Bakersfield Speedway
Missouri invader wins Bud Nat'ls opener
By Stephanie Odom
californiaondirt.comBAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Oct. 12) — After tearing up the Midwest most of the season, Jesse Stovall of Galena, Mo., took his racing skills to the West and found success at Bakersfield Speedway’s 27th annual Budweiser Nationals.
Stovall, making a guest appearance in a Larry Brown-owned Victory Circle Chassis wrenched by Chris Sivesind, earned $2,000 for capturing Friday’s weekend opener at Bakersfield.
Bobby Hogge IV of Salinas, Calif., started on the pole but settled for second in the caution-free 30-lap feature while hometown driver John Lowrey was third. Arizona invader Ricky Thornton Jr. of Chandler was fourth and Clay Daly of Watsonville, Calif., rounded out the top five.
Stovall lowered Bakersfield’s track record in time trials with a 12.840-second lap.
Action continues with a $3,000-to-win feature Saturday.
Budweiser Nationals: (1) Jesse Stovall, (2) Bobby Hogge, (3) John Lowrey, (4) Ricky Thornton Jr., (5) Clay Daly, (6) Tony Toste, (7) Trevor Glaser, (8) Jeremy Shank, (9) Richard Papenhausen, (10) Andy Obertello, (11) Jason Papich, (12) Brad Pounds, (13) Rob Sanders, (14) Tommy Malcolm, (15) Steve Drake, (16) Ron Bartels, (17) Mike Johnson, (18) Nick Bartels, (19) Mike Kirby, (20) Jason Selvidge, (21) Chad Reichenbach, (22) Larry Childress. Fast qualifier (among 36 cars): Stovall, 12.840 seconds.� Heat race winners: Papich, Reichenbach, Glaser, Johnson. Consolation winners: Sanders, Shank. Dash winner: Hogge.