Winner Tommy Malcolm (A.J. Johnson Photo)
Richie Murray | AUGUST 31, 2024
Bakersfield, California (August 31, 2024)………In a feature in which the lead exchanged hands five times between Tommy Malcolm and Charles Davis Jr., it was Malcolm who ultimately had the last word.
Malcolm (Corona, Calif.) led the final two laps to prevail during Saturday night’s Avanti Windows & Doors USAC CRA Sprint Car Series’ $4,500-to-win Bob Vermeer & Narcie Ferreira Classic at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway Dirt Track.
Davis (Buckeye, Ariz.) led the initial 16 laps of the 30-lapper before the duel of the year commenced. Malcolm surged ahead of Davis on lap 17 before Davis fought back to lead on lap 20. Malcolm edged ahead of Davis on lap 21 before Davis bolted back ahead on lap 22.
Davis led the next seven laps until the white flag lap when Davis, Malcolm and R.J. Johnson (Laveen, Ariz.) were three-wide at the start finish line. Ultimately, Malcolm outdueled both on the final lap to earn his seventh career USAC CRA main event victory, and his fourth of the year, to extend his championship point lead to 26 over R.J. Johnson.
Davis finished a close second with Austin Williams (Yorba Linda, Calif.) third, David Gasper (Goleta, Calif.) fourth and Blake Bower (Brentwood, Calif.) fifth. Johnson dropped back to seventh at the finish line.
Logan Calderwood (Goodyear, Ariz.) won the Flowdynamics Incorporated / Sexton Fire Protection / In Memory of Wiley Miller Sr. & Wiley Miller Jr. First Heat Race. A.J. Bender (San Diego, Calif.) won the 10-lap BillsJerky.net / Factory Wraps Second Heat Race. Jake Andreotti (Castro Valley, Calif.) topped the 10-lap W.C. Friend Company / In Memory of Jim & Chet Gardner Third Heat Race.
Steve Lafond awarded Verne Sweeney (Lomita, Calif.) a $100 hard charger bonus. The 60-year old driver raced from 20th to 11th in the feature. Meanwhile, Blake Bower earned the first career USAC CRA Woodland Auto Display Fast Time Award.
Richie Murray | USAC
