CLS Member Communication - Passing of a CLS alumnus August 27, 2024. Remembering Vinnie Sofi It is with a heavy heart and a huge smile, I need to share with friends, family, California Lightning Sprints members and the sprint car racing world, that Vincent "Vinnie" Sofi has recently passed away. Vinnie, Bill Johnson (CLS car #99) and I made up the J&S Racing Team that ran with the CLS club during 2002-2008 seasons. Some of you guys will remember me as the Lug Nut Twister & Teller of Tall Tales and my weekly reporting of our racing seasons. Big Vinnie, as he was literally twice my size, became my friend, mentor, teammate and crew chief as we set out on the journey of Mini Sprint racing with the CLS. AS most of you know, we all spent many, many hours together trying to keep up with all of you rascals and we loved every minute of it. We often talked together, between races, heats and transiting to the many racetracks, about how honored, grateful and proud we were to be able to be a part of the CLS racing community. After all those great years, the three of us would always say they were the greatest, most proud years of our lifetimes. Vinnie was a giant of a man in more ways that most knew, as he was always just a big teddy bear, with a great sense of humor and a true caring person. Vinnie, Thanks for all the great memories we shared together. I'll always love you Dawg, Our thoughts, prayers and love go out to Vinnie, Jill and their wonderful families that shared in our CLS journey. Most of us old school CLS members, racers, fans and family have at least a couple great memories of Vinnie. I have a million of them. You will be missed Big Dawg, but never forgotten. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it! Lug Nut Twister & Teller of Tall Tales Charlie Johnson # 99