CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CARS SUMMER CLASSIC SATURDAY AT SANTA MARIA  

 

Lance Jennings

(Upland, CA, July 21, 2021) The California Lightning Sprint Car Series heads to the Santa Maria Raceway for the “CLS Summer Classic” which will be part of “Winged Madness 1” this Saturday night, July 24^th.   The extra incentives for the race will have dollar signs dancing in the heads of the CLS drivers as they journey to the San Luis Obispo County oval for the second time in three weeks. 

 

Saturday’s CLS main event will pay $500.00 to win and $100.00 to start.  The fastest qualifier will take home an extra $100.00 from Timeless Enterprises.  Each heat race winner will collect $100.00 courtesy of Pinky’s Tire in Santa Maria and Timeless Enterprises.  In addition, the CLS will award a right rear Hoosier Tire to the main event “Hard Charger.”  A Hard Luck Award will also be given and there will not be an entry fee (pea pick) for the CLS on the night.   A field of more than 20 CLS cars is expected to vie for the extra money.

 

When the CLS last visited Santa Maria on July 3^rd, the story of the night was Palmdale teenager Eric Greco.  The recent high school graduate started the night by posting fast time in qualifying and then  led every inch of the way in the main event for his second series triumph of the 2021 campaign. Fellow teen and current CLS point leader James Turnbull of Indio was second past the checkered flag and ageless Bobby Michnowicz was third.    The victory ties Greco with San Diego’s A.J. Bender as the only drivers with two wins in the first six races of 2021.  Turnbull and Michnowicz are the other winners on the year with one victory each.

 

Eric Greco at Santa Maria on July 3rd.  Lance Jennings photo.

 

Turnbull brings a 70-point lead to Santa Maria in the championship standings over Michnowicz, who has the devilish total of 666 points.  Greco currently sits third and is only 22-points behind Michnowicz.  Series leading rookie David Gasper of Santa Barbara is fourth and makes it three teenage drivers in the top four spots.  Fifth spot is occupied by series veteran Jeff Dyer of Yucca Valley.

 

In addition to the CLS, the NARC King of the West 410 Winged Sprints, RaceSaverr Winged Sprints and Winged Legends of Kearney Bowl will also be in action.  For fans who would like to attend Saturday’s race, the front gates will open at 4:00 p.m. with qualifying at 5:30 and the first race at 6:00. Santa Maria Raceway is located at 1900 Hutton Road in Nippomo (93444). The track website is, https://santamariaraceway.com/contact/ and the office phone number is (805) 710-4407.

 

The CLS would like to thank 2021 series sponsors Hoosier Tires, T Shirts By Timeless, TJ Forged Racing Wheels, and Walker Performance Filtration.  If you or your company would like to become part of the series, please call Alex Grigoreas at (909) 437-3170.

 

To keep up with the CLS online, please visit the website at http://racecls.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/californialightningsprints/

 

2021 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings

 

1. James Turnbull – Indio, CA – 736

2. Bobby Michnowicz – Oak Hills, CA – 666

3. Eric Greco – Palmdale, CA – 644

4. Dave Gasper ® – Santa Barbara, CA – 634

5. Jeff Dyer – Yucca Valley, CA  – 562

6. Dominic Del Monte – Gardena, CA  – 489

7. A.J. Bender – San Diego, CA  – 484

8. Mark Henry ® - Rosamond, CA – 377

9. Trevor Ballou ® - Corona, CA – 373

10. Jon Robertson - Torrance, CA - 366

 

CLS/BCRA Civil War Series Point Standings

 

1. James Turnbull – CLS – 135

2. Bobby Michnowicz – CLS – 133

3. Dakota Albright – BCRA – 121

4. Dave Gasper – CLS – 119

5. Aiden Lange – CLS – 112

6. Seth Hespe – WASH – 107

7. Jeff Dyer – CLS – 98

8. Chase Gaal – CLS – 88

9. Eric Greco – CLS – 85

10. Brandon Leedy – BCRA 83

 

2021 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule

 

March 13                Bakersfield Speedway – Eric Greco

 

April 10                   Bakersfield Speedway – Bobby Michnowicz

 

April 24                   Merced Speedway (Wayne Albright Memorial - Round #1 of the Civil War Series with BCRA – Wingless) – James Turnbull

 

May 15                   Bakersfield Speedway – A.J. Bender

 

June 5                    Ventura Raceway – A.J. Bender

 

June 19                  Keller Auto Speedway (Hanford) – Postponed due to heat. 

 

July 3                     Santa Maria Speedway – Eric Greco

 

July 24                    Santa Maria Speedway (Wing Madness #1)

 

August 7                 Merced Speedway (Civil War Series #2 with BCRA – Winged)

 

August 14               Bakersfield Speedway

 

August 28               Santa Maria Speedway

 

September 4           Ventura Raceway

 

September 18         Bakersfield Speedway (Civil War #3 with BCRA – Winged)

 

September 19         The Dirt Track At Kern County Raceway Park

 

September 25         Santa Maria Speedway (Wing Madness #2)

 

October 2               Ventura Raceway

 

October 30              Ventura Raceway

 

November 16          Bakersfield Speedway (Civil War #4 with BCRA – Winged and Western States Lightning Sprint Car Championship)

 

November 18          Placerville Speedway Hangtown 100 – (Co sanctioned with BCRA and in companion with the USAC National Midgets)

 

November 19           Placerville Speedway Hangtown 100 – (Co sanctioned with BCRA and in companion with the USAC National Midgets)

 

November 20          Placerville Speedway Hangtown 100 – (Co sanctioned with BCRA and in companion with the USAC National Midgets)

 

The schedule is subject to change due to Covid restrictions.

 

 

 

PAST CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS

1994 Tony Everhart

1995 Gary Sexton

1996 Rob Sczymczak

1997 Jon Rahe

1998 Chris Rahe

1999 Brent Sexton

2000 Greg Bragg

2001 Greg Bragg

2002 Greg Bragg

2003 David Cardey

2004 Keith Janca

2005 Johnny Bates

2006 Donny Gansen

2007 Shane Rossen

2008 Brent Sexton

2009 Stuart Hielschier Sr.

2010 Jarrett Kramer

2011 Tim Brown

2012 Bobby Michnowicz

2013 Stephen Limon                                          

2014 Bobby Michnowicz

2015 Bobby Michnowicz

2016 Bobby Michnowicz

2017 Bobby Michnowicz

2018 Jarrett Kramer

2019 Jarrett Kramer

 

OCTOBER 30TH CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR RACE MOVED TO THE VENTURA RACEWAY

 

(Upland, CA, July 9, 2021) The California Lightning Sprint Car Series board approved a change to the 2021 schedule on Thursday night. The October 30th race originally slated for Arizona’s Mojave Valley Raceway has been moved to the Ventura Raceway.  The CLS looks forward to competing at Mojave Valley in 2022. 

 

The CLS is off the next two weekends before returning to action in “Wing Madness #1” at the Santa Maria Raceway on July 24th. 

 

The CLS would like to thank 2021 series sponsors Hoosier Tires, T Shirts By Timeless, TJ Forged Racing Wheels, and Walker Performance Filtration.  If you or your company would like to become part of the series, please call Alex Grigoreas at (909) 437-3170.

 

To keep up with the CLS online, please visit the website at http://racecls.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/californialightningsprints/

 

2021 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings

 

1. James Turnbull – Indio, CA – 736

2. Bobby Michnowicz – Oak Hills, CA – 666

3. Eric Greco – Palmdale, CA – 644

4. Dave Gasper ® – Santa Barbara, CA – 634

5. Jeff Dyer – Yucca Valley, CA  – 562

6. Dominic Del Monte – Gardena, CA  – 489

7. A.J. Bender – San Diego, CA  – 484

8. Mark Henry ® - Rosamond, CA – 377

9. Trevor Ballou ® - Corona, CA – 373

10. Jon Robertson - Torrance, CA - 366

 

CLS/BCRA Civil War Series Point Standings

 

1. James Turnbull – CLS – 135

2. Bobby Michnowicz – CLS – 133

3. Dakota Albright – BCRA – 121

4. Dave Gasper – CLS – 119

5. Aiden Lange – CLS – 112

6. Seth Hespe – WASH – 107

7. Jeff Dyer – CLS – 98

8. Chase Gaal – CLS – 88

9. Eric Greco – CLS – 85

10. Brandon Leedy – BCRA 83

 

2021 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule

 

March 13                Bakersfield Speedway – Eric Greco

 

April 10                   Bakersfield Speedway – Bobby Michnowicz

 

April 24                   Merced Speedway (Wayne Albright Memorial - Round #1 of the Civil War Series with BCRA – Wingless) – James Turnbull

 

May 15                   Bakersfield Speedway – A.J. Bender

 

June 5                    Ventura Raceway – A.J. Bender

 

June 19                  Keller Auto Speedway (Hanford) – Postponed due to heat. 

 

July 3                     Santa Maria Speedway – Eric Greco

 

July 24                    Santa Maria Speedway (Wing Madness #1)

 

August 7                 Merced Speedway (Civil War Series #2 with BCRA – Winged)

 

August 14               Bakersfield Speedway

 

August 28               Santa Maria Speedway

 

September 4           Ventura Raceway

 

September 18         Bakersfield Speedway (Civil War #3 with BCRA – Winged)

 

September 19         The Dirt Track At Kern County Raceway Park

 

September 25         Santa Maria Speedway (Wing Madness #2)

 

October 2               Ventura Raceway

 

October 30              Ventura Raceway

 

November 16          Bakersfield Speedway (Civil War #4 with BCRA – Winged and Western States Lightning Sprint Car Championship)

 

November 18          Placerville Speedway Hangtown 100 – (Co sanctioned with BCRA and in companion with the USAC National Midgets)

 

November 19           Placerville Speedway Hangtown 100 – (Co sanctioned with BCRA and in companion with the USAC National Midgets)

 

November 20          Placerville Speedway Hangtown 100 – (Co sanctioned with BCRA and in companion with the USAC National Midgets)