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March Meet at 60: Famoso Raceway’s Legendary Drag Racing Tradition Lives On

Pete Ward . July 06, 2026 . Drag Racer
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March Meet at 60, Just Hitting Its Stride

Stick ’n’ ball sports reporters are all in a froth over the annual college hoops national tournament just getting underway as this is being written. Their idea of March Madness is a bunch of freakishly tall college kids bouncing a ball while loping back and forth over a hardwood floor, as fans with painted faces hyperventilate. Give me a freakin’ break! 

You want real madness? Travel to Bakersfield, California’s Famoso Raceway for the Good Vibrations Motorsports March Meet. This year Mother Nature added to the usual chaos by bringing rain and chilly weather, but John and Blake Bowser, their crew and the racers fought the good fight and wrapped up the killer event on a sunny Monday.

Winners of the 60th anniversary edition were:  Bobby Cottrell (F/C), Pete Wittenberg (T/F), Dan Hix (AA/FA), Dean Oberg (5.9 F/C), Mike Halstead (RE/TF), Kin Bates (A/F), John Marottek (Jr. Fuel), Ronnie Lennon (7.0 Pro), Dan Schrokosch (NE1), Sam Tucker (NE2), Ed DeStaute (NE3), Frank Merenda (A/G), Neal Westbrook (B/G), P. J. Giacalone (C/G), Dan Fournier (D/G) and Dale Hicks (Hot Rod).

F/C saw a Famoso repeat performance: CA Hot Rod Reunion winner Bobby Cottrell defeated Ryan Hodgson 5.72/241.41 to the 2017 Heritage Series Champ’s 5.95/240.17.
Pete Wittenberg watched Mendy Fry, who qualified #1, set Low ET/Top Speed, and then cross the center line in the final to hand him the N/TF crown.
Dan Hix’s Transformer scored the AA/FA win over Eric Gates’ more traditional entry.
Blake Bowser’s newly developed B-Team Nitro F/C class, featuring a 5.9 break out, was won by Dean Oberg over Jeff Utterback.
A/F was once again the property of multi-year Heritage Series Champ Dr. Kin Bates. His latest victim was Rick Ewens, whose 6.07/220.84 fell short of Bates’ 5.84/233.88.
Matt Baldonado defeated Jr. Fuel heavy Don Enriquez in the first round but lost to John Marottek in the finals, 6.87/190.86 t0 7.07/185.36.
7.0 Pro was won by Ronnie Lennon over Tony Trimp, 7.12/168.69 to 7.29/1293.29.
The NE1 Champ was Dan Schrokosch. He defeated Ed Silbermann, 7.61/178.19 to 7.62/164.51.
Sam Tucker defeated Todd Fernandez to secure the NE2 crown, 8.62/146.88 to 8.60/153.44.
Yawn, Ed DeStaute took yet another win with his venerable ’Vette, NE3, over Jim Miller.
Frank Merenda wheeled his badass A/Gas Nash wagon past Eric Bush, 7.55/174.93 to 7.53/179.40.
B/Gas was claimed by Neal Westbrook over a slowing Tim Mulvihill.
P.J. Giacalone’s wheels up ’55 claimed C/G over Larry Hesseman Jr., 9.66/132.37 to 9.60/136.72.
The sweet little D/G Anglia of Dan Fourner defeated Dan Ficher, 10.64/123.77 to 10.56/121.70, for the class win.
Hot Rod was snatched up by Dale Hicks over Anita Hendry.

 

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