BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – For 28 years, the October Classic was a mainstay and highlight of the season at Mesa Marin Raceway.
In 2019, the race returned to Kern County Raceway and 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 33rd annual Bulwark FR October Classic 150, set for Oct. 23, serves as the final event of the 10-race SRL schedule. The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series portion of the race will be a throwback event, with drivers and teams encouraged to replicate paint schemes from the past. The best design will receive a set of tires from Hoosier Tire West.
Derek Thorn needs only to finish 34th or better to secure his sixth SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series championship. With 25 cars currently entered, merely starting the event will assure him the championship.
The battle for the runner-up position will likely come down to the last lap, with 2015 SRL champion Jacob Gomes leading Buddy Shepherd by a mere five points. The battle for fourth is also tight with rookie driver Kole Raz leading Cale Kanke by 11 points. The remainder of the top-10 consist of Blaine Rocha, Brandon Farrington, Carlos Vieira, Dean Thompson and Scott Sanchez. John Moore sits 19 points behind Sanchez.
Buddy Shepherd needs only to start Saturday’s feature event to take home the Rookie of the Year title. Raz sits second in the standings and fourth overall. He needs to finish 12th or better to secure the runner-up position over teammate Farrington. Zach Telford and Dylan Garner round out the top-five in the rookie standings. All five are entered for this weekend’s event with Kyle Keller also joining the rookie mix. Fourteen different rookies have scored points during the season.
An extra $3,500 will be awarded to the winner after 150 laps thanks to the Motor City Throwdown Challenge. The bonus was offered to anyone who could beat Thorn during the last four events of the season. With no one claiming the bonus, Thorn has become eligible to collect the bonus as well. The leader at the halfway break will receive $3,500. At the conclusion of 150 laps, the winner will receive $7,000 thanks to the bonus. A driver could take home $10,500 for their efforts. Thorn is excited to finally have a shot at the extra cash.
“The Motor City Throwdown Challenge has added some intensity to our season,” Thorn said. “Our goal for the last 10 years at Campbell Motorsports has been to win every race, but racing is a very humbling sport, and dishes out its fair share of ups and downs. We’ve been fortunate to have a great streak going. At Kern we will just do what we normally do and let the cards fall where they may. It’s been awesome to have Motor City put up the extra money and I’m pumped we finally have a shot at it.”
One of Thorn’s primary competitors will be Jeremy Doss, who is set to pull triple-duty this weekend. Doss will be behind the wheel of the Bob Lyon No. 44 super late model, the JD Motorsports No. 75 pro late model and the Eddie Wilcox No. 75 modified. Doss pulled the triple at the season opening Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway in February, driving his own super late model. He finished on top in both the modified and pro late model, but dropped out of the super late model race. Doss will look to apply what he learned in February to this weekend’s event, driving for a new team.
“After racing all three divisions at the All-Star Showdown, the biggest thing I learned was to stay hydrated,” said Doss, who can clinch the pro late model title by starting the feature. “I did that at Irwindale and I never felt fatigued or low on energy. I’m very excited to be piloting the No. 44 Lyon owned Hamke at Kern County Raceway Park. Even though I haven’t run a super late model at Kern in a while, I feel we will be a threat for the win.”
In addition to the pro late model title, Doss need only finish 18th or better in the modified feature to clinch that series championship.
SPEED SPORT TV affiliate Low Budget TV will be on hand to broadcast the race live.