Jacob Gomes Continues SRL Hot Streak at Kern County Raceway Park
Bakersfield, CA – Jacob Gomes made it four victories in five 2023 Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series features, when he crossed the line first in the “JM ENVIRONMENTAL, INC. Wild West Shootout – For Those About to Rock 107” at Kern County Raceway Park (CA) Saturday night. Gomes earned a $11,000 payday, after also winning the H&S Body Works and Towing Heat Race worth $1,000. Gomes grabbed the lead from Austin Herzog after the lap 30 Competition Caution then held off Jeremy Doss, Blaine Rocha, and Cale Kanke to grab the rich win.
Blaine Rocha set the fastest lap in final practice which set the lineup for the Heat Race. Gomes qualified seventh and started on the outside of the front row of the Heat, outside. Gomes was able to take the $1,000 victory to start on the pole in front of Austin Herzog, Dan Holtz, and Zampa. On the initial start, Herzog was able to battle to the lead, from the inside line, after the green fell for the feature event. Gomes chased Herzog for the first 30 laps as Dan Holtz held off Jeremy Doss for third, when the field took the first of three Competition Cautions on lap 30.
The first restart found Gomes taking the lead from the inside line, with Doss taking advantage of the preferred outside groove to move to third around Holtz. It took Doss five laps to grab the runner-up position from Herzog and set sail for Gomes. Rocha was also able to clear Herzog on lap 42, as Doss closed on the bumper of Gomes by the lap 50 mark. At the lap 60 Competition Caution, Gomes led Doss, Rocha, Herzog, and Holtz. Gomes got a great restart with Herzog getting by Rocha while battling Doss in the outside line. As Gomes skirted away, Doss was able to finally work his by Herzog on lap 63. It took Rocha another three laps, but he grabbed third back as the field ran to the final Competition Caution on lap 90, with John Moore up to fourth.
The lap 90 restart found the intensity rising, as Rocha made contact with Doss, entering Turn 3. Doss sailed up into the marbles, losing multiple positions back to ninth, as Rocha also fell back. The green was short-lived however, as Dan Holtz spun on the backstretch after pushing up into Moore exiting Turn 2 on lap 92. Holtz retired and Doss pitted to make repairs from the earlier contact. The final restart found Gomes leading Rocha, Herzog, Cale Kanke, Dylan Zampa, and Moore.
On the restart Gomes slowly pulling away as Kanke battled by Herzog for third in the outside line. Doss began his move from the back, getting by Zampa for sixth on lap 97. He grabbed fifth from Moore on lap 102, as Kanke began dipping inside Rocha for second a lap later. The duo battled side-by-side, allowing Herzog and Doss to close on the pair. Kanke cleared Rocha as the field took the white flag. Herzog dipped under Rocha on the back stretch and Doss followed him through in Turns 3 and 4, with Doss just nipping Rocha at the stripe for fourth, earning the Fluidyne High Performance “Cool Move of the Race”.
Gomes grabbed his fourth win of the season and the $10,000 payday, thanks to JM Environmental Inc. John Moore would settle for sixth with Zampa, Nick Gibson, Nick Joanides and Dan Holtz rounding out the top-10. Cale Kanke earned the Five Star Bodies “Hard Charger Award” for improving from 10th staring to second at the finish.
The next event for the series will be at Stockton 99 Speedway – Stockton Ca on July 15th, for Round #3 of the JM Environmental Wild West Shootout series. The Super Late Models will be joined by the Spears Pro Late Models presented by Sigma Performance Services and the Spears Modified Series, who will make their first appearance at the historic ¼-mile oval.
Results:
1. Jacob Gomes, 2. Cale Kanke, 3. Austin Herzog*, 4. Jeremy Doss, 5. Blaine Rocha, 6. John Moore, 7. Dylan Zampa*, 8. Nick Gibson*, 9. Nick Joanides, 10. Dan Holtz, 11. Chris Clyne, 12. Buddy Shepherd, 13. Andy Allen, 14. Travis McCullough, 15. Scott Sanchez
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”.
Story: K. Peters, SRL Media
PC: Sal Sigala Jr.
