The Dirt Track
Kern County Raceway Park
Bakersfield, California
Spring Finale
KCRP Bakersfield - June 12, 2021
Promoted By: Steve Evans E-mail:dreamteamspeedway@sbcglobal.net
Manzares goes unbeaten at Bakersfield Spring Finale
Gino Manzares won all 5 of his races in front of a big crowd at Harley Night in Bakersfield on June 12th. It was the fifth speedway event at the brand new Kern County Raceway and the last before a three month summer break.
Division 1 featured 16 riders with the 1998-2004 Speedway Grand Prix format used in the heats; basic rule of thumb, come third or 4th twice in your heat races and you are eliminated.
Round one saw victories for Rheten Todd, Manzares, Chris Kerr and the in form Russell Green. Most notable performance however was a gutsy second place from Bakersfield local Brad Sauer in heat 3.
The first elimination heat (for riders who placed 3rd and 4th in round 1) saw Blake Borello come out as victor from Alex Martin, with Mark Fillebrown and Robbie Sauer eliminated to the consolation race. Local returning rider Randy DiFrancesco was a popular winner of elimination race two, leading home an impressive Greg Moore with Wilbur Hancock and Mike Miller not making the cut.
Meantime, the first and second placed riders from the heats came back to race for the first four semi final spots and a place in the Last Man Out challenge. Kerr led home Sebastian Palmese with Rheten Todd and Eddie Castro sent to the next last chance round. Manzares led from Green from Rees Todd and Brad Sauer next up.
The heats concluded with two more Last Chance eliminators with 8 riders chasing the final four semi final spots. Blake Borello won his second in a row from Rheten Todd to put them both in the semis, eliminating Brad Sauer and Greg Moore. Eddie Castro led home DiFrancesco in the final heat, ending the night for Rees Todd and Alex Martin.
Semi final 1 was won by Green ahead of Kerr, with Borello and DiFrancesco missing out on the final. Manzares led home Palmese in semi 2 from Rheten Todd and Castro.
After an untidy first attempt all four riders were called back to restart the Main. Manzares made no mistake with a great start to lead home Green from Kerr and Palmese.
The same four Main event riders earlier raced in the popular last man out elimination challenge. After each mini race, last place was eliminated. Palmese missed out on the first leg with Green losing out in the second. The final two lap match race brought an astounding roar from the crowd as Manzares rounded Kerr for the win.
Mark Fillebrown was the sole finisher and winner of the consolation which was a war of attrition with two mechanical failures and one fall taking out the other three riders.
Division Two was won by 15 year old Slater Lightcap with a three ride clean sweep. Sean McDougall and Greg Moore also won heats with Robert Curry taking the consolation. Jake Myers won again in division three whilst both heats went to local newcomer Isaiah Canales. Alex Martin won the Junior Main and a heat with Slater Lightcap taking the other. Joe Jones and Tom Summers swept the sidecar division. Tim White won the Pee Wee class.
Results
Division 1 Main
24 Gino Manzares
321 Russell Green
27k Chris Kerr
16 Sebastian Palmese
Semi 1: Green, Kerr, Borello, DiFrancesco
Semi 2: Manzares, Palmese, Rheten Todd, Castro
Last Man Out
Manzares, Kerr, Green, Palmese
Division 2 Main
28 Slater Lightcap
243 Sean McDougall
251 Greg Moore
127 David Perry
Consolation
3n Robert Curry
138 Jason Lundberg
327 Tyler Moszer
115 Tom Settlemire
Division 3 Main
175 Jake Myers
106 Isaiah Canales
177 Mark Hitchcock
138 Jim Sanders
206 Paul Baldwin
250 Juniors
30 Alex Martin
28 Slater Lightcap
48 Jose Navarrete
226 Levi Leutz DNS
Sidecar
15x Joe Jones / Tom Summers
31 Robert Curry / Rees Todd
357 Ace Kale / Anthony Hernandez
47 Jason Fritze / Sabrina Richardson
Pee wee
12 Tim White
15x Hudson Jones
26 Jackson Joiner
8 Corbin Schweitzer
25 Ryder Manzares | 
