KENYON MIDGETS AND OTHER RACING SERIES RACE RESULTS AND NEWS AND NOTES

Torrance, CA — March 29, 2026 — When the California Lightning Sprint Car Series, presented by Motor City Buick/GMC, rolls into Santa Maria Speedway for the first of two 2026 races this Saturday night, April 4th, a new driver will sit atop the point standings. Longtime veteran Jeff Dyer enters the holiday weekend event with a seven-point lead over defending series champion Aiden Lange. Spectator gates for Santa Maria Regional Transit Night will open at 4:00 p.m., with racing at 6:00.

Dating back to the beginning of 2021, the CLS has visited the historic track, which opened in 1964, seven times. Six different CLS drivers have recorded wins during that span. Lange swept both CLS races at the Central Coast oval in 2025. In 2024, Dyer and Fillmore’s Connor Speir split the two Santa Maria events. Three-time lightning sprint car champion Brent Sexton of Lakeside won the lone race at the track in 2022. In 2021, Palmdale’s Eric Greco and USAC/CRA Sprint Car standout A.J. Bender of San Diego each captured a victory.

Heading into the last CLS race on March 21 at Ventura Raceway, 23-year-old Lange, who lives in Lakewood, held a 17-point lead over Dyer in the championship standings. However, electrical issues plagued the defending champion throughout the night. He was leading the main event when he dropped out on lap eight and was credited with an eighth-place finish.

With Lange out of the race, Dyer—who set fast time and finished first and second in his heat races—appeared destined to take over the point lead. However, while running second with just a couple of laps remaining, the Yucca Valley-based California Highway Patrol officer’s #4 suddenly slowed when the clutch failed. The issue dropped him from what looked like a sure runner-up finish to sixth.

Among the challengers to the top two in the standings will be Camarillo veteran Cody Nigh. At Ventura, Nigh scored an impressive win that vaulted him to third in the Motor City Buick/GMC championship standings. The popular driver trails Lange by 18 points and sits 25 behind Dyer.

Other top entries for this weekend’s race include Torrance’s “Rockstar” Jon Robertson, who finished third at Ventura, and leading CLS rookie Liam Coffey of San Bernardino. In addition to Brent Sexton, his son Grant—the 2021 POWRi Southwest champion—will drive the #3F car owned by Brian Fonseca and Samantha Sproull. Another SGR driver, Braydin Collie of El Cajon, who finished in the runner-up spot in the second race of the season at the Imperial Valley Raceway, will be on hand in his good-looking #44.

In addition to the CLS, the 305 RaceSaver Winged Sprint Cars and Dwarf Cars will also be in action. Santa Maria Speedway is located at 1900 Hutton Road in Nipomo, California. For more information, visit www.santamariaspeedway.net or call (815) 619-0478.

For updates and complete series information, follow the California Lightning Sprint Car Series on Facebook or visit the official website at racecls.com.

The CLS would like to thank the following companies for being partners in the 2026 season. Motor City Buick/GMC, American Racer Tires, T Shirts By Timeless, Advanced Racing Suspension, BR Motorsports, Competition Suspension Incorporated, Diablo Fabrication and Design, Eibach Springs, Extreme Mufflers, EZ UP, The Joie of Seating, King Racing Products, Outlaw Wings, RacingJunk.com, RC Fuel Injection, Rod End Supply, Saldana Racing Products, SpeedMart, and Triple X Race Components. If you would like to join the CLS and be a marketing partner, please contact Jon Robertson via email at jon.robertson@sbcglobal.net or by calling (310) 367-9050.

Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Sprint Car Point Standings

1. Jeff Dyer … 352

2. Aiden Lange … 345

3. Cody Nigh … 327

4. Brent Sexton … 316

5. Tyler Warner … 287

6. Jon Roberston … 284

7. Liam Coffey … 262

8. David Taft … 224

9. Peter Benker … 221

10. AJ Bender … 216

CLS vs SCLS California Clash Points

1. Aiden Lange … 252

2. Jeff Dyer … 235

3. David Taft … 224

4. Peter Benker … 223

5. Shane Sexton … 216

6. Braydin Collie … 206

7. Cody Benker … 195

8. Brent Sexton … 189

8. Cody Nigh … 189

9. AJ Bender … 189