After Five Years, Bedingfield Returns for the “October Classic”

Johnny Bedingfield is a former Track Champion at Kern County Raceway Park. But the Bakersfield driver has been absent from the racing wars for the last six seasons. That absence will come to an end on October 15th, when Bedingfield will make his first start in the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series in the $10,000-to-win “Bulwark/TenCate October Classic 135” at KCRP. He will be in a FURY Race Cars Super Late Model owned by @Scott Sanchez. The deal came together recently after some trash talk between Bedingfield and the runner-up in all-time starts with the series.

“Well, it started with some trash talk between “The Chez” and I, and he kinda called me out with a good deal to drive the car”, Bedingfield recanted. “I made some calls to some good buddies and past sponsors of mine and here we are for our first start in a Super Late at the October Classic.”

Bedingfield began his racing career on dirt before moving over to KRCP in the Spec Modifieds in 2015, winning the championship in his inaugural pavement season. He participated in the next three seasons, before becoming the Race Director in 2018, as he recalled his history at the facility.

“I love KCRP! We won a championship in our first year on asphalt in 2015. I came from dirt track racing, and we won 6 out of 10 races that year. In 2016, we tied for most wins with Chris Dalton. Either he won, I won, or we wrecked each other while leading. Lol. (I have over 10 wins at KCRP). In 2017, we made the jump to Late Models. In our first twin race at KCRP, we ran second to Trevor Huddleston in both races. We had several top-five’s that year and a few DNFs. We finished in the top-five in points. I retired from racing, and I became the race director for KCRP for a couple years. I can’t wait to get into a car with a great suspension, wide tires, and a big motor. Yeehaw!”

Bedingfield will jump in the Sanchez Racing Fury, that has seen both Seth Wise and Travis McCullough behind the wheel. Sanchez will also make his 134th career start and Bedingfield is thankful for his new teammate and those who have helped make it happen.

I would like to express a big thanks to Scott Sanchez, Brady Melo, Shane Thompson, Ed Coffey, Garret Jernigan, Tommy Gibson, Tommy Hurst, Tony Engle, Joe Gregory with Grapevine MSP (major sponsor), Presto Precision Detailing, Johnny Willamson with State Farm Insurance, KB Excavation, Town & Country Landscaping, Rich’s Auto Glass, and Nobody Fights Alone Foundation. We started our Non-profit foundation, Nobody Fights Alone Foundation, at KCRP in 2015, and we raise money for families with pediatric emergencies. The businesses mentioned above have been a part of that since the beginning, and we look forward to the future and the impact we can make.”

The “Bulwark/TenCate October Classic” will pay $10,000 to the winner thanks to the “Winner’s Bonus” from Competition Cams and Raymond’s Trophy & Awards. Second will receive $2,500 with third $1,750, fourth $1,500 and fifth $1,350 thanks to the Raymond’s Trophy Top-five Bonus. The Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series Super Late Models will be joined by the Spears Pro Late Models presented by Sigma Performance Services, who will race for $5,400 in the “Sigma Performance Services 54”. The Spears Modified Series will also join in at the fast ½-mile oval, Kern County Raceway Park. The action will take place on Sunday, October 15th, in the 35th annual event.

Celebrating its twenty third season in 2023, 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”