Bobby Michnowicz Makes it Three California Lightning Sprint Car Wins in a Row at Ventura

 

Torrance, CA — October 7, 2025 — Seven-time champion Bobby Michnowicz continued his late-season surge by making it three straight victories, outpacing the field in last Saturday night’s Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Sprint Car Series main event at Ventura Raceway. The triumph marked his third consecutive win, ninth top-five, and tenth top-ten in as many starts this season.

Rookie Drake Cardey of Riverside, who entered the night second in series points, earned his first Diablo Fabrication Fast Time Award with a blistering 12.376 lap. His teammate, Yucca Valley’s Jeff Dyer—a California Highway Patrol officer—was close behind at 12.394. Michnowicz clocked in third with a 12.503, followed by Camarillo’s Cody Nigh, who grew up at the ocean side track, at 12.594 and 2024 Rookie of the Year Zate Legend of Riverside at 12.665.

 

Racing Junk Heat Race #1 went to Michnowicz, who held off Cardey and Legend for the win. El Cajon rookie Braydin Collie captured Extreme Muffler Heat Race #2, with current point leader Aiden Lange of Lakewood and Nigh rounding out the top three.

 

For the 25-lap main event, Legend and Lange led the field to green. Nigh and Michnowicz made up the second row, with teammates Cardey and Dyer starting in row three. Collie and “Rockstar” Jon Robertson of Torrance filled row four.

 

At the drop of the green, Lange—who leads the series with four wins—battled wheel-to-wheel with Legend through the opening corners before taking command. Michnowicz, Nigh, and Dyer followed close behind.

 

On lap three, Legend—fresh off his 360 Sprint Car debut at Ventura—pulled even with Lange once more.  However, Lange maintained the top spot by a narrow margin at the end of the lap.   Legend left veteran Michnowicz a tiny bit of daylight off turn two on lap four and the wily veteran slipped under him exiting turn two to snatch second. By lap seven, Lange stretched his lead to nearly ten car lengths before slower traffic came into play.

 

That traffic proved decisive. Until lap 15, the leaders had only encountered one lapped car.  Things changed in a hurry with traffic lurking just ahead.  Lange got trapped behind a lapped car entering turn three, and Michnowicz, a racer since his quarter midget days in the 1970s, pounced to take the lead less than a lap later. Legend, also taking advantage of lapped traffic, slipped by for second.

 

The first of only two caution flags waved on lap 19 when Roland Smith stopped in turn three. On the restart, Michnowicz quickly opened up a six-car-length advantage over Legend. Dyer, continuing his strong late-season form, grabbed third from Lange on lap 20.

 

The final yellow came on lap 22 when Nigh spun while running fifth. On the last restart, Michnowicz, in his Outlaw Wings/Super Shox/Bondio Fabrication/Fabozzi Metal Works/ Fast Time Studios/Keizer/TJ Forged/Timeless T Shirts/Triple X Chassis/Kawasaki ZX10/21k, powered away to win by nearly a half straightaway. Legend equaled his best finish of the season in second, followed by Dyer, Lange, and Cardey.

 

The victory celebration was extra special for Michnowicz, who was cheered on by family, friends, his mother, and, for the first time, his two-year-old grandson Levi.

 

“I think Aiden was faster,” the seven-time champ admitted. “But he’s young and doesn’t have a lot of patience. When you’re old (referring to himself), you learn to wait for your moment.”

 

“I’ve been coming here since 1980,” he added. “It’s great to have my family here—my mom, Levi—and my son Kevin back racing after four years. He broke a throttle cable in qualifying—he steps on it harder than I do! And I have to thank Jim Naylor for everything he does. He’s an amazing person on and off the track.”

 

Kevin Michnowicz charged from 12th to seventh to earn both the Eibach Spring Forward and SpeedMart Hard Charger awards. Local racer Robb Palmear, who exited after two laps, claimed the Hyper Racing and SpeedMart Hard Luck honors.

 

With just two races left on the 2025 CLS schedule, the series returns to Ventura on October 25. Lange, eyeing his first CLS title, holds a 98-point lead over Cardey.  Legend is only 17 points out of second. Dyer and Collie complete the top five in the standings.

 

2025 CLS Contingency Awards

                 

 

Ventura 10/4/25

Heat Races	Award	Recipient
Racing Junk Heat Race #1 winner	Competition Suspension Inc. $50 product certificate	Bobby Michnowicz
Extreme Muffler Heat Race #2 winner	Extreme Muffler $50 product certificate	Brayden Collie
ARS Heat Race #3 winner	Advanced Racing Suspensions $50 product certificate
Main Event	Award
Winner
2nd place	BR Motorsports - $25 product certificate	Zate Legend
3rd place	Joie of Seating - $250 product certificate	Jeff Dyer
4th place	Saldana Racing Products - $50 product certificate	Aiden Lange
5th place	King Racing Products $25 product certificate	Drake Cardey
Highest finisher with Hoosier tires on all 4 corners.	Hoosier – free tire
Quick time	Diablo Fabrication $50 product certificate	Drake Cardey
Spring Forward (Hard Charger)	Eibach - $100 product certificate SpeedMart - $50 product certificate	Kevin Michnowicz
Hard Luck Award	Hyper Racing - $50 product certificate SpeedMart - $50 product certificate	Robb Pelmear

 

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
CLS Member
Series Champion	Triple X Race Components $500 off any chassis or chassis kit

 

For more updates and series information, follow the California Lightning Sprint Car Series on social media and visit the official website at racecls.com.

 

The CLS would like to thank the following companies for being partners in the 2025 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, Hoosier Tires, 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 in 2025, please contact Jon Robertson via email at  jon.robertson@sbcglobal.net or by calling (310) 367-9050.   

 

October 4, 2025 California Lightning Sprint Car Results From The Ventura Raceway

 

Diablo Fabrication Qualifying: 1. Drake Cardey, 12.376; 2. Jeff Dyer, 12.394; 3. Bobby Michnowicz, 12.503; 4. Cody Nigh, 12.549; 5. Zate Legend, 12.665; 6. Aiden Lange, 12.679; 7. Jon Robertson, 12.895; 8. Braydin Collie, 12.981; 9. Leland Day, 13.129, 10. Bruce Douglass, 13.131; 11. Roland Smith, 13.452; No Time, Robb Pelmear, Kevin Michnowicz

 

Heat #1: 1. Bobby Michnowicz, 2. Cardey, 3. Legend, Robertson, 4. Kevin Michnowicz, 5. Day, 6. Smith

 

Heat #2: 1. Collie, 2. Lange, 3. Nigh, 4. Dyer, 5. Palmear, 6. Douglass

 

Main Event – 25 Laps (With Starting Positions and Distance Behind

1. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA, (4th)

2. Zate Legend, Riverside, CA, (1st) … +1.158

3. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, (6th) … +2.101

4. Aiden Lange, Lakewood, CA, (2nd) … +3.237

5. Drake Cardey, Riverside, CA, (5th) … +3.810

6. Braydin Collie, El Cajon, CA, (7th) … +4.708

7. Kevin Michnowicz, Carson, CA, (12th) … +5.109

8. Bruce Douglass, Ventura, CA, (10th) … +5.587

9. Leland Day, Bakersfield, CA, (9th) … +6.137

10. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA, (8th) … +6.174

10. Cody Nigh, Camarillo, CA, (3rd) … + 1 Lap

11. Roland Smith, (13th) … +10 Laps

12. Robb Pelmear, Ventura, CA, (11th) … +23 Laps

 

Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Series Points

1. Aiden Lange … 1481

2. Drake Cardey  … 1383

3. Zate Legend … 1366

4. Jeff Dyer … 1299

5. Braydin Collie … 1269

6. Bobby Michnowicz … 1239

7. Leland Day … 1097

8. Eric Greco … 1058

9. Jon Robertson … 1005

10. Cody Nigh … 872

 

CLS vs BCRA Civil War Serie Final Points

1. Greg Dennett, BCRA … 427

2. Aiden Lange, CLS … 425

3. Drake Cardey, CLS … 401

4. Bobby Michnowicz, CLS … 391

5. Jeff Dyer, CLS … 381

6. Braydin Collie, CLS … 377

7. Zate Land, CLS … 373

8. Matt Land, BCRA … 367

9. Leland Day, CLS … 352

10. Eric Greco, CLS … 328

 

Central California Shootout Final Points

1. Aiden Lange …242

2. Drake Cardey … 225

3. T.J. Smith … 224

4. Jeff Dyer … 221

5. Leland Day … 213

6. Braydin Collie … 207

7.  Hunter Kinney ... 206

8. Zate Legend … 199

9. Jon Robertson … 187

10. Eric Greco … 139