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BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA (February 1, 2012) – Through an ownership group of area racers and businessmen,
led by James Vernon, the long-awaited Kern County Raceway Park
is finally set to open as soon as late 2012, it was announced
today. The crown jewel of KCRP is a half-mile paved oval with
a quarter-mile oval within it.
The property
at
Enos Lane
and Highway 5 has sat dormant since 2008 when construction
ceased after the housing bubble burst. With the bankruptcy
settled, the opportunity arose for the racing community to
rise and take ownership of the facility.
“It just
broke my heart to drive past the speedway everyday
unfinished,” Vernon said. “This was an opportunity to both
bring racing back to the area but also complete the project
with the original vision in mind. We can’t wait to go
racing!”
Construction
will begin immediately to complete the complex, with the track
expected to be available for testing by this summer. The
state-of-the-art facility includes a paved infield with tunnel
access underneath turns one and two for pit crews and
equipment. The signature half-mile track is banked 13 degrees
in the corners with a slight kink at the start/finish line.
Racing action
could begin as soon as this fall, with a full schedule of
racing events on tap for the 2013 season. Divisions such as
Late Models, Elite (Tour) Late Models, and Legends are among
the planned classes. Complete rules and information are
expected to be released in the next month.
In addition
to short track racing events, KCRP plans to become an
entertainment destination in the central valley with concerts
and other events.
All inquiries
into track development including from sponsors, competitors,
and potential employees, can be directed to the track office
at (661) 835-0456.
More
information on
Kern
County
Raceway
Park
is available on Facebook keywords “Kern County Raceway” and on
Twitter at
www.twitter.com/kernraceway A new KCRP website is coming
soon. |
