Grant Sexton Storms to First CLS Win Since 2023 On Easter Eve At Santa Maria Torrance, CA — April 6, 2026 — Making his first start in the Brian Fonseca/Samantha Sproull Savage Racing #3F, Grant Sexton outdistanced the field in the 21-lap Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Sprint Car Series main event on Easter Eve at Santa Maria Speedway. The victory was the 21-year-old racer’s first CLS triumph since a March 24, 2023, thriller at the original Bakersfield Speedway. Winner Grant Sexton is surrounded by second-place finisher Bobby Michnowich (left) and third place finisher Bradydon Collie at Santa Maria Speedway. CLS Photo. Sexton, who lives in Lakeside, started the evening strong by recording the fastest time in qualifying on the 1/3-mile clay oval. His lap of 13.777 narrowly edged point leader Jeff Dyer’s 13.989. “Shugah” Shane Sexton of Warner Springs was third quickest at 14.152. Two-time CLS champion Brent Sexton timed in fourth at 14.204, with defending CLS champion Aiden Lange of Lakewood rounding out the top five at 14.256. For Lange, however, it was his only highlight of the night, as he was unable to start his heat race or the main event due to car issues. Shane Sexton, aboard his beautiful #74, captured the first heat race of the night. Seven-time CLS champion Bobby Michnowicz, making his season debut in the Nigh Racing #45, finished second, with Brent Sexton third. Series-leading rookie Tyler Warner of Alpine won the second heat race. He was followed by El Cajon’s Braydin Collie, while San Bernardino rookie Liam Colley—currently second in rookie points—finished third. The main event, originally scheduled for 20 laps, was extended to 21 laps in honor of Belita Michnowicz. The mother of Bobby Michnowicz, grandmother of multi-time CLS winner Kevin Michnowicz, and founder of the family business, T Shirts By Timeless, passed away in March. Rookie Coffey started on the pole for the main with Michnowicz alongside. Row two featured Brent Sexton and Warner. Collie and Shane Sexton lined up in row three, with Grant Sexton and Dyer in row four. Driving the #45 while his nephew Cody Nigh attended a wedding, Michnowicz rocketed into the lead at the start and led the opening lap over rookies Warner and Coffey. Behind them, Grant Sexton wasted little time charging forward in the Red Hawk Casino and Resort/Madman Print Lab/Dirt 2 Rose Design/Henkel Performance/Crutchfield Performance/Diablo Fabrication #3F, taking third in turn four on lap two. By then, Michnowicz had built a half-straightaway advantage. Following the race’s first yellow flag on lap four, Michnowicz led with Sexton in second. Over the next five laps, the 21-year-old Sexton and Michnowicz, who is now on the north side of 60 but racing like a driver in his 20s, gave the large crowd its money’s worth. Sexton searched high and low for a way past the CLS G.O.A.T. He briefly cleared Michnowicz with sliders, but each time, Michnowicz crossed back under to reclaim the lead. Finally, on lap 10, Sexton made the decisive move in turn two and drove away from the field. While leading, his father, Brent Sexton, had worked his way up to third. Unfortunately, Brent’s podium run ended when he broke a chain on lap 17, bringing out the final yellow flag of the race. On the restart, Sexton was untouchable, storming to the victory by more than half a straightaway over Michnowicz. Collie finished third, followed by Shane Sexton and Coffey in fourth and fifth. In addition to the win, Sexton earned “Hard Charger” honors after starting seventh. “Killer night out in the Savage Racing 3f,” Sexton said after the win. “I can’t thank Brian Fonseca, and Samantha Sproull enough for letting me wheel this bad boy. That was a lot of fun! Had a really fun battle with Bobby Michnowicz for the lead. Congrats to teammate Braydin Collie on another podium. I cannot wait to come back to the Santa Maria Speedway.” Ironically, the last time Sexton won a CLS main event, it also came against the #45 car, then driven by Nigh. In a companion race with the World of Outlaws that night, Sexton made the winning pass with just two feet remaining. Dyer suffered a broken chain in his heat race and, in a fast-moving program, did not have time to make proper repairs. He broke another chain in the main event and finished ninth. Despite the setbacks, he remains atop the Motor City Buick/GMC championship standings. Brent Sexton sits second, trailing the California Highway Patrol officer by 34 points. Warner is third, “Rockstar” Jon Robertson is fourth, and Lange and Coffey are tied for fifth. The CLS will take this weekend off before returning for round #5 of the 2026 season on April 18 on the Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. For updates and complete series information, follow the California Lightning Sprint Car Series on Facebook or visit the official website at racecls.com. The CLS would like to thank the following companies for being partners in the 2026 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, 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, please contact Jon Robertson via email at jon.robertson@sbcglobal.net or by calling (310) 367-9050. Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Sprint Car Series April 4, 2026 Santa Maria Results Qualifying: 1. Grant Sexton, 13.777; 2. Jeff Dyer, 13.989; 3. Shane Sexton, 14.152; 4. Brent Sexton, 14.204; 5. Aiden Lange, 14.256; 6. Tyler Warner, 14.323; 7. Braydon Collie, 14.509; 8. Mark Henry, 14.524; 9. Bobby Michnowicz, 14.55; 10. Liam Coffey, 14.663; 11. Jon Robertson, 14.681; 12. Leland Day 14.891 Heat #1 (8 Laps): 1. Shane Sexton, 2. Michnowicz, 3. Brent Sexton, 4. Robertson, 5. Grant Sexton, DNS Lange Heat #2 (8 Laps): 1. Warner, 2. Collie, 3. Coffey, 4. Henry, 5. Dyer, DNS Day Main Event With Starting Positions (21 Laps) 1. Grant Sexton, Lakerside, CA … 7th 2. Bobby Michnowicz, Oak Hills, CA … 2nd 3. Braydin Collie, El Cajon, CA … 5th 4. Shane Sexton, Warner Springs, CA … 6th 5. Liam Coffey, San Bernardino, CA … 1st 6. Jon Robertson, Torrance, CA … 10th 7. Tyler Warner, Alpine, CA … 4th 8. Brent Sexton, Lakeside, CA … 3rd 9. Jeff Dyer, Yucca Valley, CA … 8th 10. Mark Henry, Rosamond, CA … 9th DNS Aiden Lange, Lakewood, CA DNS Leland Day, Bakersfield, CA Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Sprint Car Point Standings 1. Jeff Dyer … 447 2. Brent Sexton … 413 3. Tyler Warner ® … 393 4. Jon Roberston … 376 5. Aiden Lange … 371 5. Liam Coffey ® … 371 7. Shane Sexton … 340 8. Braydin Collie … 332 9. Cody Nigh … 327 10. David Taft … 224 CLS vs SCLS California Clash Points 1. Aiden Lange … 252 2. Jeff Dyer … 235 3. David Taft … 224 4. Peter Benker … 223 5. Shane Sexton … 216 6. Braydin Collie … 206 7. Cody Benker … 195 8. Brent Sexton … 189 8. Cody Nigh … 189 9. AJ Bender … 189 2026 Motor City Buick/GMC California Lightning Sprint Car Series Schedule March 6 CLS/SCLS Clash #1 Imperial Valley Raceway - Jeff Dyer March 7 CLS/SCLS Clash #2 Imperial Valley Raceway – David Taft March 21 CLS Ventura Raceway – Cody Nigh April 4 CLS & 305 Sprint Cars Santa Maria Speedway – Grant Sexton April 18 CLS Bakersfield Speedway/Kern May 30 CLS Ventura Raceway June 13 CLS Ventura Raceway June 27 CLS vs BCRA Civil War Race Merced Speedway July 4 CLS & USAC/CRA Sprint Cars Santa Maria Speedway August 29 CLS/SCLS Clash Race #3 Perris Auto Speedway September 19 CLS vs BCRA Civil War Race Merced Speedway September 25 CLS with World of Outlaws CLS/SCLS Clash #4 Bakersfield Speedway September 26 CLS with World of Outlaws CLS/SCLS Clash #5 Ventura Raceway October 17 CLS Ventura Raceway October 24 CLS Ventura Raceway November 21 CLS/SCLS Clash Race #6 Barona Speedway 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, 2025 Aiden Lange Special Thanks to Wendy Michnowicz and Ed Haney Video. This press release was produced by Scott Daloisio Sports (909) 226-7768 mailto:sdaloisiosports@gmail.com