Johnson Jr. Looks to Show Out in Kern County
Venue: Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway Park
Event: MMI Oil Workers 150 presented by the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame
Date: Saturday, April 20
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Track Description: 0.5-mile tri oval
Distance: 150 laps, 75 miles (11:15 p.m. ET, www.FloRacing.com)
The Rookie … The 2024 ARCA Menards Series West (AMSW) tour restarts after a month off since the season opener at Phoenix Raceway. Eric Johnson Jr. earned 24 points in his rookie-season debut at Phoenix with a 20th-place finish after the race ended early due to weather. Johnson Jr. will return in his No. 19 Pacific Office Automation Chevrolet SS for the second race of the year at Kevin Harvick’s Kern County Raceway Park (KCRP). This will be Johnson Jr.’s first appearance at KCRP in his AMSW career.
No Time Off … Johnson Jr. has been spending his time off from the AMSW by getting track time other places. Shortly after the season opener at Phoenix, Johnson Jr. tested at Irwindale Speedway and KCRP with his BMR teammate Jack Wood and crew chief John Camilleri. Johnson Jr. and Camilleri will put their test into action on Saturday night at KCRP for the first true AMSW event of the season among series regulars.
BMR at Kern … The BMR organization is no stranger to KCRP with six prior visits to victory lane. Derek Kraus went to victory lane four times from 2017-2019. Todd Gilliland, in the No. 16 NAPA Auto Parts car, also secured two victories in 2016 and 2017 at the half-mile track in Bakersfield, Calif. Johnson Jr. looks to join the company of Kraus and Gilliland to earn his first career win at KCRP this weekend.
Tune In … The second event of the AMSW season can be streamed live on FloRacing (www.floracing.com) at 11:15 p.m. ET on Saturday night. Audio coverage is also available on www.ARCARacing.com. Stay connected with the No. 19 Pacific Office Automation team by following @BMR_NASCAR on Twitter, @bmrnascar on Instagram, and Bill McAnally Racing on Facebook.
Eric Johnson Jr. Quote:
On his first AMSW full-time season.:
“Both Irwindale and Kern challenged me in their own unique way, which is exactly what I need to experience if I want to keep developing as a driver. I want to thank Jack (Wood) and everyone on the BMR crew for everything they have done during these first two months. I feel after those days of testing I am more prepared for this weekend and give our Pacific Office Automation team a strong run. “