California Swing Brings World of Outlaws Back to Bakersfield, Merced in Mid-September

Story By: NICK GRAZIANO / WORLD OF OUTLAWS – BAKERSFIELD, CA – The halfway point of the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series’ California Swing will bring the Series back to two West Coast tracks for the first time in two years.

The weekend will kick off at Bakersfield Speedway for the “Nashville West” Showdown on Friday, Sept. 13, and then venture to Merced Speedway for the Federated Auto Parts Yosemite Showdown on Saturday, Sept. 14.

Both events have produced a variety of winners with six straight different Series winners at Bakersfield and three straight different winners at Merced. California natives conquered the two tracks during the World of Outlaws’ last trip to both in 2022. Giovanni Scelzi, of Fresno, CA, won at Bakersfield and Carson Macedo, of Lemoore, CA, won at Merced. Scelzi also set the track record that day with a 10.057 second lap around the 1/4-mile track.

Michael “Buddy” Kofoid, of Penngrove, CA, will try to join his fellow Outlaw Californians as a winner at the two tracks. Of his four Series victories, one has come at California, so far – Placerville Speedway in 2023.

Currently, no driver has a World of Outlaws win at both dirt tracks.