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Lange Carries 99-Point Lead Over Cardey Into Final CLS Races of 2025
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 4th, 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.


Aiden Lange earlier this season. Connor Paulos photo.

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

2025 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule

April 12 Bakersfield Speedway Eric Greco

May 3 Ventura Raceway Aiden Lange

May 17 Merced Speedway David Gasper (CLS vs BCRA Civil War)

May 31 Ventura Raceway Postponed

June 7 Bakersfield Speedway Jeff Dyer

June 21 Ventura Raceway Aiden Lange

July 5 Santa Maria Speedway Aiden Lange

July 26 Santa Maria Speedway CLS vs BCRA Civil War Aiden Lange

August 22 Plaza Park Raceway Eric Greco

August 23 Lemoore Jet Bowl Raceway Hunter Kinney

August 30 Ventura Raceway Jeff Dyer

September 12 Bakersfield Speedway CLS vs BCRA Civil War Bobby Michnowicz

September 13 Merced Speedway CLS vs BCRA Civil War Bobby Michnowicz

October 4 Ventura Raceway

October 25 Ventura Raceway

November 25 Bakersfield Speedway Western Lightning Sprint Car Championship with USAC National Midgets on Flo

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, 2024 Bobby Michnowicz

Special Thanks to Wendy Michnowicz

This press release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com