Soon-to-be 22-year-old racer Grant Sexton drove his #22 sprint car to an impressive third-place finish in last Saturday’s Ultimate Sprint Car Series race at the Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. His father, Brent, placed ninth in the same event. This week, Brent will climb back into his 410 sprint car and head to Santa Maria Speedway to compete with the Avanti Windows and Doors USAC/CRA Sprint Cars.

Grant started the night by qualifying third in his group with a lap of 18.126 on the track located in the city known as “Nashville West.” That placed him ninth overall among the 20 cars on hand. Unfortunately for Brent, he drew into the first qualifying group when the track was much slower and recorded a time of 19.143.

Brent, a Tennessee native who now calls Lakeside, California home, was the first of the family duo to see racing action when he contested the opening heat race of the night. The three-time Lightning Sprint Car champion started the eight-lapper in seventh and advanced two spots to finish fifth. Grant, a past POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Champion and the 2023 USAC/CRA Rookie of the Year, began and finished his heat race in eighth.

With past California Lightning Sprint Car Series champion and USAC/CRA star “Dynamite” David Cardey on hand to serve as crew chief for SGR, Grant had the better starting position for the 30-lap main event. The third-generation driver lined up on the outside of row four in eighth. Brent started three rows behind him on the inside of row seven in 13th.

On a track Brent described as “difficult and slick,” both SGR drivers did an excellent job navigating the tricky conditions and moving forward in the main event. Grant charged ahead five positions to finish third. It was his second-best result in six starts this season, topped only by his California Lightning Sprint Car Series victory at Santa Maria Speedway on April 4th.

Brent advanced four spots to finish ninth, giving him nine top-10 finishes thus far in the 2026 campaign.

Brent’s trip to Santa Maria this weekend will mark his 17th race of the season on his 10th different track. He also had one event rained out at Merced Speedway, which would have made it 18 races on 11 different tracks. His lone appearance at Santa Maria this season came on April 4th, when he finished eighth in the same race that Grant won.

For more updates, follow Sexton Gatlin Racing on social media and stay tuned for results throughout the 2026 season.

Sexton Gatlin Racing would like to thank the following companies for making the 2026 season possible. East County Electric Works, Antonelli’s Deli, Keys Brothers, Geoff Dale, BR Motorsports, Maxima Oil, Automated Interiors, Valley Lubricant Services, Sexton Fire Protection, BK Wings, and Troy Dirt.

Collie would like to express his thanks to the following sponsors. Sexton Gatlin Racing/HRP Hose and Rubber Products/Sexton Fire Protection/Maxima Racing Oils/Automated Interiors/Valley Lubricant/Swift Powdercoating/Sunnyside Promotions/Sids Auto Body/BK Wings/BTS Equipment/TC Construction/Thunderstruck Motorsports/AG Sand Cars/Mom/Dad/Tavo/Grant/Dant

If you or your company are interested in becoming a marketing partner with Sexton Gatlin Racing in 2026, please call (619) 454-6945 or E-mail mailto:[email protected] or mailto:[email protected].

SGR PR