(10/27/23) NARC By The NUM8ER5!: The Dirt Track At Kern County Raceway Park, By Ben Deatherage, Bakersfield, California … The cars and stars of the NARC 410 Sprint Car Series will fire up their engines this Saturday, October 28th, for their lone visit of 2023 to The Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park. Before this season’s visit to the Douglas County Dirt Track, KCRP was the newest facility to be visited by NARC. In the 2022 edition, a new track record was set by Ryan Bernal with an 11.935 second run.
There have been four winners in seven visits, with Cory Eliason grabbing the inaugural round on April 8th, 2017. Shane Golobic swept the events in 2018 and captured the race last year. Dominic Scelzi swept the two 2019 trips, while Justin Sanders scored a victory in 2021. Something to note about all the previous races is that they took place in April or October, with the last three events happening in the tenth month of the calendar.
As only two races remain on the NARC 410 Sprint Car Series schedule, the tight dogfight in the championship standings is worth noting. The last time the series was in competition, Corey Day had a rough outing in the points-paying feature of the Morrie Williams Memorial, which allowed Sanders to sneak closer to him in the standings and is back by 28 markers. Day is coming off a fantastic Trophy Cup championship last Saturday. Still, Sanders had an absolutely incredible Morrie weekend two weeks ago at Kings and ended up the overall champion of that event.
Eleven points separate third place Dominic Scelzi and Justyn Cox, currently fourth. Cox only has one career NARC start at Kern, but it was a Top 10 result. The last time Scelzi was in victory lane at this facility was in March of 2021 with the Kings of Thunder 360 Series.
Speaking of a guy who has never posted a finish outside the Top 10 in main event action at KCRP, Bud Kaeding is only 14 ticks behind Cox for fourth. Seventh place is still up for grabs as Chase Johnson has a narrow 6-point advantage over Billy Aton. Johnson has won a lot at Bakersfield but has yet to do it with a wing.
Two drivers expected to be in action are Buddy Kofoid and Ryan Timms. Kofoid, racing the Roth Motorsports #83 entry, was the runner-up to Day in the Trophy Cup points and had a win at I-70 Motorsports Park with the All Stars and three Outlaw triumphs, including a prelim night at the Gold Cup and the 49er Gold Rush Classic at Placerville.
Timms, the Oklahoman, has garnered ten triumphs with a diverse mix, including 410 and 360 victories, as well as lots of success in the Midgets and is fourth in the USAC-National Midget points. He is currently fourth in USAC points and was fourth in overall Trophy Cup points last weekend.
There’s no doubt the fantastic racing of the 2023 NARC 410 Sprint Car Series will continue come Saturday night at The Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park. Many of these teams have been hitting it hard lately, and there is no doubt that several hope to end the year on a good note. Kaeding, Dylan Bloomfield, Aton, and Nick Parker would love to open up their winning accounts before the year ends. Make it to Bakersfield to support this great series and facility!