BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Three-time Mesa Marin Raceway Late Model Stock Car champion Kevin Vernon has been facing the toughest competition of his career this year at Mesa Marin. Vernon with two wins on the year, currently sits second behind veteran Mike Alsup in NASCAR Winston Racing Series points at Mesa Marin.

This Saturday night Vernon will be faced with one more formidable competitor, his very own car owner and father, James Vernon. The elder Vernon who competed for many years as a driver at Bakersfield Speedway and Mesa Marin Raceway, has spent the last several years as team owner for Kevin.

"This will be the first time we have ever raced against each other, and he will be in a good car so I'm sure he'll be running up front with us." Kevin Vernon said about this Saturday night. "I love racing every weekend, but this Saturday night is going to a special one for me." added Kevin.

James Vernon will be driving the #99 Community Recycling Monte Carlo owned by Tom Fry. Frys regular driver Greg Pursley will be competing in the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series event at Irwindale on Saturday and will not be at Mesa Marin Raceway.

The Late Models will be joined Saturday night by the Street Stocks, the M.S.R.A. Mini Stocks, the Grand American Modifieds, and the "911 Race for Youth" which pits representatives of the Bakersfield Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, the Kern County Sheriffs Department, the Kern County Fire Department and the Bakersfield Fire Department in one race in identically prepared race cars.

Spectator gates open at 5pm, with racing underway at 7. Adult general admission is $8.00, with children 12 and under free. For more information phone 661-366-5711.

Source: Mesa Marin Raceway
Posted: 5/13/99