CARS Tour Southwest October Classic event preview and entry lists

BROADCAST INFO: FloRacing
(5:30 p.m. PT / 8:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026)

October Classic at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway Schedule

Track: Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway
Location: Bakersfield, California
Length: 0.500-mile paved oval
Laps: 125 (Pro Late Model), 75 (Limited Late Model), 30 (Legend Cars)

SPEARS CARS Tour Southwest heads to Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway on Saturday, Oct. 17, for the October Classic, where the 2026 Pro Late Model championship will be decided in the final race of the season.

The 125-lap feature will determine the champion following a closely contested season-long battle between Robby Sawyer, Kyle Keller and Jaron Giannini. Sawyer enters Kern with 344 points, holding an 11-point advantage over Keller and an 18-point lead over Giannini.

Sawyer took control of the championship lead following the Kyle Busch Classic at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Keller suffered mechanical trouble and finished 14th. The two drivers entered Las Vegas tied atop the standings before Sawyer emerged with the advantage heading into the finale.

Giannini remains in championship contention following four consecutive runner-up finishes. The driver of the No. 25 has led 208 laps this season but continues to search for his first victory of 2026.

The October Classic will also serve as the final round of the Hoosier Tire West Triple Crown Challenge, a three-race competition featuring a $20,000 bonus purse for eligible Pro Late Model car owners. Following events at Evergreen Speedway and Colorado National Speedway, the challenge concludes at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, where the inaugural champion will earn a $7,500 bonus, a Hoosier champion jacket, a custom trophy and Sunoco fuel.

The SPEARS CARS Tour Southwest Limited Late Models will compete in their ninth race of the season, with Kenna Mitchell leading Tanner Huddleston by 23 points entering Saturday’s 75-lap feature.

Mitchell enters Kern looking to rebound after suffering mechanical issues during the Kyle Busch Classic, resulting in a 16th-place finish. Huddleston, Christian Bazen and Brenden Ruzbarsky remain closely grouped in the championship standings as the division prepares for its final two races.

Jeffrey Peterson will also be among the competitors to watch after capturing his fifth victory in five SPEARS CARS Tour Southwest Limited Late Model starts this season. Peterson returns to Kern looking to extend his undefeated streak in series competition.

Frank’s Radio Southwest Legends will also conclude their 2026 season with a 30-lap championship finale at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. Logan Chambers has already mathematically secured the series championship entering Saturday’s October Classic.

PRO LATE MODEL NOTES

CHAMPIONSHIP DECIDED AT KERN

Robby Sawyer enters the October Classic leading the SPEARS CARS Tour Southwest Pro Late Model standings with 344 points, holding an 11-point advantage over Kyle Keller and an 18-point lead over Jaron Giannini. Sawyer has recorded two victories this season at All American Speedway and Orange Show Speedway, while Keller has one and Giannini continues to seek his first win of 2026.

Sawyer can clinch the championship with a third-place finish or better, regardless of bonus points earned by his rivals. Keller must outscore Sawyer by at least 12 points to win outright. Without bonus points, a Keller victory combined with Sawyer finishing 10th or worse would give Keller the championship.

Giannini faces the steepest challenge, needing to overcome an 18-point deficit to Sawyer and a seven-point deficit to Keller. With 17 Pro Late Models currently entered, the GMS Racing driver could capture the championship by winning Saturday’s race and earning three bonus points, provided Sawyer finishes 14th or worse and Keller third or worse, with neither driver earning additional bonus points.

Additional championship points are available for the fastest qualifier (two), second-fastest qualifier (one), leading a lap (one), leading the most laps (one) and Hard Charger honors (one). Sawyer currently holds the initial tiebreaker advantage with two victories. Should drivers finish tied in championship points, the title will be determined by victories, followed by second-place finishes, Top 5 finishes and Top 10 finishes.

KELLER LOOKS TO REBOUND

Kyle Keller entered Las Vegas tied with Robby Sawyer for the championship lead before mechanical problems resulted in a 14th-place finish. The driver of the No. 12, who earned his lone victory of the season at Stockton 99 Speedway in April, finished ninth in the series’ previous visit to Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in May and will look to rebound in Saturday’s season finale.

GIANNINI’S RUNNER-UP STREAK

Giannini enters Kern following four consecutive runner-up finishes at Colorado National Speedway, All American Speedway, Orange Show Speedway and The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The driver of the No. 25 also finished second at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in May and has led 208 laps this season, but continues to seek his first victory of 2026.

DOSS LOOKS FOR BACK-TO-BACK VICTORIES

Jeremy Doss returns to the No. 24 Pro Late Model for Saturday’s October Classic following his victory in the Kyle Busch Classic at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The victory marked both Doss’ first career SPEARS CARS Tour Southwest Pro Late Model win and the first series victory for car owner Scott Sanchez’s team. Doss will look to close out the 2026 season with consecutive victories.

TRIPLE CROWN CHALLENGE FINALE

Just six points separate three car owners entered for Saturday’s Hoosier Tire West Triple Crown Challenge finale. Dick Shepherd (Buddy Shepherd, No. 22) leads the group with 76 points, followed by Steve McGowan (Robby Sawyer, No. 7) with 72 and Charlie Wilson (Kyle Keller, No. 12) with 70.

Rackley WAR currently holds the top two positions in the owner standings, but neither entry is listed for Saturday’s finale. To qualify for the $20,000 bonus program, teams must compete in all three events: Evergreen Speedway in June, Colorado National Speedway in July and Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in October.

The championship-winning car owner will receive a $7,500 bonus, a Hoosier champion jacket, a custom trophy and Sunoco fuel, with the remaining bonus money distributed among eligible owners finishing second through 10th.

LIMITED LATE MODEL NOTES

MITCHELL MAINTAINS CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD

Kenna Mitchell enters the October Classic leading the SPEARS CARS Tour Southwest Limited Late Model standings with 313 points, holding a 23-point advantage over Tanner Huddleston. Mitchell suffered mechanical issues during the Kyle Busch Classic at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, resulting in a 16th-place finish. Mitchell, who earned her first career series victory at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in March, will look to rebound at the half-mile oval and maintain her championship advantage heading into the season finale.

BATTLE FOR SECOND HEATS UP

Tanner Huddleston, Christian Bazen and Brenden Ruzbarsky enter Kern separated by just four points in the championship standings. Huddleston sits second with 290 points, followed by Bazen with 289 and Ruzbarsky with 286. All three remain within striking distance of Mitchell with two races remaining.

PETERSON REMAINS PERFECT

Jeffrey Peterson remains undefeated in SPEARS CARS Tour Southwest Limited Late Model competition this season, winning all five of his starts, including the last two rounds at Orange Show Speedway and the Kyle Busch Classic at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. His latest victory also marked his 14th overall win at The Bullring in 2026. Peterson, who previously won at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in May, returns to the half-mile oval looking to extend his series winning streak to six.

SCHOPPE GAINS MOMENTUM

Skyler Schoppe recorded a career-best second-place finish in the Kyle Busch Classic and captured the pole at Las Vegas. Schoppe enters the October Classic fifth in the championship standings with 280 points, 33 behind Mitchell, as he looks to carry that momentum into Saturday’s 75-lap feature.

SPEARS CARS TOUR WEST TO STREAM ALL SEASON LONG ON FLORACING

FloRacing will continue to serve as the broadcast home of the SPEARS CARS Tour West in 2026 as part of its extended partnership with the series.

SPEARS CARS Tour Southwest Pro Late Model race: 10 of 10

Pro Late Model Entry List (17 cars): No. 2 Adam Coonfield, No. 5J James Hamlin, No. 7 Robby Sawyer, No. 8 Bristol Borneman, No. 12 Kyle Keller, No. 22 Buddy Shepherd, No. 24 Jeremy Doss, No. 25 Jaron Giannini, No. 27S Sydney Hamlin, No. 27 John Moore, No. 29 Dylan Zampa, No. 54 Jaiden Reyna, No. 55P Jeffrey Peterson, No. 55W Linny White, No. 57 Brad Clarke, No. 71 Kyle Gottula, No. 88 Bobby Hodges.

2026 SPEARS CARS Tour Southwest Pro Late Model winners: Keelan Harvick (3), Robby Sawyer (2), Kevin Harvick (2), Kyle Keller (1), Jeremy Doss (1).

SPEARS CARS Tour Southwest Pro Late Model Driver Points: 

1. Robby Sawyer — 344
2. Kyle Keller — 333 (-11)
3. Jaron Giannini — 326 (-18)
4. James Hamlin — 293 (-51)
5. Keelan Harvick — 228 (-116)

SPEARS CARS Tour Southwest Limited Late Model race: 9 of 10

Limited Late Model Entry List (15 cars): No. 2K Mikey Killen, No. 7M Kenna Mitchell, No. 7S Skyler Schoppe, No. 11M Chris Monez, No. 12 Jay Juleson, No. 15 Keatin Lyons, No. 17 Will Martyn, No. 20 Donald Witkowski, No. 21 Cam Carraway, No. 37 Caden Cordova, No. 43 Christian Bazen, No. 51 Brenden Ruzbarsky, No. 51P Jeffrey Peterson, No. 56 Tanner Huddleston, No. 98 Byron Borneman.

2026 SPEARS CARS Tour Southwest Limited Late Model winners: Jeffrey Peterson (5), Jay Juleson (1), Kenna Mitchell (1), Dylan Zampa (1).

SPEARS CARS Tour Southwest Limited Late Model Driver Points: 

1. Kenna Mitchell — 313
2. Tanner Huddleston — 290 (-23)
3. Christian Bazen — 289 (-24)
4. Brenden Ruzbarsky —286 (-27)
5. Skyler Schoppe — 280 (-33)

REMAINING 2026 SCHEDULE

SPEARS CARS Tour Southwest Pro Late Models: Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway (Oct. 17).

SPEARS CARS Tour Southwest Limited Late Models: Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway (Oct. 17), The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Nov. 14).

Frank’s Radio Southwest Legends: Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway (Oct. 17).