-Paul Brown[5]; 4. 68S-Sunnie Simkins[4]; 5. 68-Santiago Lopez[3]; 6. 15F-Matthew Frazier[6]; 7. 32-Jeff Bentancourt[11]; 8. (DNF) 1N-Nicholas Johnson[10]; 9. (DNF) 11-Ethan Johnson[9]; 10. (DNF) 172-Tyler Irwin[7]; 11. (DNF) C50-Nick Coffman[2]

IMCA Stock Car Golden Empire Towing A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 54V-Jacob Van Essen[6]; 2. 2J-Justin Schweitzer[3]; 3. 5-Raymond Noland[4]; 4. 69M-Mike Villanueva[8]; 5. 97-Justin Villaneuva[5]; 6. 68-Billy Simkins[2]; 7. 31T-Tom Smith[1]; 8. 26-Steven Johnson[7]; 9. 43-Jake Archibald[9]

Hobby Stock HS Body Works and Towing A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 16-Ricky Childress Jr[5]; 2. 91C-Matt Wankum[3]; 3. 13-Casey Johnson[4]; 4. 28X-Cameron Campbell[1]; 5. 164-Tom Stevens[8]; 6. 25B-Brooke Cimental[2]; 7. 58T-Troy Thomas Jr[12]; 8. 79-Kody Sly[7]; 9. 13XXX-Bryson Wood[13]; 10. 87-Maverick Wren[6]; 11. 8-Troy Thomas Sr[9]; 12. 26S-Garth Zander[10]; 13. 12-James Cecil[11]

American Stocks Haddad Dodge A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 12-Spencer Vasquez[8]; 2. 70-Jon McKinley[5]; 3. 31-Dakota Brown[7]; 4. 19-Ronald Lookadoo[14]; 5. 69X-Tyler Weeks[4]; 6. 25-Carson Conway[9]; 7. 72-Mason Conway[13]; 8. 4-Will Simco[10]; 9. 78-Robert Swearengin Sr[1]; 10. 2B-Dan Bryant[6]; 11. 33-Robert Swearengin[2]; 12. 29-Trenton Millard[11]; 13. 22J-Andrew Johnston[3]; 14. 48-Landynn Childress[12]

Mini Stocks A Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. 33-Dennis Cosens III[4]; 2. 9-Gene Glover[3]; 3. 26X-Jason Cook Jr[1]; 4. (DNF) 7C-Chance Wade[2]

2026 SCHEDULE – SUBJECT TO CHANGE

AUGUST

29- MIKE MOSHIER CLASSIC – IMCA MODIFIEDS, SPORT MODS, STOCK CARS, HOBBY STOCKS, AMERICAN STOCKS, MINI STOCKS

SEPTEMBER

12- USCS SPRINTS, HOBBY STOCKS, NATIONAL DWARFS, AMERICAN STOCKS, MINI STOCKS, WRA VINTAGE

25- WORLD OF OUTLAWS, CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINTS
26- IMCA MODIFIEDS, SPORT MODS, HOBBY STOCKS, AMERICAN STOCKS, NATIONAL DWARFS

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