Torrance, CA — September 30, 2025 — The 31st season of the California Lightning Sprint Car Series, presented by Motor City Buick/GMC, charges into the home stretch this Saturday night, October 4^th, when the tour returns to the Ventura Raceway. Heading into the showdown on the scenic oval by the Pacific, Aiden Lange holds a 99-point cushion over rookie standout Drake Cardey. Spectator gates at the beachside track swing open at 3:30 p.m., with racing set to fire off at 5:30.

Lange, 23, leads the circuit with four victories in 2025, including two of the first three Ventura rounds. He opened his season victory account there on May 3rd, then doubled up seven weeks later on June 21st. That second triumph kicked off a three-race hot streak capped by a pair of July wins at the Santa Maria Speedway.

 

The Lakewood driver has started 11 of the season’s first 12 mains, scoring nine top-fives along the way. Beyond his four wins, his résumé includes a runner-up, a third, two fourths, and a fifth.

 

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Cardey—son of 2003 CLS champion “Dynamite” David Cardey—has steadily climbed the points ladder all season. The leading Rookie of the Year contender has started every main event in 2025, finishing outside the top 10 only twice. He owns five top-five results, including the last three races consecutively. His best finish came on May 3rd, when he chased Lange past the checkered flag.

 

Sitting third through fifth in the standings are last year’s Rookie of the Year Zate Legend of Riverside, California Highway Patrol Officer Jeff Dyer of Yucca Valley, and first-year driver Braydin Collie of El Cajon.

 

Also set to square off Saturday is seven-time CLS champion Bobby Michnowicz of Oak Hills. The series’ all-time great missed three midsummer races due to Covid.  Since returning, he has finished second once and swept the last two mains at Bakersfield and Merced. In nine starts this year, he’s placed outside the top five only once.

 

In addition to Lange’s CLS wins at Ventura, Dyer claimed the most recent event there on August 30th. A May 31st race at the track was scratched due to a construction project on the fairgrounds.

 

This week, it was announced that the final three races of the season will all pay $100.00 start money in the main events.

 

Saturday’s program also features IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Compacts, VRA Hobby Stocks, and NMRA TQ Midgets. Tickets are $18 for adults, with seniors (60+), active military (with ID), and students (with ID) admitted for $15. Children 12 and under get in free with a paid adult.

 

Ventura Raceway
10 W. Harbor Boulevard, Ventura, CA 93001
Website: www.venturaraceway.com
Phone: (805) 648-RACE

 

 

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.   

 

Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Series Points

1. Aiden Lange … 1362

2. Drake Cardey  … 1263

3. Zate Legend … 1237

4. Jeff Dyer … 1173

5. Braydin Collie … 1160

6. Bobby Michnowicz … 1100

7. Eric Greco … 1073

8. Leland Day … 1010

9. Jon Robertson … 919

10. Cody Nigh … 786

 

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