40TH ANNUAL BUDWEISER NATIONALS AT BAKERSFIELD SPEEDWAY THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (October 7, 2026) – The biggest dirt stock car show of the year races for the 40th time in Bakersfield on Friday and Saturday nights at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway with the Budweiser Nationals. Six divisions compete in complete shows each night with South Valley AC & Heating IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Stock Cars, Hobby Stocks, American Stocks, and National Dwarf Cars ready to roll. Overall champions will be decided after two nights of racing with a commemorative trophy.
Pit gates open at 12pm each day while Grandstands open at 4pm with Opening Ceremonies at 6:30pm nightly. Race fans can save $2 on adult 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 and dry camping is free. Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway is located at 13500 Raceway Blvd, near Enos Ln and Interstate 5 in Bakersfield.
Gavyn Manning and Austin Kiefer split the IMCA Modified action at the 2025 Bud Nationals, with a $1000 Friday prize and $1500 Saturday prize on tap in 2026. Manning scored three wins this season at Bakersfield Speedway while Kiefer will look for his first triumph of the year in the Bud Nationals action. Tyler Bannister swept the 2025 IMCA SportMod features at the nationals and comes into this year’s 40th edition as the track champion in the Modified division after a sterling rookie campaign.
SportMods race for $750 to win Friday and $1000 to win Saturday.
Nicholas Johnson swept the weekend of IMCA Stock Car action last year. The 2026 division championship went to Jacob Van Essen with four wins while Steven Johnson scored twice. The IMCA Stock Cars race for $600 per night this year.
Hobby Stock racers will have their targets squarely on the back of Ricky Childress, Jr., following an outstanding 11 win campaign at Bakersfield Speedway in 2026. Each night’s competition for the Hobby Stocks has as $600 to win, 20-lap feature scheduled.
Carson Conway won the 2026 American Stocks track championship with the assistance of four feature wins. American Stocks are geared up for 20-lap features each night of this weekend’s races with $400 on the line in each event.
The National Dwarf Cars will race for lucrative awards as well, with $2000 to win up for grabs each night if they can attract 20 cars or more.
Race fans who cannot attend the races can experience the live streaming coverage on Track Vision TV.
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
OCTOBER 9-10 BUD NATIONALS – IMCA MODIFIEDS, SPORTMODS, STOCK CARS, HOBBY STOCKS, AMERICAN STOCKS, NATIONAL DWARFS
NOVEMBER 24- JASON LEFFLER MEMORIAL USAC NATIONAL MIDGETS, SPORTMODS
