LAST LAP PASS NETS ERIC GRECO HIS SECOND CALIFORNIA SPRINT WIN OF 2024 (Torrance, CA, September 18, 2024) A dramatic last-lap pass netted Eric Greco a thrilling win in the California Lightning Sprint Car Series last Saturday night at the Ventura Raceway. The win was the second of the season for the Glendale College student and his first since June 15th. After setting fast time in qualifying, Eric Greco later won the CLS main event at Ventura. CLS Photo. Twenty-four hours later and 120 miles west of Friday’s CLS race at the Bakersfield Speedway, 14 drivers convened on the famous track located at the beach on the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Greco, driving his eye-catching Janssen’s Certified Floor Fabric Care/Sidewaze Designs/Michael Lange Chassis/Triple X/ Zx10r #4G, kicked off the night by recording his second fast qualifying time of the year with a lap of 12.214. Jeff Dyer of Yucca Valley turned in the second-fastest lap at 12.363. Six-time CLS champion Bobby Michnowicz had the third-best time when he stopped the clocks at 12.455. Dyer's 17-year-old son Seth was fourth at 12.695, and Cody Nigh, fresh off a second-place finish at Bakersfield, was fifth with a 12.714. Michnowicz scored his series-leading fourth heat race win when he bested Greco and Nigh in the first eight-lapper. A couple of minutes later, Jeff Dyer tied Michnowicz for the lead in heat race wins when he was first to the stripe. Clay Byers of Castaic and Seth Dyer chased the California Highway Patrol officer to the checkered flag. For the 25-lap main, Michnowicz, who heads the CLS with four wins in 2024, was on the pole. His nephew Nigh was alongside. Jeff Dyer and “Rockstar” Jon Robertson of Torrance made up row two. The third pair was made up of Seth Dyer and Greco. San Diego’s AJ Bender, who was making his first appearance for Sexton Gatlin Racing of the season, was inside row four. He was joined by Byers. When Kris Kornder sent the field on its way with his green flag, Michnowicz predictably flew into the lead. Nigh, Jeff Dyer, Robertson, and Greco were giving chase. Before the first go around ended, Greco used the outside in turn three to steal the fourth spot from Robertson. Near disaster struck when Nigh got sideways off turn two on the second circuit and momentarily slowed. Dyer hit the brakes and turned to the outside to get around him. At the same time, Greco alertly went outside and swooped past both of them to take second. The Palmdale resident’s fortunes stayed good when Michnowicz clipped the inside berm on the slippery track in turn three and he momentarily slowed. That allowed Greco to close dramatically. He mounted a challenge for the lead and actually inched ahead on the back chute before Michnowicz pulled those inches and then added a few more back. Greco stayed beside the longtime racer until a small park in the third corner on lap four allowed Michnowicz to slip away. The proceedings were slowed when Byers and Legend got together in turn four on the fifth circuit and brought out the race's only yellow flag. When things got going again, the top five were in the same order as they were at the end of lap two. That was Michnowicz at the point, Greco in second, Dyer in third, Nigh fourth, and Robertson in fifth. As the race progressed, the leader established a small advantage. The lead duo then found the lapped traffic on lap eight. While the initial battle with Michnowicz and Greco cooled down for a while, a thrilling race broke out for fifth with Robertson and Bender. Making a cameo appearance for SGR, with whom he has had several successes over the past few years, Bender was racing the wheels off the #44. Driving on the wide side, the past Turkey Night Grand Prix sprint car winner biked the car in turn four before his efforts finally produced the goods going into turn one on lap 11 when he flew into fifth. Greco turned the heat up big time on Michnowicz with 10 laps to go. By the time the lap clock turned to seven circuits remaining, he was all over the multi-time champion. However, the battle for the lead would involve more than the two leaders. A gaggle of lappers dramatically slowed the pace of Michnowicz and Greco. Once they got through them, Michnowicz was still on top in the fierce battle for the lead. Just in time for the final circuit, the leaders encountered another big pack of lapped cars. As they exited turn four, Michnowicz and Greco touched wheels. As had been the case all race long, Michnowicz stayed true to the bottom, and Greco stayed true to the wide line. Greco got outside Michnowicz the last time they raced into the first corner. When Michnowicz got trapped on the low line, Greco spectacularly sped by as they came off turn two and he led the final half lap to post his second win of the year. Michnowicz placed second with Jeff Dyer, in only his second start since coming off the injury list, third. Nigh and Bender finished fourth and fifth. In addition to the win, Greco was also the race Hard Charger. “When the track was still pretty wet, everyone seemed like they did not want to send it,” the happy winner stated after doing victory donuts on the infield. “I was like, ‘I am back here in sixth, so I am going to wear it.’ We did not do much, but we had to reset some stuff for this main. I knew traffic was going to be a thing. A lot of times the lapped cars are on the bottom. I knew going into the first couple laps that I was going to be dedicated to the top. If lapped cars got in the way, the only way I was going to win was go around the outside. That is what I stuck with. Man, I am out of breath, and I have been running three, four, five days a week.” The CLS will take this Saturday night off, but will head right back to Ventura on September 28th. Greco has cut into Michnowicz series point lead and will be 50-points behind when he hits the track for hot laps at the beachside oval. Nigh is currently third with Robertson fourth. Third year CLS racer Speir is fifth. The CLS would like to thank the following companies for being partners in the 2024 season. Extreme Mufflers, RacingJunk.com and Hoosier Tire. Ventura Raceway September 14th Results Qualifying: 1. Eric Greco, 12.214; 2. Jeff Dyer, 12.363; 3. Bobby Michnowicz, 12.455; 4. Seth Dyer, 12.695; 5. Cody Nigh, 12.714; 6. Jon Robertson, 12.985; 7. AJ Bender, 13.409; 8. Clay Byers, 13.199; 9. Cody Griggs, 13.205; 10. Pat Kelley, 13.272; 11. Connor Speir, 13.274; 12. Zate Legend, 13.417; 13. Bill Changus, 15.639, 14. Roland Smith, No Time Heat 1 - 8 Laps: 1. Michnowicz, 2. Greco, 3. Nigh, 4. Bender, 5. Griggs, 6. Speir, 7. Changus Heat 2 - 8 Laps: 1. J. Dyer, 2. Byers, 3. S. Dyer, 4. Robertson, 5. Legend, 6. Smith Main Event 20 Laps (with starting positions and distance behind) 1. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA (6th) 2. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA (1st) … .0548 3. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, (3rd) … 1.407 4. Cody Nigh, Camarillo, CA, (2nd) … 4.263 5. AJ Bender, San Diego, CA (7th) … 6.041 6. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA, (5th) … 13.164 7. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA, (12th) … 1 Lap 8. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA, (4th) … 1 Lap 9. Zate Legend, Riverside, CA, (10th) … 1 Lap 10. Roland Smith, CA, (14th) … 3 Laps 11. Bill Changus, Fillmore, CA, (13th) … 4 Laps 12. Cody Griggs, Lakeside, CA, (9th) … 13 Laps 13. Clay Byers, Castaic, CA, (8th) … 24 Laps 14. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA (11th) … 24 Laps Lap Leaders: Michnowicz 1-24, Greco 25 2024 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Points 1. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA … 1368 2. Eric Greco, Palmdale, CA … 1318 3. Cody Nigh, Camarillo, CA … 1135 4. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA … 1114 5. Connor Speir, Fillmore, CA … 1108 6. Zate Legend, Riverside, CA … 1086 7. Seth Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA … 1081 8. Jeff Sywer, Yucca Valley, CA … 1037 9. Clay Byers, Castiac, CA … 658 10. Pat Kelley, Chino, CA … 622 CLS vs BCRA Civil War Points 1. Connor Speir, CLS … 243 2. Eric Greco, CLS … 239 3. Bobby Michnowicz, CLS … 216 4. Greg Dennett BCRA … 198 5. Seth Dyer, CLS … 191 6. Jon Robertson, CLS … 183 7. Zate Legend, CLS … 181 7. Leland Day, CLS … 181 9. Pat Kelley, CLS … 163 10. Clay Byers, CLS … 159 2024 CLS Lap Leaders Michnowicz, Bobby … 116 Speir, Connor … 33 Greco, Eric … 29 Dyer, Jeff … 25 Kinney, Hunter … 25 Dyer, Seth … 17 Lange, Aiden … 16 Bender, AJ … 15 Dyer, Seth … 9 Nigh, Cody … 4 Dennett, Greg … 1 2024 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule March 1 Imperial Valley Raceway Mid-Winter Fair Aiden Lange March 2 Imperial Valley Raceway Mid-Winter Fair Connor Speir March 9 Bakersfield Speedway CLS Bobby Michnowicz April 13 Merced Speedway CSL vs BCRA Civil War #1 Rained Out April 20 Bakersfield Speedway CLS Bobby Michnowicz May 4 Ventura Raceway CLS AJ Bender May 18 Bakersfield Speedway CLS Bobby Michnowicz June 8 Ventura Raceway CLS Bobby Michnowicz June 15 Bakersfield Speedway CLS Eric Greco July 6 Santa Maria Speedway CLS Jeff Dyer July 27 Santa Maria Speedway CLS vs BCRA Civil War #1 Connor Speir September 13 Bakersfield Speedway CLS vs BCRA Civil War #2 Hunter Kinney September 14 Ventura Raceway CLS Eric Greco September 28 Ventura Raceway CLS October 5 Merced Speedway CLS vs BCRA Civil War #3 Albright Memorial October 26 Ventura Raceway CLS November 15 Placerville Speedway Hangtown 100 – No Points November 16 Placerville Speedway Hangtown 100 – No Points November 26 Bakersfield Speedway CLS To keep up with the CLS online, please visit the website at http://racecls.com/ and follow on the club’s Facebook page 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, 2022 David Gasper, 2023 Bobby Michnowicz This press release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com.