KERN COUNTY RACEWAY PARK TO HOST KING OF THE WEST BY NARC SPRINT CARS
September 30, 2019
Jim Allen

(10/1/19) Sacramento, CA, Jim Allen … With the 2019 60th Anniversary championship on the line, the King of the West by NARC Fujitsu Sprint Car Series will return to the Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park on Saturday, October 5th, to tackle the exciting one-third mile oval dirt track.

With only three races remaining on the 19-stop campaign, it’s make it or break it time for the top teams chasing the coveted King of the West by NARC crown.

Hanford’s DJ Netto has held the top spot in the standings since August 21st, but his margin is only five points over Bud Kaeding of Campbell (1781-1776). That is the difference between winning and finishing fourth on Saturday night, meaning there is little margin for error.

Netto has earned his position at the top of the standing as the most consistent driver on the circuit. Although he hasn’t scored a feature event victory this season, he has finished in the top five on 10 nights, and in the top ten in all but two events.

Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi, who captured the season opener at KCRP, is only 12-markers behind the leader and is officially in the title hunt as well.

“Honestly, I am not focusing on the championship,” said Scelzi, a four-time winner this season, including the King of the West by NARC season opener in April. “I was hired to win races and we have done that. I’ve won NARC shows at all three of the tracks we are finishing the season at so my goal is simple: Win all three!”

“We fell short on some misfortune at several races this year that were out of our control, continued Scelzi. “Had we got just one of the finishes we were contending for on those nights, we would be within three-to-five points. To win championships you have to minimize your bad nights, and capitalize when the opportunity strikes. For us, I think we have had great speed most nights, but we need to finish strong! If we win three nights to finish the season that will justify us as one of the best in my opinion.”

What is Scelzi’s game plan for the Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park? “If we attack the race just like the season opener, I think we have a great shot,” says Scelzi. “We unloaded fast and stayed fast all night! That’s our game plan.”

Other contenders in the field will be Roseville’s Willie Croft and Colby Copeland; Ryan Bernal of Hollister; Sebastopol’s Geoff Ensign; Nathan Rolfe and Sean Watts from Atwater; Chico’s Kenny Allen; Chase Johnson of Penngrove; Hanford’s Mitchell Faccinto; Gary Paulson of Woodland, and many others.

The 30-lap Fujitsu-sponsored headliner will pay $3000 to the winner and $600 to all teams starting the A-Main.

Pit gates open at 2:00 p.m. Front Gate open at 4:00 pm, with qualifying set to get underway at 6:00 pm. Racing gets started at approximately 7:00 pm. Also on the racing card are Hard Tops and Mini-Stocks.

General admission tickets are $20; Seniors (65+) and active-military $14. Kids five years old or younger are free.

The Dirt Track at Kern County Raceway Park is located in Bakersfield, CA, just off of Highway 5 and Enos Lane. The address is 13500 Raceway Blvd, Bakersfield, CA 93311. For more info, go to www.kernraceway.com or NARC410.com.

The King of the West-NARC Fujitsu Racing Series is also sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tires. Associate and product award sponsors include ATL Racing Cells, Automotive Racing Products (ARP), Autometer, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, ButlerBuilt, FK Rod Ends, Hooker Harness, Johnstone Supply, Kaeding Performance Center, KSE Racing Products, Maxim, PAC Racing Springs, Pyrotect, Racing Optics, Safecraft Safety Equipment, Saldana Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, SCI Racing Products, Swift Metal Finishing, Sunnyvalley Bacon, System 1 Ignition, Ultra Light Brakes, Weld Racing Wheels, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Williams Roofing, and Winters Performance Products.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
October 12 – Keller Auto Speedway w/SCCT
November 2 – Stockton Dirt Track w/SCCT
November 3 – Championship Awards Brunch – Brookside Country Club

2019 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
King of the West-NARC Fujitsu 410 Sprint Car Series (10/1/19)
After 16 events in the 19-race series

DJ Netto, Hanford – 1781
Bud Kaeding, Campbell (2) – 1776
Dominic Scelzi, Fresno (4) – 1769
Willie Croft, Roseville – 1752
Ryan Bernal, Hollister (R) – 1735
Geoff Ensign, Sebastopol (R) – 1693
Nathan Rolfe, Atwater – 1640
Sean Watts, Atwater (1) – 1622
Kenny Allen, Chico – 1572
Chase Johnson, Penngrove (1) – 1516
Mitchell Faccinto, Hanford – 1442
Shane Golobic, Elk Grove – 1326
Colby Copeland, Roseville (1) – 1313
Jason Statler, Grass Valley – 1233
Jenna Frazier, Sacramento – 1078
Tim Estenson, Fargo ND (R) – 986
Matt DeMartini, Oakley (R) – 950
Rico Abreu, Rutherford (2) – 794
Jonathan Allard, Tracy – 712
Stephen Ingraham, Fair Oaks (R) – 689

Other Winners: Tim Kaeding (2), Justin Sanders, Aromas (2), Kyle Larson, Elk Grove (1).