Tom Macht
The Locked-In Drag Racing Series opened its 2026 season with a two-day Round 1 event at Famoso Dragstrip, where sunshine and crisp high-50-degree temperatures greeted racers and fans throughout the weekend. The cool air and clear skies provided excellent racing conditions as competitors battled through qualifying and eliminations while looking to start the season with early momentum.
Bracket racing highlighted the early action, with Bakersfield racers making the most of their home-track advantage. Jan Vanderpool powered his way to the win in Bracket 1 No Box, while fellow Bakersfield competitor Dave Rudd stayed sharp on the starting line and consistent downtrack to capture the Bracket 2 Box victory.
The heads-up classes delivered plenty of excitement as the weekend continued. Rich Hoyle emerged victorious in the always-competitive Outlaw Small Tire category, navigating tight matchups on a well-prepared racing surface. Track specialist Jim Black had the Famoso Dragstrip surface in top form, providing a super-sticky track with plenty of traction that allowed racers to put the power down with confidence.
In additional heads-up action, Ron McCoy claimed the win in N/A 10.5, while Bakersfield’s Danny Crownover took top honors in the Truck class. Matt Marron rounded out the steel-bodied competition with a victory in Real Steel.
Index racing once again proved competitive, with Xavier Mendoza earning the 5.35 Index win, Dan Jordan capturing the 5.80 Index title, and Matt Flud of Shafter taking the 6.50 Index victory. The Modern Muscle category closed out the winners circle, as Mike Consolo secured the class win to cap off Round 1.
With the opening round complete, the Locked-In Drag Racing Series is off to a strong start at Famoso Dragstrip. Racing action continues at the Bakersfield facility with the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League event scheduled for January 24–25, as the next generation of racers takes center stage at the historic quarter-mile.
