For 28 years, the October Classic was the highlight of the season at the former Mesa Marin (Calif.) Raceway (1977-2005) on the eastside of Bakersfield.
2018 found the race returning to Kern County (Calif.) Raceway Park now on the westside of the oil town.
This year’s edition will find the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series joined by the SPEARS Modified Series, and the Spears Manufacturing Pro Late Models presented by Sigma Performance Services.
The 34th Annual October Classic 134 will be the penultimate event of the nine-race SRL Super Late Model schedule and will take place on October 22, paying $7,500 to the winner.
The race will be broadcast live by SPEED SPORT affiliate www.SpearsRacing.TV.
History
22 October Classics were run under the Southwest Tour Series banner.
Mike Chase and Derek Thorn hold the most victories during those years with three each. Other notable winners since Gary Manlow, who won in 1988, include Kevin Harvick (1998), Kurt Busch (1999), David Gilliland (2004, 2005), Rick Carelli (1992), M.K. Kanke (1997), Steve Portenga (1993), Eric Holmes (2002), and Auggie Vidovich (2000).
The last four events have been at Kern County Raceway Park (KCRP), where Linny White has been the only driver to beat Derek Thorn (2019). A new event champion will be crowned this weekend.
Field
23 Super Late Models are currently entered for the 34th Annual October Classic 134 representing six states. Teams from Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Texas are represented.
Three drivers are scheduled to make their first starts of the season. Those drivers include John Dillon, Brandon Farrington, and Barrett Polhemus.
There are five former SRL winners (Jacob Gomes, Buddy Shepherd, Dan Holtz, Jeremy Doss, and Blaine Rocha) on the entry.
There are five Super Late Model Touring Series champions in the field. Those include Dillon, Gomes, Chris Davidson, John Moore, and Doss.
Championship Battle SLM
Doss had closed the championship lead on Gomes to just 12 points entering the last round at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway. But a season worst finish of sixth for Doss gave Gomes a 32-point margin after his runner-up finish.
In 2022, Gomes has first and third-place finishes at Kern, while Doss has come home fifth both times.
Jace Hansen sits third, 159 points behind Doss. Moore is fourth with Cale Kanke, Dustin Ash, Buddy Shepherd, Zach Telford, Scott Sanchez, and Trevor Huddleston the top-10. Blaine Rocha is only six points out of the top-10.
Pro Late Models
17 Spears Manufacturing Pro Late Models are currently entered for the Salute to the Oil and Gas Industry 80. Four series winners are entered including Sean Hingorani, Bradley Erickson, Seth Wise, and Dylan Zampa.
Zampa leads the league with three victories this season, but Wise leads the championship standings on the strength of one win, eight top-five and nine top-10 finishes. Tyler Reif is second in the standings followed by Dylan Zampa, Tanner Reif, and Christian Bazen. The Sigma Performance Services Young Gun standings mirror the championship standings.
Spears Modified Series
18 Spears Manufacturing Modifieds are entered for the Visit Bakersfield 60. Jaron Giannini leads the championship standings, after winning the season opening event at Havasu 95 (Ariz.) Speedway.
Jimmy Sloan sits second in the standings, 89 points out of the lead. Travis Thirkettle is another 17 points back, on the strength of five victories, after missing the season opener. Sam Jacks is fourth with William Guevara rounding out the top-five.
Jaron Giannini, Jimmy Sloan, Kyle Jacks, Kevin Vossen and Ray Mros are the top-five in the rookie of the year battle. Thirkettle has won both previous events at Kern County Raceway in 2022.