The good news is: Mesa Marin Raceway will be presenting its 28th annual October Classic, October 13th through the 15th, and the three day line up is packed solid with racing action that is going to thrill the fans. The bad news is: this is the last ever racing weekend, at the Bakersfield based half mile oval, and the end of the final weekend is going to be tantamount to saying farewell to an old friend.
The sad news, regarding the track closure, came last June during a press conference hosted by Mesa Marin Vice President Larry Collins. His announcement stated that the family owned racing facility had accepted an offer to sale 40, of the 56 acres, the track occupies to a local residential housing developer. Collins cited the age of his parents and a need for them to slow down, the increased encroachment of new housing coming closer and closer to the east Bakersfield track and they were looking at a long term fight they likely couldn't have been won as reasons for the sale.
From that point Mesa Marin officials set their sites on giving its long time fans their very best effort in this final season and that included a huge October Classic. Mesa Marin has lined up some of the finest racing talent, from the western states area, that will feature two of NASCAR's regional touring series as well as the cream of the crop from the NASCAR Weekly Racing Program.
The Classic actually gets under way on Wednesday, the 12th, with a seven hour practice session for the NASCAR Super Late Models and NASCAR Late Models. In addition to the raceways own very fine roster of driving talent, look for out of town visiting teams to hit Bakersfield this weekend from the Irwindale Speedway, the Bullring in Las Vegas, Arizona tracks as well as some teams who will tow their cars in from the Pacific Northwest.
Thursday night action, on the 13th, features racing from the Pick Your Part 911 for Youth Series and their championship event. This outstanding program features identically prepared street stock cars built by the shop class from the Camp Erwin Owen High School, an educational facility for juvenile offenders operated by Kern County. These cars are sponsored, and driven, by public service agencies such as police and sheriff departments, fire departments, the District Attorney's office and even the Superintendent of Schools. Since its inception, many years ago, this outstanding program has been a shining example of the unique way Mesa Marin Raceway supports community affairs and causes.
The Thursday portion of the Classic also features plenty of action from the NASCAR Late Models who will run twin, 40 lap, qualifying races to determine the line up for their Friday night feature. The featured race of the evening will be the NASCAR Super Late Models running a 125 lap race.
Friday, the 14th, begins with the Havoline Racing Revolution Sports Compacts Series. Introduced to Mesa Marin's racing line up last April, these compact cars quickly endeared themselves to the fans and often races three and four wide going into the turns. Adding to the fun of the series is the policy of having the cars painted to resemble past and present NASCAR Nextel Cup teams.
Another special part of the Friday night line up is the annual Mesa Marin Champions Race. Past track champions will be in identically prepared cars for a winner take all race that, in the past, has featured extremely aggressive racing and a lot of entertainment for the fans. This year's line includes 1986 track champion Gary Collins, 1990 champion Mark Wilson, 1991 and '92 champion Frank Adamo, who won this race last year, 1996 and '97 title holder Dick Shepherd, 2001champion Dan Holtz, 2003 champion Brian Richardson and the newly crowned 2005 Late Model champion Eric Richardson.
The Friday night featured main event is the Green Frog Markets 125, presented by Racing West.Com, and will highlight some of the finest NASCAR Late Model teams from the western states.
Saturday, the 15th, features two of NASCAR's premiere regional touring series: The AutoZone, Elite Division, Southwest Series and the Grand National Division West Series. Mesa Marin has a long, and proud, history of supporting these two regional touring series and has played a major role in developing the careers of series driving stars such as Bakersfield's own Kevin Harvick.
The NASCAR AutoZone Southwest Series will start the Saturday action with the running of the Star Nursery.Com 300 followed by the West Series race: the Ford Motorcraft 150. In both cases, the Mesa Marin events could have a significant impact on the final points standings for the year.
The final weekend, of the final season, is going out with the same high quality we've come to expect from Mesa Marin all these years. For complete details on the 28th annual, and final, October Classic check the raceway's website at www.mesamarin.com
