Bakersfield

A group of local oilmen decided to organise a road race to promote Bakersfield, California on 4 July 1911.

A group of local oilmen decided to organise a road race to promote Bakersfield, California on 4 July 1911. An 11-mile circuit was chosen that ran through the oil fields to the north of the city. Harvey Herrick’s National won the main event by 14 minutes and, as it was sanctioned by the AAA, the race was later recognised as a round of what is now the IndyCar Series.