MANNING AND JOHNSON GO BACK-TO-BACK IN BAKERSFIELD AT SOUTHWEST SHOOTOUT
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (March 21, 2026) – Racing against the strongest IMCA fields of the season, Gavyn Manning and Nicholas Johnson won their second consecutive Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway features on Friday night. Manning outfoxed a field of 17 Modifieds for the $750 triumph after 30-laps of competition. Photo by Tom Macht
Manning won a long duel with multi-time champion Brad Pounds for the lead in the first half of the feature, then defended from 2025 SportMod champion Tyler Bannister over the closing stages. A green-white-checkered finish did not deter Manning, with the 2024 track champion sailing to his second win of the year.
“I feel like it happens every time a lot of cars show up here. I’m in the race for a win and (we get) a green-white-checkered and I have to be clutch or get beat. Tonight we were clutch and it’s good to get a win,” Manning said. “I want to dedicate this race to somebody who passed away yesterday. He was a good man. This one’s for him.”
The win also represented redemption for Manning after a collision with Pounds on opening night bounced him from the event. Bannister finished second while Jake Pike of Pahrump, Nevada finished third from tenth on the grid.. Pounds was fourth followed by Reno, Nevada’s Shawn Natenstedt. Rob Sanders and Manning split the head races.
Nicholas Johnson has had an outstanding start to his IMCA SportMod season claiming the $600 prize in Friday’s 25-lap affair. John Piker led the way over a 17-car field through several early restarts. Johnson then knifed underneath to take the lead on lap 10. Johnson paced the rest of the way with Piker in second and 11th-starting Jason Bannister in third. Ethan Johnson and incoming points leader Tate Loftis rounded out the top-five.
Matthew Frazier, Piker, and Ethan Johnson won the heat races.
Ricky Childress, Jr. remained perfect in the Hobby Stock competition going three-for-three to start 2026 after prevailing in Friday’s 20-lap feature. Matt Wankum finished second ahead of Marcus Wankum. Stephen Johnson and Brock Crawford rounded out the top-five.
Nicholas Johnson added an American Stock victory to his SportMod win for a successful night at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. Tyler Weeks finished second after starting on the pole followed by Spencer Vasquez, Carson Conway, and Jon McKinley.
Jacob Van Essen extended his strong IMCA Stock Car campaign with a victory followed by Justin Villanueva and Billy Simkins. Simkins won the heat race.
The Southwest Shootout at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway continues Saturday night with the California 305 Sprint Cars joining the card. IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods, Hobby Stocks, and American Stocks will be competing. Adult tickets are $22 at the gates or fans can save $2 by purchasing online in advance.
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 Southwest Shootout March 20, 2026 – Race Results
IMCA Modifieds South Valley AC Heating A Feature 1 (30 Laps): 1. 51G-Gavyn Manning[4]; 2. 151-Tyler Bannister[7]; 3. 223-Jake Pike[10]; 4. 15B-Brad Pounds[2]; 5. 1-Shawn Natenstedt[9]; 6. 21JT-Justin Crockett[5]; 7. 22S-Cole Szlauko[17]; 8. 58-Devon Reed[8]; 9. 57-Gage McCaughan[16]; 10. 2D-Brian McCaughan[11]; 11. 10N-Rob Sanders[1]; 12. 77D-Cole Dick[13]; 13. 27-Mark Carrell[14]; 14. 111-Logan Drake[12]; 15. 3AC-Austin Kiefer[6]; 16. 15F-Markus Frazier[3]; 17. 73-Mike Szlauko[15]
IMCA Sport Mods Hoosier Tire West A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 1N-Nicholas Johnson[7]; 2. 28P-John Piker[1]; 3. 51-Jason Bannister[11]; 4. 11-Ethan Johnson[5]; 5. 62-Tate Loftis[12]; 6. 33-Cale Kanke[9]; 7. 172-Tyler Irwin[13]; 8. 15F-Matthew Frazier[6]; 9. 43K-Landon King[15]; 10. 1-Colby Ward[4]; 11. 68-Santiago Lopez[3]; 12. 68S-Sunnie Simkins[2]; 13. 31A-Alyssa Smith[8]; 14. 16G-Peyton Griffin[14]; 15. 18C-Chris McKellar[10]; 16. (DNS) 17-Jonathan Mckinley
IMCA Stock Cars Golden Empire Towing A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 54V-Jacob Van Essen[3]; 2. 97-Justin Villaneuva[1]; 3. 68-Billy Simkins[2]
Hobby Stocks HS Body Works and Towing A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 16-Ricky Childress Jr[8]; 2. 3M-Matt Wankum[1]; 3. 91C-Marcus Wankum[6]; 4. 26S-Stephen Johnson[7]; 5. 47-Brock Crawford[2]; 6. 28X-Cameron Campbell[3]; 7. 61X-Robbie Witwer[4]; 8. 39-Matt Ehler[9]; 9. 25B-Brooke Cimental[5]; 10. 119-Rick Henderson[10]; 11. (DNF) 79-Ryan Barnes[11]
American Stocks Haddad Dodge A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. N2DEEP-Nicholas Johnson[9]; 2. 69X-Tyler Weeks[1]; 3. 12-Spencer Vasquez[5]; 4. 25-Carson Conway[6]; 5. 17-Jon McKinley[10]; 6. 2B-Dan Bryant[4]; 7. 954-James Robinson[3]; 8. 01-Colton Hay[8]; 9. 33-Robert Swearengin[11]; 10. 189-Austin Hay[7]; 11. (DNF) 43-Grant Perkins[2]; 12. (DNS) 13-Jose Rosales