6/13/2025
California RaceSaver Sprints
HEYNEN QUICK TIME, RASMUSSEN WINNING STREAK CONTINUES
June 7th saw the California Racesaver Sprints hit the Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway once again for their 6th race of the season, paying a season high record $1,200 to first place. We saw a season high 16 cars hit the track and as the night went on, the action got better and better.
The night ramped up as Kevin Barnes, aboard the #36B machine hit the track for qualifying, in which he laid down a lap time of 17.574 but would quickly be overtaken by the #30 of Jon Williams as he laid down a lap time of 17.301, to give him the slight edge over Barnes. The third car to go out was the #7 of Andy Smith but due to a series of unfortunate events, was not able to time in for qualifying. And next came the consistent speedster that was the #2 of Davey Pombo, who would time at a very quick 15.731 on his first lap to give him the top spot during qualifying. And as qualifying on, the 13th car to go out, mister Phil Heynen would edge out Pombo by a mere 9 THOUSANDTHS of a second as he laid down a very quick time of 15.722, in which was good enough to give him the Quick Time Award, which was a $100 gift certificate, presented by American Racer Tires.
Qualifying Rundown:
- Phil Heynen - #31H (15.722), 2. Davey Pombo - #2 (15.731), 3. Cole Danell - #5 (16.003), 4. Tylor Henson - #11T (16.373), 5. George Tristao - #23T (16.409), 6. Joe Delisle - #88J (16.458) 7. Kyle Rasmussen - #38N (16.465), 8. Koen Shaw - #64C (16.667), 9. Anthony Pombo - #3 (16.758), 10. Rino Felicioni - #15 (16.967), 11. Jake Vermeer - #87 (16.994), 12. Maverick Myrick - #22 (17.026), 13. Jon Williams - #30 (17.301), 14. Kevin Barnes - #36B (17.574), 15. Andy Smith - #7 (NT), 16. Rodney Henderson - #67 (NT)
CRS racing action would soon follow as Kyle Rasmussen and Joe Delisle would pick up the wins in their respective heat races
Action kicked off with the #38N of Kyle Rasmussen starting on the pole with the #23T of George Tristao to his outside followed by the #3 of Anthony Pombo starting in third with the #31H of Phil Heynen to his outside with the #87 of Jake Vermeer, the #5 of Cole Danell and the #30 of Jon Williams to round out the field for the first heat race of the night
The first heat race of the night went on without severe hiccup and went pretty smoothly. Rasmussen would lead the opening circuit with Tristao not far behind and the #31H of Phil Heynen would take over the third place position from Anthony Pombo also on the opening lap. Racing would go on without a single caution or red but on lap 6, Anthony Pombo would pull into the infield due to some mechanical issues. Rasmussen would then lead the final three laps to pick up the first heat race win of the night.
Heat 1 Rundown:
- Kyle Rasmussen - #38N (1st), 2. George Tristao - #23T (2nd), 3. Phil Heynen (4th), 4. Cole Danell (6th), 5. Jake Vermeer (5th), 6. Jon Williams - #30 (7th), 7. Anthony Pombo - #3 (3rd)
The second and final heat race of the night started with the #64C beast of Koen Shaw starting on the pole with the #88J of Joe Delisle to his outside, followed by the #11T of Tylor Henson and the #2 od Davey Pombo in the second row with the #15 of Rino Felcioni, the #22 of Maverick Myrick and the #36B of Kevin Barnes and the #67 of Rodney Henderson rounding out the lineup for the final CRS heat race of the night.
The opening lap would be led by the #64C of Koen Shaw with Joe Delisle aboard the #88J machine close to his rear bumper and the #2 of Davey Pombo following behind in the third position. The second heat race would also go without severe incident but on lap 4, leader Koen Shaw would pull into the infield due to some technical mishaps, allowing Delisle to inherit the top position, in which he would hold for the final five laps of the race, allowing him to pick up the win for the final heat race of the night.
Heat 2 Rundown:
- Joe Delisle - #88J (2nd), 2. Davey Pombo - #2 (4th), 3. Maverick Myrick - #22 (6th), 4. Tylor Henson - #11T (3rd), 5. Rino Felicioni - #15 (5th), 6. Rodney Henderson - #67 (8th), 7. Kevin Barnes (7th), 8. Koen Shaw - #64C (1st)
Feature Lineup:
- Cole Danell - #5, 2. Tylor Henson - #11T, 3. Phil Heynen - #31H, 4. Maverick Myrick - #22, 5. Davey Pombo - #2, 6. George Tristao - #23T, 7. Joe Delisle - #88J, 8. Kyle Rasmussen - #38N, 9. Jake Vermeer - #87, 10. Rino Felicioni - #15, 11. Jon Williams - #30, 12. Rodney Henderson - #67, 13. Kevin Barnes - #36B, 14. Koen Shaw - #64C
The main event got underway with Cole Danell and Tylor Henson battling for the lead on the opening lap. Henson came out on top to lead lap two, but the first caution of the night quickly followed as the #22 of Maverick Myrick spun in turn two and pulled into the infield for the remainder of the race. On the restart, Henson maintained the lead, but yet another yellow flew when Cole Danell spun out of turn four on lap 4. Shortly after the following restart, Danell would hit the fence in turn four, triggering a third caution and forcing him to the infield under the two-caution rule. Henson continued to lead until the fourth caution flew after Kyle Rasmussen clipped the infield tire and spun in turn three. Once green again, Henson led up until lap 10 before Davey Pombo took over the top spot. Koen Shaw, charging from 14th, claimed second on lap 12 and set his sights on Pombo. The fifth caution of the night would soon come out as Rino Felicioni spun out of turn two, prompting officials to shorten the race by five laps. On the restart, Pombo and Shaw briefly battled for the lead, but Pombo held strong. Rasmussen then passed Shaw for second on lap 15 and set his sights on the lead. By lap 17, Rasmussen had overtaken Pombo for the lead in which he held to the finish. The sixth and final caution of the night came on lap 18 when Jon Williams spun in turn four. Following the final restart, Rasmussen led Pombo and Shaw to the checkered flag, securing his fourth feature win of the season.
Koen Shaw, with an impressive drive from 14th to 3rd, earned the inaugural “Blue Collar Hardcharger Award”, taking home $50 and a custom sign, courtesy of a generous anonymous donor.
Feature Rundown (20 Laps):
- Kyle Rasmussen - #38N (8th), 2. Davey Pombo - #2 (5th), 3. Koen Shaw - #64C (14th, HC), 4. Joe Delisle - #88J (7th), 5. George Tristao - #23T (6th), 6. Phil Heynen - #31H (3rd), 7. Rodney Henderson - #67 (12th), 8. Tylor Henson - #11T (2nd), 9. Kevin Barnes - #36B (13th), 10. Jon Williams - #30 (11th), 11. Jake Vermeer - #87 (9th), 12. Rino Felicioni - #15 (10th), 13. Cole Danell - #5 (1st), 14. Maverick Myrick - #22 (4th), 15. Anthony Pombo - #3 (DNS), 16. Andy Smith - #7 (DNS)
Additional incentives were also given out following the end of the race as Maverick Myrick was randomly selected to receive a $50 certificate which was also sponsored by American Racer Tires
These incentives which include a $100 certificate, a $50 certificate both sponsored by American Racer Tires, and the “Blue Collar Hardcharger Award” along with $50 is sponsored by a very generous anonymous donor and as the season goes on, we hope to do more for these drivers that show up every week and put on a great show for fans all around.
We also have a new development in the racing action as the wonderful people from our title sponsor over at Quick Change Liquid Energy have stepped up and put up a $200 bounty along with an American Racer tire to the first person who can beat Kyle (LEGITLY) in a CRS feature at any point this season. And if they fail to do such triumph, the pot will only continue to grow until someone can accomplish such task!!
Be sure to catch the California Racesaver Sprints as they headline a race for the first time this season at the newly revamped and widely known Santa Maria Speedway on June 21st. Enjoy the cool weather and some great racing!
Catch you at the track!!
Article Credit: Brandon Garges
Submitted By: ALICIA GARGES
