Grant and Brent Sexton Each Record Top Tens at Bakersfield – Salute to Indy at Perris This Saturday - Speedway Digest

Sexton Gatlin Racing’s father and son team of Brent and Grant Sexton each raced at the Bakersfield Speedway last Saturday night. Nineteen-year-old Grant finished fifth in round number two of the Ultimate Sprint Car Series presented by Inland Rigging. Brent placed sixth in the companion California Lightning Sprint car series main event.

After a five-race slump that did not see him record one top-10 finish, Grant has two top-5 results in the last two weeks. The first came on May 11th, when he went from 13th to third in the SoCal Lightning Sprint Car main event at the Barona Speedway. Last Saturday at Bakersfield, he started 11th in the 30-lap USCS feature and impressively marched forward to his fifth-place finish.

In his Bakersfield preliminaries, Grant qualified sixth fastest in the 20-car field and had a top three slip from his grasp when he got into the slick on the last bend of his heat race.

438108741_26012084628382480_7988221088352320225_n.jpgGrant Sexton finished fifth in the USCS main event last week at Bakersfield Kenny Lonngren photo.

For family patriarch Brent, who just returned from his birthday festivities, including a fly fishing trip to Montana and a week in Mexico, he only raced on the CLS side of the program. The veteran racer was in the process of putting together a new car to run in the Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Series and with the USCS. The three-time lightning sprint car champion began the night by qualifying sixth fastest in the 14-car CLS field. He then placed third in his heat race.

438085757_26012084818382461_6246236608133868707_n.jpgBrent Sexton will be wheeling a brand new car this weekend at Perris. Kenny Lonngren photo.

In the CLS 20-lap main, the Tennessee native started fifth and ended up sixth.

This week, the SGR drivers return to Perris for the 71st Salute to Indy. For the first time, Brent will compete in the race that began in 1948. During his Rookie of the Year season in USAC/CRA in 2023, Grant placed ninth in the Salute main event.

Brent currently sits 15th in the USAC/CRA standings. He still holds bragging rights at the dinner table over Grant, who is five points behind in 16th. Through the first five races on the schedule, Brent’s best finish in the series was a 13th at Perris on March 16th. Grant’s best result was an 11th at Mohave Valley Raceway on April 6th. His best Perris finish was an 18th at the season opener on February 24th.

For Saturday’s Salute to Indy, spectator gates will open at 5:00 p.m., and the first race will take the green flag at 7:00. Adult tickets for the night of exciting dirt track racing and clean family fun are $30.00. Seniors 65 and over get in for $25.00. For kids 6-12, it is only $5.00, and children five and under are admitted free. Advance tickets are available online at https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/pas/7. They can also be ordered by phone at 1-800-595-4849. Plenty will be available at the ticket window on Saturday for fans who do not wish to purchase tickets in advance. The fairgrounds charge $10.00 for parking.

Sexton Gatlin Racing would like to thank the following companies for making the 2024 season possible. East County Electric Works, Keys Brothers, BR Motorsports, Maxima Oil, Automated Interiors, Sexton Fire Protection, BK Wings, Troy Dirt.

If you or your company are interested in becoming a marketing partner with Sexton Gatlin Racing in 2024, please call (619) 454-6945 or E-mail mailto:[email protected] or mailto:[email protected].

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