Kern County Raceway Park Race Track in Bakersfield, California, USA
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Kern County Raceway Park races A-Modifieds, B-Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, WRC, and Mini Stocks. Special events include KWS NARC 410 Sprint Cars, POWRi BCRA Midgets, Flat Track Motorcycles, and 360 Wingless Sprints.
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Kern County Raceway Park Dirt Track Location
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13500 Raceway Blvd
Bakersfield, California, 93311 USA - lat: 35.290258, lng: -119.256518
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- Surface: 1/3 mile clay oval
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Kern County Raceway Park Dirt Track Contacts
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Kern County Raceway Park Dirt Track Racing Schedule
Schedules are known to change without warning, double check with race track before heading out.
Sat, Feb 25
- 2023-02-252023-02-25EventScheduledhttps://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1044.jpgSeason OpenerDirt Track RacingDirt Track RacingDirt Track Racershttps://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceModeKern County Raceway Park661-835-1264https://dirtFan.com/dirt-track/USA/California/Bakersfield/Kern County Raceway Park/https://dirtFan.com/dirtfan/assets/graphics/track_logos/1044.jpg$13500 Raceway Blvd Bakersfield, California, 93311 USA
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Kern County Raceway Park Dirt Track News
- BRODY ROA SWEEPS USAC/CRA OPENING WEEKEND AT THE COCOPAH SPEEDWAY
(Cypress, CA, January 29, 2023) Three weeks ago, veteran sprint car racer Brody Roa did not know if he would be racing at this past weekend's USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series 24th season-opening weekend at the Cocopah Speedway. In a career-changing move one week later, Roa joined forces with Inland Rigging's Tommy and Christy Dunkel. That move paid immediate dividends as he not only made the opener, but also scored wins in both main events on the Arizona oval. The victories were his 14th and 15th in USAC/CRA competition which places him fifth on the series all-time win list. thumbnail2.jpg Holding his daughter Addison, Roa talks to fans after sweeping the USAC/CRA weekend. Roa family photo. To say the effort to get ready for the races was a thrash is an understatement. The team finished the car on Thursday night and it was so fresh it did not have all the decals in place. Nonetheless, it was fast from the opening lap of hot laps on Friday all the way through the final checkered flag on Saturday. It was faster than anyone expected as it was the first time Roa ever turned laps using a DRC chassis. When people think of Arizona they think of extreme heat. However, the winters in the "Copper State" can be cold. With a breeze blowing at the track that is located 10 minutes north of the USA/Mexican border, and a temperature dipping into the low 40s each night, fans were more than a little chilly. But Roa and the other cars kept them warmed up with exciting racing each night. Roa, who turned 32 years old two days prior to the opening race, made his first qualifying effort in his new steed a good one when he timed in third quickest at 16.575 on Friday night. That placed him in the first 10-lap heat race of the season where he started fifth and finished fourth in his initial outing in the white #17R. For the main event, the Garden Grove, California star began on the outside of row two in fourth. In front of the Speed Sport TV cameras, he picked off the third and second-place drivers and patiently stalked the leader. Perseverance paid off and he snatched the lead away on lap 19. The talented driver methodically pulled away for a comfortable victory in his first time driving for the Dunkel's. "First win for the new team," the happy victor told the crowd after the race. "It is pretty awesome to come out of the gate swinging like that. We just got this new DRC chassis and just finished it up last night. I think that is a good start to it. About six days ago, I thought I was only racing this weekend for sure. I have to thank Inland Rigging, Dunkel Farms, and Tom and Christy Dunkel. They stepped up huge and I just have to give a huge thank you to them." "I was calling Joe Devin (the owner of DRC) all night with ideas about what we were doing," the excited driver continued. "I sent him a text before the feature telling him what I was doing and he said that was all good stuff. When I was behind Tommy (Tommy Malcolm who held Roa at bay until the 19th circuit), he was good. He screwed up once down here before the caution and I thought I had a shot, but he gathered it all back in. He did a great job leading. Good job to that guy and all of those guys over there (Malcolm and his team). They were a contender last year and we will probably see them a lot this year, too." "Man I am kind of bummed," Roa said with a laugh. "This is the first race I have won with my two-year-old daughter Addison here (at the races) and she was sleeping." Saturday night did not start off as well as Friday. While his qualifying time of 16.943 was less than a half second slower than his Friday attempt on the clocks, it was only good for the ninth fastest time. However, he outdistanced the field in his preliminary to record his first heat race triumph of 2023. If there was one thing to be said about the slower qualifying time, it put Roa on the front row for the main event and he took full advantage and flew into the lead at the drop of the green. The friendly driver hung onto the lead until he was passed on the 22nd lap by his sometimes teammate at Jayson May Motorsports, Chase Johnson. It looked as though Roa would have to settle for second, but coming off turn four and heading for the white flag, Johnson, whose right rear tire was shot, threw a slider on a lapped car, jumped the cushion, and tapped the wall. Roa alertly pounced on the opportunity presented and flew into the lead. Eighteen seconds later he drove his bright white car under the checkered flag first for his second win in 24 hours. "I thought it was over," Roa told the appreciative crowd. "Once he (Johnson) got out front until that lapper he was clean. He was able to get off the corners a little bit better than I was. Yeah, a heartbreaker for Chase. He ran a good race. I guess we will take them how we can get them." "This is an exciting start to the year for sure," Roa said about taking home both winner's trophies on the year. "All of our phones were blowing up last night. I talked to Tom (Dunkel) last night and he was pretty stoked. Hopefully, we can continue and win a whole bunch of these this year." "We are over the top really," happy car owner Dunkel said on Sunday. "We were hoping for a decent run with a brand new car, new team, and a whole new package. To go out there and sweep the weekend was a little unexpected. We are just over the top about it." Winning the races was very important and satisfying. However, perhaps the most important thing of the two nights for Roa came while he was holding his daughter Addison in the victory circle. "This is super cool," Roa gushed while smiling at the happy two-year-old in his arms. "I have won a handful of races since she was born but she hasn't been there or she has been sleeping for all of them. I hope you are excited, Addie." Roa is now off until he begins a busy month on March 3rd and 4th when USAC/CRA heads to the Central Arizona Speedway. One week later he will contest the open comp. show at the Imperial Valley Raceway. On March 18th he will return to action with USAC/CRA at Perris Auto Speedway and will wrap up the month in Central California at the Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford and Tulare's Thunderbowl Raceway. As always, Roa would be more than happy to jump in a race car on his weekends off from the #17R. His entire schedule is printed below. If anybody wishes to contact him about open dates, they can do so at 714-932-7994 or mailto:brodyroa91@gmail.com The team wants to thank the following sponsors for making the 2023 season possible. Inland Rigging, Dunkel Farms, United Asset Sales, Osborne Speed & Machine, Sander Engineering, "Biker" Bruce Fischer, ALR Virtual Services, Burris Racing, Caltrol, Competition Suspension, K-1 Race Gear, Molecule, Rod End Supply, Driven Racing Oil, Baldwin Filters, and NGK Spark Plugs. Brody Roa's 2023 Schedule and Race Results January 27 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main January 28 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars 1st A Main March 3 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars March 4 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars March 10 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp Non Wing Sprint Cars March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp Non Wing Sprint Cars March 18 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars March 24 Keller Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars March 25 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 22 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 29 Kern County Raceway Park USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 20 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 27 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 10 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 24 Bakersfield Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 1 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 12 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 19 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 26 TBA USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 9 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 23 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp Non Wing Sprint Cars October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp Non Wing Sprint Cars November 3 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 4 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars @inlandrigging, @dunkelfarms @roygamityanauctioneer @burris_racing_usa @mikeburrisoc @csishocks @sander_engineering @sanderjenna @theoriginalloosebruce @alrvirtualservices @k1racegear @moleculesports @rodendsupply @baldwinfilters @ngkracing @originalngksparkplugs @usacnation @usac_cra @perrisautospeedway @b_roa91 @tai_xoxo_roa @zacboz35 @joegibb83, @caltrolinc @narc410 @drivenracingoil This release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- BRODY ROA TEAMS WITH TOMMY AND CHRISTY DUNKEL FOR THE 2023 SPRINT CAR SEASON
(Cypress, CA, January 24, 2023) When the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Series kicks off its 24th season of racing at Brad Whitfield's Cocopah Speedway this Friday and Saturday, January 27th and 28th, longtime fans are going to be in for a big surprise. When the first green flag flies to begin the new campaign, veteran racer Brody Roa will not be in his familiar bright green #91R. For 2023, Roa's BR Performance is joining forces with Tom and Christy Dunkel and he will steer a white #17R throughout the year. 307549757_5399488930087465_6408996414449942611_n.jpg' Left to right: Joe Gobb, crew chief Zac Bozanich, Brody Roa and Brett Roa after a 2022 Perris win. Doug Allen photo. Last year Roa, who turns 32 years old on Wednesday, freelanced during the season. The pleasant driver started 37 races on 18 different tracks in four different states. He competed in five different types of cars in seven different sanctioning bodies. Right now for 2023, his plans include the entire 27-race USAC/CRA schedule and four open competition races at the Imperial Valley Raceway. He may also make some starts in the USAC/West Coast Sprint Car Series. Initially, Roa was going to do the usual and race his own car in CRA. And he was going to run as a teammate to Dunkel in the West Coast Series. However, while breaking bread with the Dunkel's a couple of weeks ago, a drastic change took place. "We went to dinner about a week and a half ago under the impression we were going to talk about the 360 races I was going to run for them," Roa said on Sunday night. "I threw something out to them about doing something with the 410 stuff. Him and Christy went back and talked about it. It ended up that they now have the 410s HD (HD Industries) used to have. We are going to run a Tom & Christy Dunkel/Inland Rigging/BR Performance Race Team this year. We just bought a brand new DRC. We got that two weeks ago or maybe less than that. We just finished that up last Wednesday night. We are going to fire it up tomorrow. We sold our Eagles and we have our trailer up for sale. Kind of big changes. I am very excited to represent Tom, Christy, and Inland Rigging running in the new #17R." "Man, this is huge," said car owner Tommy Dunkel who is just as excited as Roa. "Just kind of hearing it out loud for the first time from you, kind of gives me goosebumps. It is a major deal for me. I have grown up watching Major League Sprint Car Racing at Perris my entire life. To be able to be a part of it in our capacity leading up to this year with Brody and a few other drivers has been huge. Now to step things up a bit and become a major player in Brody's operation is going to be great. To team up with guys like them, who are so good and nice guys in the pits, but they come out swinging every weekend. That is kind of my style. I like to show up and try to win and have nice equipment. Those guys are at the top of their league. To team up with them is really major for me. We are really excited about it." "The opportunity just presented itself pretty well." Dunkel continued. "Brody has always been a great guy to work with. He has been running with Inland Rigging on his car for a handful of years now. He is always a class act. Him, his dad Brett, Zac (crew chief Zac Bozanich), and that whole camp are a great group of guys. They are competitive and they are a force to be reckoned with every Saturday night. That is something I like to be a part of." Up until now, the offseason has been anything but normal for Roa and his team. In late December, fans and fellow competitors noticed quite a bit of his equipment up for sale. There were queries wondering if the Garden Grove, California racing star was going to hang up his helmet. The questions intensified earlier in January when his trailer went up for sale. However, to everyone's relief, he is back and ready for another successful season. "We sold a chassis & body and a complete roller," the fan-friendly driver said." "We put a new DRC together with everything from the chassis we sold. We are basically keeping like one spare of everything. Other than that, everything is up for sale. We have probably got enough to build like 6 cars with everything we have back at the shop besides the big stuff. We have small components we probably had stashed away in that shop for 10 years. We definitely have not sold everything yet." The fact that he is switching from an Eagle chassis to a DRC is going to surprise a lot of people. Not competing on the full USAC/CRA schedule in 2022, Roa steered the Eagle to a pair of wins and six top-five finishes. And he finished sixth in the championship point standings despite missing a significant amount of races. Still, he felt he wanted to change. "I have never driven a DRC before," Roa confided. "Honestly, it just seems like it is the car that everybody is doing non-wing stuff in right now. I called Ronnie Gardner who works there. I am pretty good friends with Ronnie. I've talked to him about it a bit and then Joe Devin, who builds the DRCs, called me. We talked on the phone for probably at least a half an hour. It was pretty cool and that probably helped the decision. Mainly to get back to something that everybody is doing. Everybody has got notes and everybody has parts (for DRC's). At this point, I think we know what we are doing, but If we get really lost at least there are people we can bounce ideas off of." As in the past, Roa will continue to use powerful Shaver Engines. As always, when the driver known as "The Pride of Garden Grove" has an off week from his local racing commitments, he would be happy to talk with any car owners who desire his services behind the wheel (Roa's 2023 schedule is listed below). Roa is very grateful and wanted to be sure to thank departing sponsor HD Industries for years of dedicated support on his #91R car. "HD has given us so much over the last ten years," Roa said. "They have been on the side of the car and a huge part of our program for so many years. Without them, we never would have achieved the successes we accomplished. I will always be thankful to Mike, Jim, and HD." "I would also like to thank family and friends who are part of our racing effort," Roa said. "My family Tailor and Addison, parents Brett and Eden, Uncle B, Joe, Zac, Tyler, Tracy, and looking forward to joining family teams with Tom, Christy, and Ava Dunkel." Friday and Saturday's races at Cocopah Speedway - aka "The Diamond in the Desert," - will be full programs with qualifying, heats, and main events. For fans who would like to attend this weekend's doubleheader, spectator gates will open at 4:00 p.m. each day with hot laps at 5:30. Qualifying and racing will follow. In addition to the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, the IMCA Hobby Stocks, IMCA Sport Compacts and mod lights will also be in action. The speedway is located at 3450 W. County 15th Street in Somerton, Arizona (85350). The office phone is 602-292-7607 and the website is http://www.racecocopahspeedway.com/. For those who cannot make the trek to the "Copper State" track, both nights will be available on pay-per-view at the following link https://speedsport.tv/. The team wants to thank the following sponsors for making the 2023 season possible. Inland Rigging, Dunkel Farms, United Asset Sales, Osborne Speed & Machine, Sander Engineering, "Biker" Bruce Fischer, ALR Virtual Services, Burris Racing, Caltrol, Competition Suspension, K-1 Race Gear, Molecule, Rod End Supply, Driven Racing Oil, Baldwin Filters, and NGK Spark Plugs. Brody Roa's 2023 Schedule and Race Results January 27 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars January 28 Cocopah Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars March 3 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars March 4 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars March 10 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp Non Wing Sprint Cars March 11 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp Non Wing Sprint Cars March 18 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars March 24 Keller Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars March 25 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 1 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 22 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars April 29 Kern County Raceway Park USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 6 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 20 Thunderbowl Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars May 27 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 10 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars June 24 Bakersfield Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 1 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars July 15 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 12 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 19 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars August 26 TBA USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 9 Santa Maria Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars September 23 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 14 Mohave Valley Raceway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars October 20 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp Non Wing Sprint Cars October 21 Imperial Valley Raceway SoCal Open Comp Non Wing Sprint Cars November 3 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 4 Central Arizona Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars November 11 Perris Auto Speedway USAC/CRA Sprint Cars @inlandrigging, @dunkelfarms @roygamityanauctioneer @burris_racing_usa @mikeburrisoc @csishocks @sander_engineering @sanderjenna @theoriginalloosebruce @alrvirtualservices @k1racegear @moleculesports @rodendsupply @baldwinfilters @ngkracing @originalngksparkplugs @usacnation @usac_cra @perrisautospeedway @b_roa91 @tai_xoxo_roa @zacboz35 @joegibb83, @caltrolinc @narc410 @drivenracingoil This release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com
- TOMMY DUNKEL MAKES HIS FIRST CHILI BOWL START ON THURSDAY
(Menifee, CA, January 11, 2023) The next time somebody tells you dreams do not come true, we ask that you have them call Tommy Dunkel. Last Thanksgiving weekend he had a dream come true when he raced in the sprint car portion of the Turkey Night Grand Prix at the Ventura Raceway. Thursday night, Dunkel will realize another racing dream when he takes a green flag for his first-ever midget race in the 37th Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma. image_50430209.JPG Tommy Dunkel's beautiful ride for this week's Chili Bowl Midget Nationals. Dunkel photo. A year ago, Dunkel had no reason to believe that he would be competing in this week's race that is staged inside the SageNet Center, which is one of the largest clearspan buildings in the world. In fact, the plan was for him to just go watch the race in person. He had only seen the Chili Bowl while watching on the big screen from his home. A major reason to believe he would not be competing in Tulsa is the fact that he had never raced a midget before. However, the thought process gears shifted into action and the Southern California driver figured that if he was going, he might as well try to race. And he is going to do just that! He will be in the Jet Motorsports #14E Dunkel Farms/Inland Rigging/Osborn Speed and Machine/United Asset Sales/Southside Mowers/Boss Chassis/Esslinger for this week's race. "It was a few months back and I was talking with a few of my friends about just coming out to watch," the friendly Dunkel said. "I decided if I was just coming out to watch, with all of the airfare and expense, let's see if I can find a ride. That is when I was able to connect with Eric Fenton of Jet Motorsports in Tulsa. We made the call and he said he had a ride for me, so, here we are." "This will be my first race ever in a midget. I have about 70 - 80 laps in a midget just practicing. I went with Jimmy May to Ventura a couple of weeks back just hot lapping. This (Chili Bowl) will be my first time taking a green flag in a midget. Practice went good. I started driving it like a sprint car which is a no-no. I was quickly corrected by Jimmy. He got me headed in the right direction. By the end of the day, we were pretty close to race pace. Jimmy was pretty impressed and thought I got up to speed pretty quick." Perhaps his urge to race at the Chili Bowl increased after an impressive run in the sprint car portion of Turkey Night. On that chilly November night, he not only qualified for the feature, but he came from 22nd to finish 13th. Performing well in that prestigious race has boosted Dunkel's confidence going into the Chili Bowl and he enters the event with his eyes wide open. "It is a pretty big milestone for me," the Menifee, California-based driver said last week. "It has had my nerves on edge the past couple weeks as you can imagine leading up to it. I am looking forward to learning and watching the fast guys. Get my feet wet in a midget. You never know where we will go from here. I figured what a great way to race a midget for the first time." Racing against many of the greatest dirt track drivers in the world as well as stars from many different disciplines of racing has not been lost on Dunkel. He has a very realistic look at the event in the "Sooner State." "I just want to get in some good laps," he said. "I would like to go as far as possible. Obviously, the idea to make the show is #1. We will see. I obviously have very little experience in a midget, but I am a patient driver. Sometimes I tend to let the race come to me. If I have some good luck and the lord willing, we will go as far as we can on Saturday." Like the 370 other pre-entered drivers for the Chili Bowl, Dunkel got in a couple of practice sessions on the track on Sunday. The sessions were brief. Like about four laps each brief! There was a lot to learn, but not a lot of time was allotted for educating oneself on the track and its idiosyncrasies. "Practice went well," Dunkel said. "It was a pretty big eye-opener actually getting on the track. Seeing it and watching it on TV is one thing but rolling out there was a whole different animal. The car felt good. It was more of me just trying to get acquainted with driving a midget. We had two sessions. The first session was just trying to shake it down and get comfortable. You only get four laps and four laps go quick. I would say by lap four I was kind of finding my groove a little bit. That kind of gave me a good idea of what I needed to do for session two." "We went out for session two, and the car was pretty good. But the track was slick to a curb. Coming from sprint cars, it is one thing to bang the cushion with a big old right rear tire. Hitting it with this little bitty midget tire was a little bit uneasy for me. I cheated the cushion a little bit. If I can find the cushion sooner on race day, we are going to pick up some time. We have speed, it is just getting me a little more comfortable in the car and kind of finding my groove sooner. We are pretty dang close for a guy who has never driven a midget before." Once the Chili Bowl is over, Dunkel will continue with prep for the 2023 USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series. His first race in the series will be on February 25th on the dirt track at Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield. Dunkel would like to thank the following for making his racing efforts possible. Inland Rigging, Dunkel Farms, United Asset Sales, Osborne Speed & Machine, and Southside Mowers. If you or your company would like to join him for a full year of USAC Sprint Car competition in 2023, please give him a call or send an email to 951-901-5082 or mailto:TomDunkel@inlandrigging.com.
- NARC 2023 SCHEDULE: CALIFORNIA STAPLES, HUGE NORTHWEST SWING HIGHLIGHT CAMPAIGN
(12/5/2022) Sacramento, CA… The NARC 410 Sprint Cars are set for another busy campaign in 2023 with the unveiling of a 24-race schedule for the West Coast's best drivers and teams as the series enters its 63rd season of racing. For the second straight year NARC will visit all three states that comprise the West Coast at tracks as far south as Bakersfield and all the way up north nearly to the Canadian border. Overall, 13 different facilities are on the calendar. Teams will compete for more than $800,000 in prize money throughout the entirety of the schedule, plus another $50,000 in product and cash awards up for grabs. Shares of a lucrative championship points fund will also be on the line. March-ing Into Chico The season opener will see the revitalization of a historic, fan-favorite race. On March 18th the series kicks off the 2023 campaign with the return of Mini Gold Cup at Chico's Silver Dollar Speedway. Originally starting in 1987, the Mini Gold Cup has been a spring staple in California but took a brief hiatus after the 2019 edition. Throughout its history, the event has alternated between NARC and World of Outlaws sanctioning. With the 2023 edition being a NARC event, it again gives locals a shot at Mini Gold Cup glory and placing their name alongside some legends of sprint car racing. The Classics The state of California has established a handful of "Classic" races that have become fan-favorites, and per usual some of those coveted events have found a home on the NARC schedule. The first of five Classics on the calendar is on the second weekend of April and will be the third edition of the Anthony Simone Classic at Keller Auto Speedway in Hanford on April 8th. The night honors the versatile driver known as "Mr. Excitement" and offers a $10,000 payday to the winner. The very next weekend will be another lucrative event as Tulare's Thunderbowl Raceway will host the second Dennis Roth Classic. As a nod to Roth's iconic car, the feature winner will again be awarded $8,300. The Roth Classic has grown by a day for 2023 and will showcase two nights of racing on April 14th and 15th with the winner of the latter taking home the big check. The wildly popular Peter Murphy Classic is set for May 12th and 13th and will take place at the site of the two aforementioned Classics. Night one will be at Thunderbowl Raceway with Keller Auto Speedway taking center stage for the $11,000 to win finale. Like last year, NARC will be joined by the Sprint Car Challenge Tour both nights. Another one of the most anticipated races of the campaign can be found in July as the Howard Kaeding Classic continues as a summertime staple. Unlike recent years, the event will now feature two nights of the NARC 410 Sprint Cars at Ocean Speedway as opposed to 410s only partaking on the final night. "The HK" is slated for July 14th and 15th. On August 26th the series heads to Stockton Dirt Track for the Champions Classic. After a cancellation this year due to the tire shortage, teams will be eager for its return and to fight for a $6,000 payday by visiting victory lane. A Busy Road To Dirt Cup For the second straight year NARC will hit the Road to Dirt Cup, but this year's edition will include a few more stops and double as the Fastest Four Days in Motorsports. In lieu of making a pair of trips to the Pacific Northwest like in 2022, the series will make one extended journey to make logistics easier on the teams. The four straight nights of action begins on Thursday, June 15th at Central Point, Oregon's Southern Oregon Speedway. The next night it's up to Douglas County Dirt Track in Roseburg, Oregon, a track that was converted from pavement to dirt over the off-season under the new promotional leadership of Roseburg Racing Promotions. Night three is a visit to Lebanon, Oregon's Willamette Speedway, where Justin Sanders set a new track record when NARC invaded last year. And the Road to Dirt Cup meets an end at Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Washington on June 18th. Overall, the trip promises to provide four fantastic nights of racing at four different facilities and will feature a special bonus to any driver that can sweep all four events. Dirt Cup After a wildly successful 2022 Jim Raper Memorial Super Dirt Cup, NARC will again support the West Coast crown jewel as it enters its second year of a return to 410 sprint cars at Burlington, Washington's Skagit Speedway. The Dirt Cup will again feature a trio of nights (June 22nd - 24th) with the final night's winner taking home a whopping $50,000. Last year the race attracted more than 40 competitors as promoters Peter Murphy and Kevin Rudeen restored a ton of prestige to one of the most historic events on the left-coast. *On Tuesday, June 20th there will be a Dirt Cup Tune-Up race at Skagit, but it will not be a NARC event. Making History A pair of historic races with winners lists that read like a California Hall of Fame will again be a part of the NARC campaign with many drivers hungry to add their names in one of those coveted slots. The 32nd Annual Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial Race will occur on June 3rd at the scenic Placerville Speedway, marking the third straight year the El Dorado County track has hosted one of the most prestigious races in California. With lap money and other awards, this show features one of the largest one-day purses of the year. The season finale will see a historical race enter another decade of existence as Stockton Dirt Track hosts the 40th Tribute to Gary Patterson on November 4th. And More A few other racetracks and events help complete the 2023 schedule. Petaluma Speedway has a pair of dates with the Salute to First Responders set for May 20th and the Salute to Baylands Raceway Park scheduled for July 8th. The second race of the season will be the fourth annual Asparagus Cup on April 1st at Stockton Dirt Track with the SCCT joining the card. Silver Dollar Speedway's second and final NARC race of 2023 will be on April 29th as the series will again partake in the David Tarter Memorial. The fourth edition of the Morrie Williams Memorial will be run on September 30th at Keller Auto Speedway. The unique event will again showcase a twin-20 lap features to conclude the evening. NARC will make its lone trip to The Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park on October 28th for the Halloween Spectacular. NARC 410 Sprint Cars 2023 Complete Schedule March 18: Silver Dollar Speedway (Chico, CA) - Mini Gold Cup April 1: The Stockton Dirt Track (Stockton, CA) - Fourth Annual Asparagus Cup w/SCCT April 8: Keller Auto Speedway (Hanford, CA) - Anthony Simone Classic ($10,000 to win) April 14: Thunderbowl Raceway (Tulare, CA) - Dennis Roth Classic April 15: Thunderbowl Raceway (Tulare, CA) - Dennis Roth Classic ($8,300 to win) April 29: Silver Dollar Speedway (Chico, CA) - David Tarter Memorial May 6: RAIN DATE May 12: Thunderbowl Raceway (Tulare, CA) - Peter Murphy Classic w/SCCT May 13: Keller Auto Speedway (Hanford, CA) - Peter Murphy Classic ($11,000 to win) w/SCCT May 20: Petaluma Speedway (Petaluma, CA) - Salute to First Responders June 3: Placerville Speedway (Placerville, CA) - 32nd Annual Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial June 15: Southern Oregon Speedway (Central Point, OR) - Fastest Four Days in Motorsports/Road to Dirt Cup June 16: Douglas County Dirt Track (Roseburg, OR) - Fastest Four Days in Motorsports/Road to Dirt Cup June 17: Willamette Speedway (Lebanon, OR) - Fastest Four Days in Motorsports/Road to Dirt Cup June 18: Grays Harbor Raceway (Elma, WA) - Fastest Four Days in Motorsports/Road to Dirt Cup June 22: Skagit Speedway (Burlington, WA) - Super Dirt Cup June 23: Skagit Speedway (Burlington, WA) - Super Dirt Cup June 24: Skagit Speedway (Burlington, WA) - Super Dirt Cup ($50,000 to win) July 8: Petaluma Speedway (Petaluma, CA) - Salute to Baylands Raceway Park July 14: Ocean Speedway (Watsonville, CA) - Night One of the 13th Annual Howard Kaeding Classic July 15: Ocean Speedway (Watsonville, CA) - Night Two of the 13th Annual Howard Kaeding Classic July 29: OPEN August 26: The Stockton Dirt Track (Stockton, CA) - Champions Classic ($6,000 to win) September 30: Keller Auto Speedway (Hanford, CA) - Morrie Williams Memorial Twin-20s w/SCCT October 28: The Dirt Track at KCRP (Bakersfield, CA) - Halloween Spectacular November 4: The Stockton Dirt Track (Stockton, CA) - 40th Annual Tribute to Gary Patterson w/SCCT November 5: Championship Awards Celebration at Brookside Country Club (Stockton, CA)
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Kern County Raceway Park Dirt Track Videos
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Kern County Raceway Park Nearby Dirt Tracks
- Bakersfield Speedway Race Track16 miles away - Bakersfield, California, USA
- Thunderbowl Raceway Race Track62 miles away - Tulare, California, USA
- Tulare County Kart Club Race Track62 miles away - Tulare, California, USA
- Santa Maria Raceway Race Track69 miles away - Nipomo, California, USA
- Ventura Raceway Race Track70 miles away - Ventura, California, USA
- Keller Auto Raceway Race Track71 miles away - Visalia, California, USA
- Keller Auto Speedway Race Track74 miles away - Hanford, California, USA
- Lemoore Raceway Race Track74 miles away - Lemoore, California, USA
Distance information is direct (as the crow flies) - driving distance will differ due to road routes and things like lakes or mountains.
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Kern County Raceway Park Dirt Track Racing Organizations
- KWS - King of the West Sprints by NARC Dirt Track Racing Organization
- NARC - Northern Auto Racing Club Dirt Track Racing Organization
- USAC - United States Auto Club Dirt Track Racing Organization
- WSDCA - Western States Dwarf Car Association Dirt Track Racing Organization