Jeremy Scores Podium Finish at Kern Raceway with Strong Third-Place Run
BAKERSFIELD, CA — Jeremy Alves and the Alves Motorsports team made the trip to Kern Raceway in Bakersfield on May 30 for another round of IMCA California Sprint Series competition. With 11 talented sprint cars in attendance, Jeremy was looking to continue building momentum and put together another strong night.
Jeremy drew pill number 51, sending him out 8th of the 11-car field for hot laps. The track showed plenty of character early in the evening, giving drivers a challenging surface to navigate. After hot laps, the Alves Motorsports crew made a few adjustments to the No. 81a before heading into qualifying.
The changes paid off.
Using a group qualifying format, Jeremy turned in an impressive performance, qualifying 3rd overall and giving the team confidence heading into the night's racing program. Feeling comfortable with the car, the crew made only minor adjustments before the heat race.
Jeremy was originally scheduled to start on the inside of the second row for Heat Race #1, but after another competitor experienced a mechanical issue, he moved up to the outside of the front row.
When the green flag waved, Jeremy got an excellent start and quickly settled into 2nd place. As the racing surface evolved, the preferred groove became the bottom of turns one and two and the high side through turns three and four. Jeremy adapted well to the changing conditions and drove a smooth, consistent race to finish 2nd.
The strong qualifying effort and heat race finish positioned Jeremy on the outside of the front row for the night's main event.
Just before the feature, the track crew performed additional track preparation, sending the Alves Motorsports team scrambling to make final setup adjustments. As the cars rolled into staging, another unexpected challenge arose when the track lights went out—not once, but twice—delaying the start of the race and leaving teams anxiously waiting for the action to begin.
Once the lights stayed on, Jeremy rolled onto the track and lined up alongside veteran driver George Tristao Jr. on the front row.
At the drop of the green flag, Jeremy launched into turn one and immediately challenged for the lead, diving to the bottom as he battled wheel-to-wheel with Tristao. Jeremy remained in the hunt throughout the opening laps and held one of the top spots in the field.
On lap 11, while entering turns three and four, Jeremy's car got slightly sideways, allowing Davey Pombo to slip past for position.
Despite the setback, Jeremy stayed composed and continued to push forward, bringing the No. 81a home with another podium finish in 3rd place.
“It was a solid night for our entire team,” said Alves. “The car was fast from qualifying on, and we were in the fight all night long. To come away with another podium against this group is something we can definitely build on.”
The podium finish continued Jeremy's consistent run of strong performances as the Alves Motorsports team continues to gain momentum during the 2026 IMCA California Sprint Series season.
Jeremy and the team now turn their attention to Santa Maria Speedway on June 13, where they look forward to getting back in front of one of the best fan bases in California sprint car racing.
Jeremy Alves would like to thank his 2026 sponsors: Alves & Sons Diesel Repair, Hanford Auto Sales, Westscapes, VanEssen Motorsports, Pacific Towing, and series sponsor Quick Change Liquid Energy.
Fans can follow Jeremy on social media and visit JeremyAlves.com for the latest race updates, recaps, photos, and schedule information.
For sponsorship or media inquiries, contact Jeremy at jalves81a@gmail.com.