Mike Griffith: Bannister retakes lead in Hobby Stock division at Bakersfield Speedway
| Wednesday, Sep 01 2010 07:19 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Sep 01 2010 11:06 PM
With three races left to decide the championship, Jason Bannister has regained control of the Hobby Stock division at Bakersfield Speedway.
After a red-hot Bruce Johnson overtook Bannister for the division points lead with a run of three straight victories it looked as if Johnson was on his way to the title.
But Johnson placed ninth and 19th in his last two outings and a steady Bannister, fourth in each of the last two races, is back atop the standings.
Kevin Irwin is lurking in second, just 12 points back, while Johnson's run of misfortune has dropped him to third, 34 points in arrears.
Johnson's three wins is the most by any driver. Gary Dutton, with two wins, is the only other multiple winner.
David Childress became the 11th different winner last week and will be one of many drivers looking to get a repeat victory on Saturday night.
Also in action on Saturday night will be IMCA Modifieds, American Stocks and Mini Stocks.
Mechanical issues relegated Brad Pounds to a 13th-place finish -- his second worst of the season -- last week, but he remains in the IMCA points lead, 29 ahead of Justin Schweitzer.
Johnny Wood holds a 16-point advantage over Dale Frye in the American Stock division while Jordan Hagar is the runaway leader in Mini Stocks, 74 ahead of his brother, Dylan.
Racing starts at 6.
The annual March Meet drag races at Auto Club Famoso Raceway will be a bit later in 2011.
The race, which has traditionally been held on the first weekend in March, will be taking place during the third weekend, March 18-20.
Track vice-president Blake Bowser said the change came about due to changes in the NHRA schedule, which has the Winternationals in Pomona set for the final weekend of February, a change from the usual second weekend.
"The first and second weekend of March may be too close to the NHRA Winternationals," Bowser said. "A lot of our local race fans want to attend both, but it gets difficult for them when they are held only a few weeks apart. Also, thanks to the NHRA, we use the Winternationals as a promotional springboard to help kick-off the March Meet.
Bowser also noted that many NHRA racers such as Robert Hight, Ron Capps, Gary Densham, Cruz Pedregon and Jack Beckman enjoy competing in and/or attending the March Meet every year. "The fans love it too when the NHRA stars attend. The way the 2011 NHRA schedule falls, there's no NHRA race the third week in March, so there's no conflict. Everyone wins."
While the March Meet is months away, the 19th annual NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion -- Oct. 15-17 -- is just weeks away.
The event, which combines racing with a reunion, will feature a 16-car nostalgia Top Fuel dragster field and, for the first time in event history, a 16-car nostalgia Funny Car field.
Three-day credentials ($65 each) are available at 800/884-NHRA or at www.museum.nhra.com
Nine local drivers will be among a field of more than 30 drivers as the Spears SRL Southwest Tour rolls into Toyota Speedway at Irwindale on Saturday.
Derek Thorn, a recent transplant to Bakersfield, leads Jonathon Gomez by seven points in the championship battle.
Also slated to compete is last year's champion, M.K. Kanke of Frazier Park, and Bakersfield drivers Brennan Newberry, Kevin Callahan, Ryan Reed, Clay Wattenbarger, Dallas Montes, Shawn Calderwood and Chris Holloway.
