2023 NAPA Auto Parts BlueDEF 150 (Kern County)

The 2023 NAPA Auto Parts BlueDEF 150 was the 3rd stock car race of the 2023 ARCA Menards Series West season, and the 9th running of the event. The race was held on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield, California, a 0.50 mile (0.80 km) permanent asphalt tri-oval shaped short track. The race took the scheduled 150 laps to complete. Sean Hingorani, driving for Venturini Motorsports, would overcome from a late-race penalty, and took the lead from the dominating Landen Lewis, leading the final 39 laps to earn his second career ARCA Menards Series West win, and his second consecutive win. Pole-sitter Landen Lewis dominated nearly the entire race, leading a race-high 111 laps before being passed by Hingorani and finishing 2nd. To fill out the podium, Trevor Huddleston, driving for High Point Racing, would finish in 3rd, respectively.

Background
Kern County Raceway Park is a 0.5 mi oval speedway located on CA 43 (Enos Lane) just off Interstate 5 in Bakersfield, Kern County, California, United States. Opened in 2013, it was built as a replacement for Mesa Marin Raceway.

Kern County Raceway Park hosts events with NASCAR's Whelen All-American Series along with an ARCA Menards Series West race since 2013.

The track has banks of 8° in the straightaways, with 14° paved corners. The track has 15,000 seats for fans, and room to expand to 17,000 seats for various events. It also contains 21 suites in the grandstand along with 18 concession stands.

Entry list

 * (R) denotes rookie driver.

Practice
The first and only practice session was held on Saturday, April 22, at 3:00 PM PST, and would last for 1 hour. Landen Lewis, driving for McGowan Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 19.046, and a speed of 94.508 mph.

Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Saturday, April 22, at 4:40 PM PST. The qualifying system used is a multi-car, multi-lap based system. All drivers will be on track for a 20-minute timed session, and whoever sets the fastest time in the session will win the pole.

Landen Lewis, driving for McGowan Motorsports, would score the pole for the race, with a lap of 18.622, and a speed of 96.660 mph.

Standings after the race

 * Drivers' Championship standings


 * Note: Only the first 10 positions are included for the driver standings.