Four divisions in action as Speedway opens season
| Friday, Mar 05 2010 11:14 PM
Last Updated Friday, Mar 05 2010 11:26 PM
Bakersfield Speedway kicks off another season of dirt-track racing tonight with the workhorses of the track -- IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, American Stocks and Mini Stocks.
Those four divisions are the backbone of an eight-month racing season, which also includes Late Models, Midgets, Street Stocks, Sprint Cars and Mini Dwarfs and even lawnmower racing.
"We've made some minor changes but we're sticking with what works for us," said track owner/promoter Scott Schweitzer.
And what has been working the best are four divisions featured tonight.
A whopping 87 drivers competed in at least one Hobby Stock race last season and the Mini Stocks and Modifieds featured 77 and 75 drivers, respectively. The American Stock division had 54 drivers.
But some familiar faces will be missing from those divisions this year. IMCA champ Gary Dutton does not have a ride at this point, Hobby Stock champ Devan Jones is not slated to race and brothers Steven Johnson and Tyler Johnson, who finished 1-2 in the American Stock competition last season, are slated to split time in Jones' Hobby Stock this season.
"There are a lot of changes in the divisions and we'll know more when they all come through the gate," Schweitzer said. "We had a lot of new people on registration day, people we haven't seen before.
"It will be interesting to see what car everybody is sitting in. I hear a lot but won't know until they show up."
Racing starts at 6 and Schweitzer said his goal is to be done between 10 and 10:30 each night.
In addition to the racing, Schweitzer is continuing to offer special incentives for the fans, such as free popcorn, free Pepsi and $1 hot dogs for selected races.
