BOBBY MICHNOWICZ GOES WIRE TO WIRE IN CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR SERIES MAIN AT VENTURA (Torrance, CA, November 6, 2022) When you chain an old dog to the front porch, he is going to bark. That is exactly what happened when five-time California Lightning Sprint Car Series champion Bobby Michnowicz started on the outside of the front row when the CLS visited Jim Naylor’s Ventura Raceway on October 29th. The veteran driver roared away from the pack and led every inch of the way for his fourth win of 2022. Eighteen cars showed up for the final race of the year at the picturesque track located on the Ventura County Fairgrounds. When BR Motorsports Qualifying ended, Michnowicz, who lives in Oak Hills, laid down the fastest lap with a time of 12.326. It was the fourth time in 2022 that he out-qualified a talent-laden CLS field. His teammate, three-time series champ Jarrett Kramer of Spring Valley, was second quickest at 12.357. The third speediest time was turned in by Camarillo’s Cody Nigh, Michnowicz’s nephew, at 12.393. Young Seth Dyer of Yucca Valley qualified 10th fastest and for the first time in his brief CLS career, was allowed to start where he qualified (instead of the rookie routine at the back). The affable team started outside the front row for Extreme Muffler’s heat race one. The second-generation driver led every inch of the way and scored his crowd-pleasing first-ever CLS heat win. Lakewood's Aiden Lange and Nigh chased the 15-year-old home. “Rockstar” Jon Robertson of Torrance captured his third heat race win of 2022 in the Yoshimura R&D Heat race two over Quartz Hill’s Gage Cheek and series-leading rookie Connor Speir of Fillmore. Eighteen-year-old Rookie Will Browne of Glendora was on the pole for the start of the 25-lap main with Michnowicz alongside. Palmdale’s Eric Greco and Nigh comprised the second row with Speir and Lange in row three. As soon as starter Kris Kornder threw the green flag to start the 25-lapper, Michnowicz steered his T Shirts By Timeless/Fabozzi Metalworks/Pflum & Wagner/Super Shox/Outlaw Wings/Kaiser Wheels/Fast Time Studios/Bondio Fabrication #21K into the lead. Browne, Nigh, and Greco gave chase. By the end of the second circuit, Michnowicz had over a half-straight advantage over his pursuers. While Michnowicz was running away from the field, defending series champion and current point leader David Gasper of Santa Barbara was drawing a lot of the spectator’s attention. The 16-year-old started the night off by losing an engine in qualifying forcing the Kittle Motorsports team to go to a backup car. He started the main in 10th but was fifth by the end of lap two. Out front, the streaking Michnowicz became immersed in lapped traffic on the sixth go-around, but it failed to slow him. He was flying past the slower cars like a hot knife thru butter. The leader stayed far away from his nearest competitor until lap 11 when a yellow slowed the field. The culprit of the yellow was Michnowicz’s teammate Kramer, who came to a stop in turn two. For the restart, it was Michnowicz at the point. Greco, who got by Browne in lapped traffic was second. Browne, Gasper, and Nigh rounded out the top five. Try as he might, Greco could not keep up with Michnowicz who was a half straightaway ahead on lap 13. Likewise, Greco put the same distance between himself and third-place Browne. By lap 16, Michnowicz was back into the lap traffic. The first time thru, he encountered little problems. This time, near disaster struck. As he was closing on Speir to put him a lap down, the rookie spun and Michnowicz narrowly avoided him when the yellow flag came out. The second yellow of the race once again brought the pursuers to Michnowicz rear end. It was the same players in the top five with Greco second, Browne third, Gasper fourth, and Nigh fifth. The only change after Kornder waved the green was Gasper getting by Browne for third. Meanwhile, at the front, Michnowicz just motored away. By the time he got to the white, he was back into lapped traffic. Like the rest of the race, it was all his, but he did have a hiccup coming off turn four while heading for the checkers. A lapped car right in front of him clipped the inside berm and nearly spun in front of the race-long leader. Disaster was averted and Michnowicz took the checkers first for his fourth win of the year. Greco placed second with Gasper, Browne, and Nigh rounding out the top five. Kramer came from his restart at the back to finish sixth. Gasper’s finish netted him the Speed Mart/Advanced Racing Suspension/Hepfner Racing Hard Charger Awards finishing third after starting 11th. “That was a good race,” Michnowicz told the crowd after. “Wendy (his wife) drew the #2 and that put us on the front row. I just tried to run smooth laps and not run too hard and just weed my way through traffic. I figured the #18 car was probably coming. The track was great. It is more of a paper clip now. Jimmy (promoter Jim Naylor) changed it so we have to slow down for the corners and hit our marks.” The CLS returns to action on Tuesday, November 15th, for the final points race of the season at the Bakersfield Speedway. Greco comes in 77-points behind Gasper and still has a shot at the title. Nigh has a pretty firm grip on third in the championship standings. Yucca Valley’s Jeff Dyer and Michnowicz are tied for fourth. The race will also be the finale for the five-race “Civil War Series” that pits the CLS against Northern California’s BCRA. Like the CLS regular championship, Gasper also won the “Civil War Series” title last year and is in the lead going into the final race. He is 63-points up on Gasper in the CWS. Michnowicz is third and is only 18-points in back of Greco and rookie Browne is just 13 behind Michnowicz. Nigh is fifth. After Bakersfield, the CLS will wrap up the 2022 campaign with three nights of non-point racing at the Placerville Raceway in the “Hangtown 100” on November 17, 18, and 19. Highlights of the CLS main courtesy of LoudPedal Productions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEsYpoxczi4 Ventura Raceway October 29th Contingency Awards Extreme Mufflers Heat #1 - $50.00 Product Certificate – Seth Dyer Yoshimura R&D Heat #2 – $50.00 CSI Shocks – Jon Robertson Main Event Winner - $100.00 Eibach Sprints Product Certificate – Bobby Michnowicz Main Event 2nd Place – Valco Wheels $50.00 Product Certificate – Eric Greco Main Event 3rd Place – Jake Swanson Shock Technology $50.00 Product Certificate – David Gasper Main Event 5th Place – Smith Titanium $50.00 Product Certificate – Cody Nigh Quick Time - BR Motorsports $25.00 Product Certificate – Bobby Michnowicz Hard Charger – Speed Mart $25.00 Certificate/Advanced Racing Suspension $50.00 Certificate/Hepfner Racing $25.00 Certificate – David Gasper 1st Car Not On Lead Lap – Rebel Gears $30.00 Coupon – Jacob Magallanes Hard Luck Award - $25.00 Speed Mart $25.00 Certificate – Jeff Dyer Ventura Raceway October 29 Results Heat #1 (8 Laps): one period Bobby Michnowicz, 12.326; 2. Jarrett Kramer 12.357; 3. Cody Nigh, 12.393; 4. Eric Greco, 12.446; 5. Will Browne, 12.558; 6. Connor Speir, 12.616; 7. David Gasper, 12.731; 8. Aiden Lange, 12.786; 9. Gage Cheek, 12.898; 10. Seth Dyer, 13.140; 11. Jon Robertson, 13.167; 12. Dale Gamer, 13.421; 13. Jacob Magallanes, 13.484; 14. Mark Henry, 13.694; 15. Pat Kelley, NT; 16 Dominic Del Monte, NT Extreme Muffler Heat Race #1 (8-Laps): 1. Seth Dyer; 2. Aiden Lange; 3. Cody Nigh; 4. Bobby Michnowicz; 5. Will Browne; 6. Mark Henry; 7. Dale Gamer; 8. Pat Kelley Yoshimura R&D Heat Race #2 (8-Laps): 1. Jon Robertson; 2. Gage Cheek; 3. Connor Speir; 4. Eric Greco; 5. Dave Gasper; 6. Jarrett Kramer; 7. Dominic Del Monte; 8. Jacob Magallanes Ventura Raceway 25-Lap Main Event (with starting positions and differences 1. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA (2nd) 2. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA, (3rd) – 1.925 3. David Gasper, Santa Barbara, CA (10th) – 2.742 4. Will Browne, Glendora, CA, (1st) – 4.072 5. Cody Nigh, Camarillo, CA (4th) – 6.220 6. Jarrett Kramer, Spring Valley, CA (11th) – 7.204 7. Mark Henry Rosamond, CA (13th) – 9.143 8. Gage Cheek, Quartz Hills, CA (9th) – 9.305 9. Dominic Del Monte, Gardena, CA (14th) 9.807 10. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA (8th) – 11.161 11. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA (5th) – 11.690 12. Jacob Magallanes, Pasadena, CA (16th) – 2 Laps 13. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA (7th) – 2 Laps 14. Dale Gamer, Anaheim, CA (12th) – 10 Laps 15. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA, (15th) – 13 Laps 16. Aiden Lange, Lakewood, CA – (6th) – 23 Laps California Lightning Sprint Car Series Point Standings 1. David Gasper – 2045 2. Eric Greco – 1968 3. Cody Nigh – 1812 3. Jeff Dyer – 1716 5. Bobby Michnowicz – 1716 6. Connor Speir – 1456 7. Will Browne – 1417 8. Jon Robertson – 1193 9. Pat Kelley – 1111 10. Dominic Del Monte – 784 Civil War Series Point Standings 1. David Gasper – CLS – 514 2. Eric Greco – CLS – 451 3. Bobby Michnowicz – CLS – 433 4. Will Browne – CLS - 420 5. Cody Nigh – CLS – 385 6. Greg Dennett - BCRA - 383 7. Dakota Albright – BCRA – 358 8. Harlee Aguilera – BCRA – 331 9. Matt Land – BCRA – 329 10. Brandon Leedy – BCRA - 302 The following companies have become marketing partners with the CLS in 2022. They have offered up more than $13,000.00 in contingencies that will be awarded on top of the regular racing purses and they will be paid out throughout the year. Yoshimura R&D, Hoosier Tires West, T-Shirts By Timeless, Extreme Mufflers, Saldana Racing Products, Rod End Supply, Speed Mart, Cold Fire West, West Evens Motorsports, RC Fuel Injection, Jake Swanson Shock Technology, Advanced Racing Suspensions, CSI Shocks, Eibach Springs, Triple X Race Components, King Racing Products, Hyper Racing Products, Rebel Gears, Vahlco Wheels, Wilwood Disk Brakes, Fuel Safe Systems, MPI, Circle Track Performance, E-Z UP, Hepfner Racing, Smith Titanium, and Hoosier Speed. If you or your company would like to become a partner of the longtime racing organization, contact Jon Robertson via email at mailto:jon.robertson@sbcglobal.net or by calling (310) 367-9050. 2022 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule March 25 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – Grant Sexton April 2 Merced Speedway Non-Wing –– Civil War #1 – David Gasper April 16 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – A.J. Bender April 30 Ventura Raceway Winged (Make Up Main) David Gasper April 30 Ventura Raceway Winged – Bobby Michnowicz May 14 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – A.J. Bender May 21 Ventura Raceway Winged – Eric Greco June 11 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – David Gasper June 25 Ventura Raceway Winged – David Gasper July 9 Ventura Raceway Winged – David Gasper July 23 Ventura Raceway Winged – Dave Gasper August 6 *Santa Maria Raceway Winged – Brent Sexton August 26 Silver Dollar Speedway Winged – Civil War #2 – Connor Spier August 27 Placerville Speedway Winged – Civil War #3 – Bobby Michnowicz Sept. 10 Lemoore Raceway Winged – Bobby Michnowicz Sept. 24 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – Civil War #4 – David Gasper October 8 Mohave Valley Raceway Winged – With SWLS - Brent Sexton October 29 Ventura Raceway Winged – Bobby Michnowicz Nov. 15 Bakersfield Speedway Winged – With USAC Midgets - Civil War #5 Nov. 17 Placerville Speedway Non-Wing – With USAC Midgets - No Points Nov. 18 Placerville Speedway Non-Wing – With USAC Midgets - No Points Nov. 19 Placerville Speedway Non-Wing – With USAC Midgets - No Points To keep up with the CLS online, please visit the website at http://racecls.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/californialightningsprints PAST CALIFORNIA LIGHTNING SPRINT CAR CHAMPIONS 1994 Tony Everhart, 1995 Gary Sexton, 1996 Rob Sczymczak, 1997 Jon Rahe, 1998 Chris Rahe, 1999 Brent Sexton, 2000 Greg Bragg, 2001 Greg Bragg, 2002 Greg Bragg, 2003 David Cardey, 2004 Keith Janca, 2005 Johnny Bates, 2006 Donny Gansen, 2007 Shane Rossen, 2008 Brent Sexton, 2009 Stuart Hielschier Sr., 2010 Jarrett Kramer, 2011 Tim Brown, 2012 Bobby Michnowicz, 2013 Stephen Limon, 2014 Bobby Michnowicz, 2015 Bobby Michnowicz, 2016 Bobby Michnowicz, 2017 Bobby Michnowicz, 2018 Jarrett Kramer, 2019 Jarrett Kramer, 2021 David Gasper This press release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com