2025 California Lightning Sprint Car Series Championship Comes Down to Final Two Races Torrance, CA — October 22, 2025 — It all comes down to this! The 2025 California Lightning Sprint Car Series (CLS) championship is heading for a nail-biting finish, with just two races left to decide it all. The first showdown happens this Saturday night, October 25th, when Jim Naylor’s Ventura Raceway hosts another night of high-speed thrills by the breaking waves of the Pacific Ocean. Lakeside’s Aiden Lange rolls into Ventura holding a 98-point cushion over rookie sensation Drake Cardey of Riverside. Lange is on the verge of his first CLS championship — and with 142 points up for grabs on Saturday, a strong run could send him to the season finale at Bakersfield Speedway on November 25th with one hand firmly on the trophy. Twenty-three year old Lange’s CLS journey started back on September 19, 2015, when he charged from 18th to 7th in his debut at Perris Auto Speedway. Now, ten years later, he’s the man everyone is chasing. But while Lange holds the upper hand, the battle behind him is fierce. Cardey sits just 17 points ahead of fellow Riverside teen Zate Legend, last year’s Rookie of the Year. Yucca Valley’s Jeff Dyer, a California Highway Patrol Officer when he is off the track, El Cajon’s Braydin Collie, and seven-time champion Bobby Michnowicz of Oak Hills are still mathematically in the hunt. Realistically, it would take a series of drastic circumstances for any of the opponents to emerge triumphant in the championship chase. And speaking of Michnowicz — the Oak Hills veteran has been on an absolute tear. After missing three of four races mid-summer, he’s come roaring back with a second-place finish and three straight victories, including a Ventura win on October 4th. The seven-time champ looks determined to finish the year with a statement. Lange still leads the series with four wins, but he hasn’t parked it in Victory Lane since the July 26th CLS vs. BCRA Civil War event — his third consecutive win at the time. He also tops the charts for Ventura Raceway victories this season with two, while Michnowicz and Dyer each have one at the “Commotion by the Ocean.” In the Rookie of the Year chase, Cardey holds a commanding 114-point advantage over Collie heading into the final stretch. Fans heading to Ventura Raceway this Saturday are in for a full night of racing action, as the USAC Western Midgets, VRA Sprint Cars, Senior Sprints, VRA Dwarfs, and VRA Juniors will also share the track. Tickets & Info: Adults: $22 Seniors (60+), Military, Students (with ID): $18 Kids 12 & under: Free with paid adult Gates open: 3:00 p.m. Racing starts: 5:30 p.m. Ventura Raceway is located on the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura, California. For full details, visit www.venturaraceway.com or call (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 … 1481 2. Drake Cardey … 1383 3. Zate Legend … 1366 4. Jeff Dyer … 1299 5. Braydin Collie … 1269 6. Bobby Michnowicz … 1239 7. Leland Day … 1097 8. Eric Greco … 1058 9. Jon Robertson … 1005 10. Cody Nigh … 872 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 Bobby Michnowicz 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