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

finisher Cody Night is on the left. Wendy Michnowicz photo.

Seven-time CLS Champion Michnowicz kicked the night off in style when he set the fastest time in Keizer Aluminum qualifying with a sizzling lap of 12.359. Two-time BCRA champion Dakota Albright of Waterford was second quickest at 12.383. Third best in time trials was Michnowicz’s nephew, Cody Nigh of Camarillo, with a lap of 12.415. Spring Valley’s Jarrett Kramer, a three-time CLS champion who had been out of the saddle for a few years, was fourth at 12.551, and Boise State college student Eric Greco Jr. of Palmdale rounded out the top five with a time of 12.559.

2025 SoCal Lightning Sprint Car Champion Peter Benker of Alpine captured Racing Junk Heat Race #1 over Nigh and defending CLS champ Aiden Lange of Lakewood. In Extreme Muffler Heat Race #2, 2023 POWRi Southwest Lightning Sprint Car champ and current CLS point leader Jeff Dyer of Yucca Valley was first to the stripe in the Brian Fonseca/Samantha Sproull #3F. USAC/CRA star AJ Bender placed second, with “Rockstar” Jon Robertson of Torrance finishing third.

For the 25-lap main event on the track affectionately known as “The Best Little Dirt Track In America,” Michnowicz, whose only other start of the year resulted in a second-place finish at Santa Maria in April, was on the pole. Nigh, who won the first Ventura CLS race of 2026 on March 21st, started alongside his uncle. Bender, driving Mike Schweitzer’s #41, was on the inside of row two and was joined by Greco. The third row was made up of Albright and Lange, while Peter Benker and Dyer occupied row four.

Michnowicz, who first raced at Ventura 46 years ago in 1980, was the first to turn one when the green flag sent the field on its way in the 25-lapper. Nigh, Bender, Greco, and Lange gave chase. By the fourth lap, Michnowicz had opened nearly a half-straightaway advantage over the field.

Dyer’s month of May misery continued early in the main event. After losing three of his own engines over the previous three weeks, the point leader drove through the turn-three pit gate on lap five. He reported afterward that an electrical problem that appeared on the opening lap finally forced him off the track, leaving him with a last-place finish.

Dyer was not the only driver in the top five in points to have issues during the main. Robertson, who came into the night fourth overall after five races, had a big lead in his heat when the motor stumbled. He returned for the main event but only lasted three more laps than Dyer. Initially diagnosed as a couple of bad injectors, it turned out that something else had broken inside the engine, and it was D.O.A. Third-place Lange had issues as well and finished 12th.

Meanwhile, back on the track, Michnowicz, in his Outlaw Wings/Super Shox/Inland Rigging/Bondio Fabrication/Fabozzi Metal Works/Fast Time Studios/Keizer/TJ Forged/Timeless T Shirts/Triple X Chassis/Kawasaki ZX10/21K, looked like Vincent van Gogh as he was putting together a masterpiece. His only issue was an overabundance of lapped traffic. Fortunately, he was able to navigate most of it without trouble. Around lap 15, he momentarily got caught behind a heavy pack, allowing Nigh and Bender to close the gap. However, before they could mount a challenge, he broke free from the traffic. His closest call came a few laps later when a lapped car slid sideways and momentarily parked in front of the oncoming leader. Michnowicz dodged the threat and went the remainder of the way unchallenged.

Behind the CLS G.O.A.T., Bender placed second, with Nigh third. Kramer, who did not look like he had not raced in several years. He looked more like he had been racing every week, finished fourth and earned the Eibach Spring Forward and SpeedMart Hard Charger awards after starting 10th. Greco, who was making his first CLS start of the season, placed fifth.

Dyer’s misfortune saw him pick up the Hyper Racing and SpeedMart Hard Luck awards.

“This one is for my mom, obviously,” Michnowicz said in dedicating the victory to his mom Belita, who passed away in March. “I’m worn out. These cars are real race cars, and they get up and go. Twelve-second laps with no yellow flags, they wear your ass out. Thanks to my wife, Wendy. It is just her and I when we go to the races.”

“I have to thank Jim Naylor for everything he does here,” Michnowicz continued paying tribute to the long-time Ventura promoter. “He does a great job. We would not be racing here if it were not for Jim Naylor. Forty-some years, who the hell does this for so long? He is just a glutton for punishment to put up with all of us racers all of these years.”

The top five in the championship standings remained the same after the race. Dyer still leads, but his advantage over second-place driver and leading rookie Tyler Warner slipped from 69 to 53 points. Lange remains third, with Robertson fourth and rookie Liam Coffey of San Bernardino fifth.

The CLS is off until June 13th, when it returns to Ventura Raceway.

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

Qualifying: 1. Bobby Michnowicz, 12.359; 2. Dakota Albright, 12.383; 3. Cody Nigh, 12.415; 4. Jarrett Kramer, 12.551; 5. Eric Greco, 12.559; 6. Jeff Dyer, 12.640; 7. Aiden Lange, 12.641, 8. Jon Robertson, 12.724; 9. Peter Benker, 12.953, 10. Pat Kelley, 13.590; 11. Ted Krupa, 13.849; DNQ AJ Bender; DNQ Cody Benker; DNQ Liam Coffey; DNQ Leland Day; DNq Tyler Warner

Racing Junk Heat Race #1 (8 Laps): 1. Peter Benker, 2. Nigh, 3. Lange, 4. Michnowicz, 5. Coffey, 6. Kramer, 7. Cody Benker, 8. Krupa

Extreme Muffler Heat Race #2 (8 Laps): 1. Dyer, 2. Bender, 3. Robertson, 4. Greco, 5. Albright, 6. Warner, 7. Day, DNS Kelley

Main Event 25-Laps (With Starting Positions and Distance Behind)

1. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA (1st)

2. AJ Bender, San Diego, CA, (5th) … +7.046

3. Cody Nigh, Camarillo, CA, (2nd) … +7.523

4. Jarrett Kramer, Spring Valley, CA, (10th) … +7.738

5. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA, (4th) … +8.330

6. Peter Benker, Alpine, CA, (7th) … +10.851

7. Dakota Albright, Waterford, CA, (5th) … +11.322

8. Cody Benker, Alpine, CA, (12th) … +1 Lap

9. Tyler Warner, Alpine, CA, (14th) … +1 Lap

10.Leland Day, Bakersfield, CA (11th) … +1 Lap

11. Liam Coffey, San Bernardino, CA, (9th) … +1 Lap

12. Aiden Lange, Lakewood, CA, (6th) … +2 Laps

13. Ted Kruppa, Ventura, CA, (15th) … +3 Laps

14. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA, (14th) … +18 Laps

15. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, (8th) … +21 Laps

DNS Pat Kelley, Chino, CA

Heat Races	Award		Recipient
Racing Junk Heat Race #1 winner	Competition Suspension Inc. $50 product certificate		Peter Benker
Extreme Muffler Heat Race #2 winner	Extreme Muffler $50 product certificate		Jeff Dyer
ARS Heat Race #3 winner	Advanced Racing Suspensions $50 product certificate
Main Event	Award
Winner
2nd place	BR Motorsports - $25 product certificate		AJ Bender
3rd place	Saldana Racing Products - $50 product certificate		Cody Nigh
4th place	King Racing Products $25 product certificate		Jarrett Kramer
5th place	Rod End Supply -		Eric Greco
6th place	Smith titanium -		Peter Benker
7th place	West Evans -		Dakota Albright

Quick time	Keizer Aluminum Wheels- $50 product certificate		Bobby Michnowicz
Spring Forward (Hard Charger)	Eibach - $100 product certificate SpeedMart - $50 product certificate		Jarrett Kramer
Hard Luck Award	Hyper Racing - $50 product certificate SpeedMart - $50 product certificate		Jeff Dyer
Criteria		Award
CLS Member		Extreme Mufflers 10% off purchase
CLS Member		EZ Up 30-40% off purchase
CLS Member		RC Fuel Injection 50% off products and services to all race series participants
CLS Member		Rod End Supply $30 off each $100 for CLS participants
Series Champion		Triple X Race Components $500 off any chassis or chassis kit

Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Sprint Car Point Standings

1. Jeff Dyer … 656

2. Tyler Warner ® … 603

3. Aiden Lange … 583

4. Jon Robertson… 559

5. Liam Coffey ® … 558

6. Cody Nigh … 454

7. Brent Sexton … 413

8. Shane Sexton … 340

9. Braydin Collie … 332

10. Peter Benker … 327

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

The CLS would like to thank the following companies for being marketing partners in the 2026 season.

Series sponsor

Motor City GMC

Associate sponsors

Timeless Enterprises

R&R Racing

Quick Change Liquid Energy - The Official Energy Drink of CLS

Contingency sponsors

ARS

BR Motorsports

CSI Shocks

Eibach

Extreme Mufflers

Keizer Wheels

King

Racing Optics

Rebel Gears

Racing Junk

Rod End Supply

Smith Titanium

Speedmart

West Evans

If you would like to join the CLS and be a marketing partner in 2026, please contact Jon Robertson via email at jon.robertson@sbcglobal.net or by calling (310) 367-9050.

Heat Races

Award

Recipient

Criteria

Award