Man charged in assault at Bakersfield Speedway

A Bakersfield man who deputies say assaulted another man at Bakersfield Speedway and inflicted serious head injuries has been charged with two felonies, court records show.

Kyle Flippo, 39, is charged with assault on a person with force inflicting great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury in connection with the June 9 incident that landed 20year-old Zachary Diamond in the hospital with a brain bleed and skull fracture, according to a court document.

Flippo, listed as 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, assaulted the much smaller Diamond while attending races at the track at 5001 North Chester Ave., the document says. He was arrested soon after the incident, but charges weren't filed until Aug. 16.

Neither Diamond nor Flippo are drivers.

Diamond is the brother of Jacob Diamond, who finished sixth in a Mod Lites feature race at the track that evening. Flippo is the father of Jerry Flippo, who finished fourth.

The altercation happened near the technical inspection area where the top finishers go following the race.

Kyle Flippo hit Zachary Diamond, apparently with his fist, and Diamond fell and lost consciousness, according to sheriff's officials.

Diamond was taken to a hospital and, while not in a coma, was mostly unresponsive in the days after the incident, said his mother, Linda Valdez. She said a week later his condition had improved and he was in physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy at Kern Medical Center.