Mesa Marin Speedway was a high banked half mile racetrack in Bakersfield, California.
History[]
The track was built in 1977. The track held events that were televised on ABC's Wide World of Sports, TNN, Fox Sports, Speed Channel, HDNet and ESPN.[1] The track closed in 2005 and the location is now being used for suburban residential development.
Role in Craftsman Truck Series formation[]
Mesa Marin was critical to the formation of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Mesa Marin was the site for design, construction and testing of the prototype NASCAR Camping World Trucks. Gary Collins, a former racer and son of track owner Marion Collins, led the team of designers and fabricators who built the first truck.
Track Results[]
| Year | Driver | Started | Car # | Owner | Make |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Ron Hornaday, Jr. | 6 | 16 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | Chevrolet |
| 1995 | Mike Skinner | 10 | 3 | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 1996 | Mike Skinner | 4 | 3 | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet |
| 1997 | Randy Tolsma | 13 | 61 | Steve Coulter | Chevrolet |
| 1998 | Dennis Setzer | 12 | 29 | Ron Keselowski | Dodge |
| 1999 | Rick Carelli | 26 | 6 | Marshall Chesrown | Chevrolet |
| 2000 | Mike Wallace | 1 | 2 | Ultra Motorsports | Ford |
| 2001 | Ted Musgrave | 1 | 1 | Ultra Motorsports | Dodge |
| 2003 | Dennis Setzer | 12 | 46 | Morgan-Dollar Motorsports | Chevrolet |
Trivia[]
- Of the 900 short tracks in that nation, Mesa Marin Raceway's October Classic was voted the Premiere Event of the Year by National Speed Sport News. [1]
- Nearly 4 million spectators attended Mesa Marin Raceway over its 29 year lifetime. [1]