Rookie Leader Zach Telford Looks to Get Back on Track at Kern County Raceway Park

Bakersfield, CA – Zach Telford has had a difficult start to the 2022 racing campaign, unlike his partial SRL schedule in 2021, where he could be penciled in for a top-10 finish at each event. He hopes to turn his luck around however, at Kern County Raceway Park (CA) on June 18th, when the Spears Srl Southwest Tour Series visits for the “JM Environmental Inc. Wild West Shootout Flick the Switch – Bulwark ‘FR 100”. For Telford, Kern has been a thorn in his side, experiencing unfortunate circumstances in his first two visits to the high-speed half-mile tri-oval. He feels that a change of luck is all that is needed to see good results.

“With Kern we have just had bad luck with a blown motor the first time and this year getting wrecked out in the (Qualifying) Heat”, Telford explained. “I feel we just need better luck.”

This will be Telford’s ninth start in the series, having competed once in 2020, at ALL AMERICAN SPEEDWAY – ROSEVILLE CA, and four times in 2021. He has three starts in 2022, as a result of the aforementioned Heat Race incident in the Winter Showdown. He sits 11th in the championship standings. He has earned one Rookie-of-the-Race Award and leads the Rookie-of-the-Year standings to this juncture of the season.

Telford has participated in several racing series, and at various high-profile events, winning over 60 races in his young career. He is the youngest NASCAR Super Late Model, as well as Division 1 Modified winner in the Idaho Region. He also earned a top-10 finish in the “Slinger Nationals” at Slinger Super Speedway (WI) in 2021 and came home second in the “Idaho 208” at Meridian Speedway (ID). He has yet to finish outside the top-10 in three “208” starts.

But his 2022 season has been a challenge, despite a victory and two runner-up finishes at Havasu 95 Speedway. He finished as the track’s championship runner-up in the Garcia Racing Pro Late Model, despite missing the opening round, but has yet to get on-track in the Garcia Racing Super Late Model. His best effort was a 13th at All American Speedway with another top-15 at the most recent Irwindale Speedway event. But Telford is optimistic that he and the team will return to form, as the season continues.

“This year has definitely been emotional”, Telford admitted. “The struggles in the race have been inevitable, but we still were able to make improvements. The restrictor rule change also should help us a ton”, Telford exclaimed!

With his past difficulties at Kern County Raceway Park, Telford would love to crack the top-10 on the 18th. But his major emphasis is on improving and gelling with the Garcia Racing Team.

“My goals are to prove that our team can work”, Telford explained. “We just need to get over the first couple stumbles of the year.”

Telford is thankful for the opportunity to compete in the SRL in 2022 and for those who help make it happen, as he stated.

“I’d love to thank my family, Garcia Racing, Project Filter – Idaho Fights Tobacco, James Hardie, and everyone else who supports our program!

Garcia Racing is sponsored by Hixco Industrial Supply, STR Race Cars, David’s Racing Products and Allpro Coatings.

The 10th Annual Bulwark ‘FR Firecracker weekend will see all three divisions of the SRL compete. The Spears Pro Late Models presented by Sigma Performance Services will compete for $5,400 and the Spears Modified Series $2,000. Thanks to John Moore, and JM Environmental Inc., Zach will go after a $10,000 win. Admission Gates officially open at 5:00 pm. Qualifying for the Modifieds is scheduled for 5:20 pm followed by the Pro Late Models and Super Late Models. Opening Ceremonies commence at 7:00 pm. The Spears Modifieds will open by running the “General Tire 60 presented by PFC Brakes”. The Pro Late Models will race for $5,400 in the “Sigma Performance Services 54” and the Super Late Models will round out the racing with the $10,000-to-win “JM Environmental Inc. Wild West Shootout Flick the Switch – Bulwark ‘FR 100”. The Luina “Feel the Power” Fireworks Spectacular will round out the evening’s activities.

Celebrating its twenty-second season in 2022, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series…Where the Champions Race”.