03/08/2026
NICHOLAS JOHNSON AVENGES OPENING NIGHT FLIP WITH ROUND TWO SPORTMOD VICTORY IN BAKERSFIELD
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (March 8, 2026) – Following a prolific 2025 season at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway across the stock car classes, Nicholas Johnson took on the IMCA SportMods in 2026. His season opener in February ended on his lid, but he quickly regained his form at one-third mile dirt track on Saturday’s March Madness with a coveted comeback victory. Johnson was one of six winners during the night. Photos by Tom Macht
Johnson dominated his heat race then lined up third for the 25-lap event. Brother Ethan Johnson jumped ahead at the start with Nicholas sliding into second. Following a crash in turn one on the opening lap, Nicholas Johnson used the restart to take over the lead on the second lap.
Nicholas Johnson dominated the rest of the feature for his first Bakersfield SportMod win. Tate Lofts drove from eighth to second with Chris McKellar, 2024 champion Jason Bannister, and Alyssa Smith rounding out the top-five.
“Busting my butt all off season to get this car looking good. It was pretty demoralizing to almost junk it on the first night,” Johnson said. “I figured I didn’t want my kids to think I was a quitter. They’ll grow up and know I didn’t quit. I got to thank my brothers, my mom, my girlfriend at home, and everyone on this car.”
2024 Bakersfield Speedway IMCA Modified champion Gavyn Manning returned to the top step of the podium, winning the 30-lap feature for $750 to win. Manning started on the outside pole alongside Pismo’s Cole Szlauko. Manning took quick control of the lead and never relented the rest of the way. Manning was never seriously challenged during of the subsequent restarts.
2025 SportMod champion Tyler Bannister continued his hot start in the premier Modified class with a second place finish. Luke Silber, Eric Hamilton, and Austin Keifer rounded out the top-five.
Ricky Childress, Jr. and Carson Conway both doubled up with their second consecutive victories in the Hobby Stocks and American Stocks classes respectfully. Childress drove from sixth on the grid to win the 20-lap Hobby Stock run, taking the lead by just the eighth lap. 14th-starting Stephen Johnson romped to second place. Marcus Wankum, Brooke Cimental, and Casey Johnson pursued in the top-five.
Carson Conway’s American Stock win came from fifth on the grid. Conway used the highside to sweep into the lead on lap seven. Early leader Dan Bryant finished second followed by 12-year-old Robert Swearengin, James Robinson, and Ian Crawford.
Jacob Van Essen scored the 20-lap IMCA Stock Car victory in a fast-paced affair. Justin Villanueva led the early stages of the event with his left front tire hiked up in the air. VanEssen overhauled him and Billy Simkins eventually slid into second as well. Villanueva finished third followed by Raymond Noland and Miranda Scott.
Jason Cook, Jr. of Porterville prevailed in the return of Mini Stock action to Bakersfield Speedway. Cook battled in a tight formation with Shawn DePriest of Dinuba and Skylar Corella of Bakersfield during the first half of the event. Cook and DePriest eventually broke free to pace the rest of the way in the non-stop 15-lap feature. Jacob Shepherd came from seventh to finish third while Corella faded to fourth. Chuey Gonzales rounded out the top-five.
Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway returns to action on March 20 and 21 for the Southwest Shootout. All five championship divisions will run Friday night while Stock Cars will have the night off Saturday night. Saturday night’s action will include the California 305 Sprint Cars on the card.
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 March Madness March 7, 2026 – Race Results
IMCA Modifieds A Feature 1 (30 Laps): 1. 51G-Gavyn Manning[2]; 2. 151-Tyler Bannister[6]; 3. 101-Luke Silber[9]; 4. 44-Eric Hamilton[12]; 5. 3AC-Austin Kiefer[8]; 6. 22S-Cole Szlauko[1]; 7. 21JT-Justin Crockett[5]; 8. 15F-Markus Frazier[3]; 9. 28J-Brandon Jennings[7]; 10. 72-Mike Szlauko[10]; 11. 57-Gage McCaughan[4]; 12. 828-Matt Kampfraat[11]; 13. 12-Michael Scruggs[13]; 14. (DNS) 15B-Brad Pounds
IMCA Sport Mods A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 1N-Nicholas Johnson[3]; 2. 62-Tate Loftis[8]; 3. 18C-Chris McKellar[7]; 4. 51-Jason Bannister[9]; 5. 31A-Alyssa Smith[10]; 6. 11-Ethan Johnson[2]; 7. 15F-Matthew Frazier[6]; 8. 68S-Sunnie Simkins[13]; 9. 99B-Paul Brown[4]; 10. 32-Jeff Bentancourt[1]; 11. 28P-John Piker[12]; 12. 68-Santiago Lopez[11]; 13. 21-Braxton James[14]; 14. 1-Colby Ward[5]
IMCA Stock Cars A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 54V-Jacob Van Essen[3]; 2. 68-Billy Simkins[2]; 3. 97-Justin Villaneuva[4]; 4. 5-Raymond Noland[1]; 5. 174-Miranda Scott[5]; 6. 18A-Austin Pugh[7]; 7. 55J-Blaze Hill[6]
Hobby Stocks A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 16-Ricky Childress Jr[6]; 2. 26S-Stephen Johnson[14]; 3. 91C-Marcus Wankum[5]; 4. 25B-Brooke Cimental[2]; 5. 13-Casey Johnson[13]; 6. 61X-Robbie Witwer[7]; 7. 13###-Bryson Wood[3]; 8. 28X-Cameron Campbell[4]; 9. 47-Brock Crawford[11]; 10. 86C-Clay Waters[8]; 11. 79-Ryan Barnes[1]; 12. 32-Jesse Bowles[9]; 13. 3M-Matt Wankum[10]; 14. 119-Rickey Henderson[15]; 15. 31S-Spencer Vasquez[12]
American Stocks A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 25-Carson Conway[5]; 2. 2B-Dan Bryant[4]; 3. 33-Robert Swearengin[3]; 4. 954-James Robinson[6]; 5. 7-Ian Crawford[7]; 6. 72-Mason Conway[9]; 7. 43-Grant Perkins[8]; 8. 69X-Tyler Weeks[11]; 9. 22J-Andrew Johnston[10]; 10. 0-Gene Glover[2]; 11. (DNS) 01-John Robinson
Mini Stocks A Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. 26X-Jason Cook Jr[2]; 2. 11-Shawn DePriest[5]; 3. 7-Jacob Shepherd[7]; 4. 95-Skylar Corellla[1]; 5. 13B-Chuey Gonzales[6]; 6. 9-Gene Glover[3]; 7. 16-Justin Alves[8]; 8. 32X-Jason Cook[4]
