Jeff Dyer Leads Green to Checkers in California Lightning Sprint Main at Bakersfield

Torrance, CA – June 10, 2025 — Veteran racer Jeff Dyer became the fourth different winner in the 2025 California Lightning Sprint Car Series season presented by Motor City Buick/GMC,  when he led every lap of last Saturday night’s main event on the Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. The race was part of The Salute to Bob Vermeer and Narcie Ferreria, and Dyer also collected the lion’s share of an extra $500 purse bonus donated by Johnny Vermeer.

Bakersfield CLS winner Jeff Dyer.  P1 Race Images Photo.

The night began with recently turned 23-year-old Aiden Lange setting fast time in Diablo Fabrication Qualifying with a lap of 15.496. He was followed by seven-time series champion Bobby Michnowicz (15.508) of Oak Hills and Yucca Valley-based Dyer (15.558). Current point leader Eric Greco of Palmdale (15.910) and leading rookie Drake Cardey of Riverside (15.992) rounded out the top five.

A pair of eight-lap heat races set the stage for the main. El Cajon’s Braydin Collie won Racing Junk Heat #1 over Dyer and Cardey. Fellow Riverside teen Zate Legend won Extreme Muffler Heat #2, holding off Greco and Michnowicz.

In the 20-lap main event, Greco started on the pole with Dyer alongside. Teens Legend and Cardey filled row two.  Michnowicz and Collie occupied row three, and were followed by San Diego’s AJ Bender and “Rockstar” Jon Robertson of Torrance in row four.  Bakersfield local Leland Day started alone in row five. Missing from the grid was fast qualifier Lange, whose engine expired in a dramatic fireworks display at the conclusion of his heat race.

When the green flag dropped, Dyer surged into the lead, with sparks trailing from Cardey’s car as he moved into second ahead of Greco. Collie followed closely and moved into third before the first lap ended. Dyer quickly built a 1.3-second lead by lap three.

Michnowicz’s night ended early with mechanical trouble on lap seven, and one lap later, Cardey rolled to a stop due to a disconnected Jacob’s ladder, ending a strong run. After the caution, the race resumed with Dyer leading Collie, Greco, Legend, and Bender.

In a bold move, Collie threw a slider in turn two and briefly took the lead from Dyer on lap nine, only for Dyer to counter and regain the top spot. Collie attempted another slider on lap 11 but couldn’t make it stick as Dyer pulled away.

Meanwhile, Legend was charging through the field. He passed Greco for third on lap 13, just before Greco retired to the infield. Legend then overtook Collie for second on lap 15 and rapidly closed in on the leader.

On lap 18, Legend dove low going into turn one and attempted to slide Dyer for the lead.  However, a slight bobble as he slid up the track cost him momentum and Dyer maintained his race long advantage. Legend made one final attempt in the same spot on the final lap, but Dyer held firm to secure the win. Legend, Collie, Bender, and Day completed the top five.

“This makes up for the atrocious night we had in the sprint car,” Dyer told announcer John Candy after the race.  “This car was fast.  I was a little worried about the track rework, as I did not do anything to the car.  It was a little slick, but I knew if I got the jump to the top, I would be okay. Man, that #8 was throwing some sliders at the end.  That is the benefit of running second.  You get to search around a little bit.”

Moving from ninth to fifth, Leland Day earned both the Eibach Spring Forward Award and the SpeedMart Hard Charger Award. Lange’s misfortune received recognition with the SpeedMart and Hyper Racing Hard Luck Awards.

Despite their misfortunes in the main, Greco and Michnowicz remain first and second in the Motor City Buick/GMC Championship standings. Legend moved up to third, Dyer climbed to fourth, and Cardey held onto fifth.

The CLS will take a break this week before returning to action on June 21st at the always-popular Ventura Raceway, affectionately known as “The Best Little Dirt Track in America.”

CLS Raffle News: The CLS is excited to announce that Outlaw Wings has donated a free top wing to be raffled off on October 25th. Raffle tickets are just $5 and will be available at all CLS events throughout the season.

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. 

June 7 Bakersfield Speedway Results

Qualifying: 1. Aiden Lange, 15.496; 2. Bobby Michnowicz, 15.508; 3. Jeff Dyer, 15.558; 4. Eric Greco, 15.910; 5. Drake  Cardey, 15.992; 6. AJ Bender, 16.035; 7. Braydin Collie, 16.060; 8. Zate Legend, 16.586; 9. Jon Robertson, 16.636; 10. Leland Day, 16.932

Racing Junk 8-Lap Heat #1: 1. Collie, 2. Dyer, 3. Cardey, 4. Lange, 5. Robertson

Extreme Muffler 8-Lap Heat #2: 1. Legend, 2. Greco, 3. Michnowicz, 4. Bender 5. Day

Main Event 20-Laps (With starting positions and Distance Behind)

1. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA (2nd)

2. Zate Legend, Riverside, CA (3rd) … +.037

3. Braydin Collie, El Cajon, CA (6th) … +1.523

4. AJ Bender, San Diego, CA (7th) … +3.278

5. Leland Day, Bakersfield, CA (9th) … +8.701

6. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA (1st) … 7 Laps

7. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA (8th) … 11 Laps

8. Drake Cardey, Riverside, CA (5th) … 14 Laps

DNS Aiden Lange, Lakewood, CA