06/02/2026
“The American 250” to Bring Huge Fireworks Spectacular and NASCAR Racing to the Central Valley on July 4
Independence Day event at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway will feature a Drag-A-Boat Race, NASCAR competition, family entertainment, and one of the area’s largest fireworks shows.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway will host one of the Central Valley’s premier Independence Day events on Saturday, July 4, 2026, with “The American 250” — a Fourth of July celebration featuring one of the area’s largest fireworks spectaculars, family activities, and NASCAR racing.
Located off Interstate 5 between Bakersfield and Taft in Kern County, Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway expects fans from throughout the Central Valley and surrounding communities to attend the event.
As communities across California continue facing rising production costs for fireworks events and the cancellation of several local celebrations, Kern Raceway is making a major investment into delivering a large-scale Independence Day experience for the region. Additionally, by partnering with California Resources Corporation and Carbon TerraVault, 500 community members in Maricopa, Taft, and Buttonwillow will be invited to attend the festivities for free.
The event will feature the fan-favorite Drag-A-Boat Demolition Race, NASCAR Limited Late Models competing for $5,000-to-win, and NASCAR Spec Racer competition — bringing together grassroots motorsports, live entertainment, and a patriotic atmosphere.
The evening will conclude with a huge professional fireworks spectacular celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
For the full press release, event details, tickets, and more information, visit KernRaceway.com.