Red Light Racing at Kern Raceway

by Tim Corder

Skitter Creek SK Modifieds
Season 14 Race 5
Kern Raceway

📊 Race Stats at a Glance:

Winner: Eric Stout (90 laps led)
Podium Finishers: Jeff Aho (2nd), Ethan Troutman (3rd)
Pole: Ethan Troutman (16.913-second qualifying lap)
Leaders / Lead Changes: 3 leaders • 5 lead changes
Cautions: 9 cautions for 36 laps
Fastest Lap: Brian Neff (16.776 seconds on Lap 103)
Clean Machines: Jeff Aho, Ethan Troutman, Rob Higgins
Hard Charger: Brandon Feeney (+14 spots, finished 9th)

Red Light Racing’s SK Modifieds rolled into Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway on June 26, 2025, for the fifth race of Season 14. The event played out under bright lights and perfect California skies.

It was a night filled with action: 3 different leaders, 5 lead changes, and 9 cautions for 36 laps kept the field on its toes. But when the checkered flag finally flew, it was Eric Stout who parked it in victory lane, capturing his first win of the season.

Stout crossed the line just 0.126 seconds ahead of Jeff Aho, who ran a clean and consistent race to take second. Ethan Troutman completed the podium in third. Josh Buckley and Rob Higgins rounded out the top five with strong finishes.

🕒 Qualifying Recap

Ethan Troutman earned the RaceDayCT.com pole with a razor-thin margin over Kenny Allen — just 0.001 seconds separated the top two. Troutman’s 16.913-second lap held up against a tight field that saw Bill Benedict, Eric Stout, and Bradley Stefane all qualify within 0.05 seconds of the top spot.

🚦 Race Breakdown

Troutman led the opening 12 laps before Eric Stout took control and dominated the rest of the night, leading 90 laps. Kenny Allen was the only other driver to briefly take the lead. Despite his speed, Allen finished 15th, a result that didn’t reflect the strength of his car early on.

Nine cautions slowed the pace, totaling 36 caution laps. Only three drivers made it through without incident points: Aho, Troutman, and Higgins.

Brandon Feeney earned Hard Charger honors, climbing from 23rd to 9th. Brian Neff laid down the fastest lap of the race a blazing 16.776 seconds Lap 103, the last lap of the race.

📈 Championship Shakeup

The points standings got a shakeup after Kern:

🥇 Eric Stout jumps to the top of the leaderboard with the win.
🥈 Ethan Troutman now sits second.
🥉 Jeff Aho climbs to third.
⬇️ Fred LeClair, who entered the race with the points lead, drops to fourth after finishing 21st.
🔼 Rob Higgins moves into the top five with his fifth-place run.