RICKY CHILDRESS, JR. SCORES RICHIE MCGOWAN MEMORIAL WITH 32-LAP HOBBY STOCK WIN

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (June 28, 2026) – Ricky Childress, Jr. won his seventh Hobby Stock feature of the season while claiming the coveted 15th annual Richie McGowan Memorial on Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, storming to a commanding win in the 32-lap feature that ultimately paid $732 to win with sponsors and bonuses. Photo by Tom Macht

Childress won at Santa Maria Speedway earlier in the evening then ventured to Bakersfield. He rolled off 12th for the feature and charged into the lead by just the ninth lap of competition. He eventually accumulated a 6.9 second advantage over early race leader Cody Johnson. Marcus Wankum and Matt Wankum ran third and fourth with Brooke Cimental rounding out the top-five. Bryson Wood and Cody Johnson split the six-lap heat races.

2025 IMCA SportMod track champion Tyler Bannister continued his reign atop the South Valley AC & Heading Modifieds by claiming Saturday’s 25-lap feature. Bannister led wire-to-wire for the $1032 triumph with a 3.696-second advantage over Austin Keifer of Corona at the checkered flag. 2025 McGowan Memorial winner and track champion Brad Pounds finished third with 2024 track champion Gavyn Manning in fourth. Dalton Houghton of Rosamond finished fifth. Bannister and Newhall’s Eric Hamilton won the eight lap heat races.

IMCA SportMods led the McGowan Memorial action with 18 entries for a 25-lap feature, paying $632 to win. 2026 points leader Jason Bannister drove to his fourth win of the season, outlasting a challenge from Nicholas Johnson. Dylan Wilson finished third followed by tenth-starting Tate Loftis in fourth. Ethan Johnson finished fifth. Wilson, Loftis, and Chris McKellar were the winners of the three heat races.

American Stocks had a strong 16-car turnout with another points leader prevailing, with Carson Conway visiting victory lane for the fourth time this season after 20-laps of action. Miranda Scott finished 5.2 seconds in arrears following an outstanding performance by Conway. Jon McKinley, Dan Bryant, and Spencer Vasquez rounded out the top-five. Bryson Wood and Colby Johnson split heat racing competition.

The Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway takes a small summer break before racing continues on July 25th.

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 15th Annual Richie McGowan Memorial – Race Results

Hobby Stocks HS Body Works and Towing A Feature 1 (32 Laps): 1. 16-Ricky Childress Jr[12]; 2. 26S-Cody Johnson[4]; 3. 91C-Marcus Wankum[3]; 4. 3M-Matt Wankum[8]; 5. 25B-Brooke Cimental[7]; 6. 83-Chad Ragsdale[9]; 7. 13-Casey Johnson[2]; 8. (DNF) 12-James Cecil[6]; 9. (DNF) 31S-Spencer Vasquez[10]; 10. (DNF) 39-Matt Ehler[11]; 11. (DNF) 69X-Tyler Weeks[14]; 12. (DNF) 32-Jesse Bowles[5]; 13. (DNF) 13XXX-Bryson Wood[1]; 14. (DNS) 74-Mason Conway

IMCA Modifieds South Valley AC Heating A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 151-Tyler Bannister[2]; 2. 3AC-Austin Kiefer[6]; 3. 15B-Brad Pounds[10]; 4. 51G-Gavyn Manning[9]; 5. 61-Dalton Houghton[4]; 6. 28J-Brandon Jennings[8]; 7. 15F-Markus Frazier[3]; 8. (DNF) 44-Eric Hamilton[7]; 9. (DNF) 10N-Rob Sanders[5]; 10. (DNF) 25-Marcus Ford[1]

IMCA Sport Mods Hoosier Tire West A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 51-Jason Bannister[5]; 2. 1N-Nicholas Johnson[11]; 3. 80D-Dylan Wilson[7]; 4. 462-Tate Loftis[10]; 5. 11-Ethan Johnson[3]; 6. 172-Tyler Irwin[9]; 7. 21B-Braxton James[8]; 8. 43K-Landon King[4]; 9. 31A-Alyssa Smith[1]; 10. 18C-Chris McKellar[6]; 11. 70-Jon McKinley[16]; 12. (DNF) 28P-John Piker[12]; 13. (DNF) 99B-Paul Brown[15]; 14. (DNF) 15F-Matthew Frazier[2]; 15. (DNF) 16G-Peyton Griffin[14]; 16. (DNF) 68S-Sunnie Simkins[13]; 17. (DNS) C50-Nick Coffman; 18. (DNS) 68-Santiago Lopez

American Stocks Haddad Dodge A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 25-Carson Conway[2]; 2. 74M-Miranda Scott[1]; 3. 70-Jon McKinley[3]; 4. 2B-Dan Bryant[13]; 5. 12-Spencer Vasquez[11]; 6. 954-John Robinson[6]; 7. 69X-Tyler Weeks[5]; 8. 19-Ronald Lookadoo[9]; 9. 43-Grant Perkins[4]; 10. 22J-Andrew Johnston[12]; 11. 29-Trenton Millard[15]; 12. 189-Austin Hay[10]; 13. 01-Colton Hay[8]; 14. (DNF) 78-Robert Swearengin Sr[7]; 15. (DNF) 48-Landynn Childress[16]; 16. (DNF) 33-Robert Swearengin[14]

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, 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