Bakersfield Speedway
Pounds rules Bakersfield's WCS event
Brad Pounds claimed Bakersfield's West Coast Shootout event. (Tom Macht)
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Aug. 10) — Hometown driver Brad Pounds raced to his second West Coast Late Model Shootout victory of the season Saturday night at Bakersfield Speedway, earning $2,000 in the western tour’s first visit to the third-mile oval since 2011.
Nick Bartels of El Segundo, Calif., was second at the finish with Mike Johnson of Lompoc, Calif., rounding out the podium finishers. Hometown driver Rob Sanders was fourth with two-time defending series champion Clay Daly of Watsonville, Calif., fifth. | Slideshow
The event was marred by an accident in support division action that took the live of race official Steve O’Neil, who was struck by a race car that climbed up and over the inside wall on the back straightaway.
Notes: Pounds is sponsored by Orchard Production Services, Richie McGowan, Pounds Racing, Blackjack Power Swivels and Hoosier Racing Tire. ... Twenty of the 21 entrants started the feature; Bobby Hogge IV suffered engine issues in his heat race and did not start the feature. ... Pounds previous series victory came May 25 at Santa Maria (Calif.) Speedway. ... The tour held its first event since May 26. ... Mother Nature claimed Bakersfield's previous WCLMS event. ... The series will return to Bakersfield for its next event on Aug. 31.
West Coast Shootout @ Bakersfield: (1) Brad Pounds, (2) Nick Bartels, (3) Mike Johnson, (4) Rob Sanders, (5) Clay Daly, (6) Jason Papich, (7) Tony Toste, (8) Mike Kirby, (9) Andy Obertello, (10) Steve Drake, (11) Tommy Maclolm, (12) Devin Crockett, (13) Jeff Decker, (14) Roger Holder, (15) Larry Childress, (16) Bill Bartels, (17) Ron Bartels, (18) Carla Laney, (19) Dennis Souza, (20) Larry Wise. Fast qualifier (among 21 cars): Sanders, 13.362 seconds. Heat winners: Holder, Pounds, Johnson. Dash winner: Daly.
